Vet

So yesterday was the first vet check and vaccination, and naturally I picked the coldest day of the year!!!!!The car was well warmed and the babies bundled up in their carrier with blankets over the top, but still, it was chilly!


This particular check involves a very thorough once over and I always get a bit antsy beforehand. I mean I spend a lot of time with the babies whilst I'm fairly confident that my vet won't say 'Well, this kitten has three heads' there's always the chance there's something I've missed. Of course, it doesn't help being completely neurotic and a sleepy kitten nodding its head in tiredness will have me looking up cerebellar hypoplasia and gnawing my nails with worry!. Just to make you laugh, with this litter I have already spent sleepless nights wondering about 1) hernia, 2) food intolerance and 3) 'swimmer kitten' syndrome- none of which my kittens actually have!


Ok, you can stop laughing- I can't help it!!!!


Anyway, they all had clean bills of health. They had a thorough physical check, involving weighing, teeth/mouth, eyes and nose, ears, hips, genitalia, a good old prod of their bellies (to check nothing was enlarged/ out of place and for non-existent hernias!) and probably some things I have forgotten. Then came a listen of the lungs and heart for murmurs etc. Michael had to have his listened to for a long time as he was purring so hard our poor vet couldn't work out what was heartbeat and what was purr! Finally a temperature check, and they didn't like that at all because- well, thermometer, jelly... yeah. Poor babies!


Leo was last and mildly freaked by this stage having had to wait so he was a bit wriggly and Miranda was frightened and shaking, poor little thing, but they all did splendidly. I was very proud. They were all rather sleepy yesterday, but today are back to their bouncing selves and making up for lost time.


Indigo had a check too, and I have to say she wasn't nearly so brave! Indigo turns into a quivering mass of jelly at the vet's poor thing!But she too has a clean bill of health, so it's all good.


Happy New Year, everyone! I will be spending New Years Eve in bed with a hot water bottle and a lemsip, cursing the annual germ-fest that is this time of year. Fingers crossed the cold kills all the bugs off! xxx

Hypnotism

Happy Nick, rumbling away

Now you know that my kittens have gone to all kinds of different setups. While I'm fussy (only the best people for my kittens!) I'm not looking for some kind of ideal family with 2.4 silent children, a picket fence and ten spare bedrooms or any such nonsense. I look at the potential new family, I look at the kitten's character and needs and I decide if it would be a good fit. Mostly the kittens are pretty flexible, and as long as they are going to a good match, where they will be provided for and loved in the manner they deserve, most other issues are peripheral. I've been lucky in that I've had some lovely people come my way and so far we haven't had a placement not work out. People are generally very kind with updates as well, which I never tire of receiving!


Over Christmas I had a long think about our Miranda, and decided I was only going to send her to a specific kind of home, and failing that, she could stay here until we DID find one. Well, she had some visitors yesterday. When I described the remaining kittens to S and B, I naturally told them about Miranda's little foibles expecting them to be put off, but both felt they would like to meet her, that they might be the people I was looking for. So round they came.


Oh. My. Goodness. It went so well! Miranda didn't hiss. Miranda didn't put her ears back, or growl, or behave antisocially at all. She was unsure at first, and reluctant to engage, but S and B gently persisted and by the end of the visit she was asleep in S's arms making little happy noises! I am perhaps over egging the pudding- she'd fallen asleep with Mama and then picked up, but didn't struggle against it as she would have before, and before that, whilst she'd clearly been reserved, she had played a little. She was fascinated by S's necklace, on a long chain so it swung backwards and forwards, so clearly hypnotism is the way to get through to this little girl!


It was quite touching to see her respond to her new people, and I'm more than satisfied that Miranda will be happy there. S and B are quite local, so will be able to visit Miranda and build her confidence in the weeks before she goes home which is brilliant and what I had hoped for.


You may be wondering why there's a picture of Nicky in this post, when it's all about his sister. Well, S and B had discussed it on the way over and had decided a pair would be best... hurrah! Nick is confident and sociable but not so boisterous as, say, Michael or Desmond, and so is a great match for Miranda, as well as just being utterly fabulous in himself of course! Anyway, he has himself a sparkly new home too!


Today the kittens all had their first vaccination, which I will write more about tomorrow, suffice to say all went well. I am expecting them to be very tired today, they usually are after jabs. I'm a bit coldy myself, so I'll curl up with them on the sofa and have a snooze, I think. Night night!

Feathers!

The kittens are eight and a half weeks old now, so I decided it really was time I got around to advertising them, much as I dislike the thought of them going. It always seems that the pictures I take are of the babies sleeping, this being the time where they are still enough to photograph easily. But I wanted some shots showing off their lovely playful characters! So I set to with the feather teaser and the camera to try and get some good pictures.


Hah!

Not Ariadne's most flattering expression...

Shame we can't actually SEE Nicholas's face here...

CHINS!!! And not much else...

Yes, well, you get the general idea! Those that might have been good were blurred, and those that weren't blurred... yeah. I think I got a few, but perhaps feather games aren't the ideal photo opportunity!


In case anyone is wondering, I did take stats this week but there just wasn't the chance to post them. I'll do two weeks worth this week.


The babies are all fine, and they will be going for their first jabs this week coming. Miranda has had a bit of a breakthrough... we had a guest for breakfast on Christmas day, and she didn't hiss at him. Not once. OK she didn't interact with him either, but y'know. She didn't hiss at Theo this morning either, she put her ears back a little and kept her distance, but she didn't hiss. We have guests this week, so hopefully she will carry on growing in confidence. She's such a loving little thing with us, so we need to get her to show that side to everyone! Funny little girl... the others couldn't care less, the more guests the better!

Lazy Caturday

This Merry Catmas business is a bit tiring. I takes a nap naow. Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Just a few more Christmas pics...

Ari and her co-ordinating 'collar'

Has he been yet????

Leo is on the good list

Michael too!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

'If you not go to sleep NOW Santy Claws won't be comings, Nicky!!!!'

 

 Sweet dreams, kittens...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Have a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate it, and a peaceful break if you don't.

We'll be back in a few days.

Love from us all at Indikon xxx

One

Happy Birthday Lucy and all the Narnians! One year old today!


Gosh, Christmas and almost eight week old kittens are a busy combination. What with one thing and another, I've had no time for photos. Instead, today has been one long round of cooking, cleaning, including sweeping up a good deal of scattered litter, dropping presents off and so on, interspersed with a fair bit of kitten-cuddling, of course :) Never too busy for that.


Lucy still hasn't told me if she is expecting... her nipples are a tiny bit pinker than usual but still teeny tiny, and girls can get a bit pinker before a call, so nothing conclusive as yet. I guess I should know in a week or so.

Hiss!

We had visitors this last weekend, and after giving Miranda special attention all week I was interested to see how she would react. Yeah... well. Miss Miranda was a little hisspot again, and said some very rude things to our poor guests, who were fortunately awfully nice about it!


She did calm down eventually, and while she didn't interact with the visitors she did at least tolerate them, and played with her sister, ate dinner and took herself off for a nap while they were around. But oh dear me, Miss Miranda. What are we to do with you?

Smug

Lucy, are you having me some babies?

Not telling, lady...

Oh, I hate waiting!!!!!

A few days ago, I thought Lucy was about to call. She was making some very pre-yowl noises but has now stopped again. Indigo on the other hand has gone into heat again, (a mere few days after stopping calling- ack! Please don't go into a constant call, Inds!!!) and worse still has coughed a few times as well. Remember last year when she shouted so hard she inflamed her trachea? Hmmmm. I will be sure to mention it to the vet when we see her, perhaps there's a solution. Inds is due to be neutered soon of course, but it isn't the best idea to do so while still nursing.

Anyway, it looks like we'll be having a pretty noisy Christmas here at Indikon! Thanks Indie...

No photos today

Because I have spent most of the day with kittens snoozing on various parts of my anatomy. Lap, chest, legs, shoulder... you name it!Often three or four at any one time. Lucy got in on the act at one point and Indigo looked as though she wanted to but there wasn't a lot of room so she settled for the blanket instead.


Very nice it was too, but I couldn't move, and the camera wasn't in the room anyway, so there you go. Priorities and all that!


I will do better tomorrow!

7 weeks old!

Go 'way lady. Michael is sleepings.

Perhaps its because he's been growing so much? 165g in a week is not bad, little one. Where are you putting it all? I'm guessing in those ears, right?




Leopold

Birth: 98g

1 week: 177g
2 weeks: 242g
3 weeks: 325g
4 weeks: 385g
5 weeks: 520g
6 weeks: 635g
7 weeks:770g

Ariadne
Birth: 91g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 285g
3 weeks: 387g
4 weeks: 470g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 670g
7 weeks 825g

Miranda
Birth: 92g
1 week: 171g
2 weeks: 255g
3 weeks: 338g
4 weeks: 395g
5 weeks: 505g
6 weeks: 605g
7 weeks 725g

Michael
Birth: 106g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 275g
3 weeks:348g
4 weeks: 415g
5 weeks: 595g
6 weeks: 750g
7 weeks: 915g

Desmond
Birth: 104g
1 week: 208g
2 weeks: 303g
3 weeks: 401g
4 weeks: 480g
5 weeks: 600g
6 weeks: 725g
7 weeks: 860g

Nicholas
Birth 94g
1 week 187g
2 weeks: 274g
3 weeks: 377g
4 weeks: 465g
5 weeks: 570g
6 weeks: 670g
7 weeks: 845g

Kittens in order of size:

Birth: Michael, Desmond, Leopold, Nicholas, Miranda, Ariadne
1 week:  Desmond, Nicholas Michael and Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
2 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Michael, Nicholas, Miranda, Leopold
3 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
4 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
5 weeks: Desmond, Michael, Nicholas, Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
6 weeks: Michael, Desmond, Nicholas and Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
7 weeks: Michael, Desmond, Nicholas, Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda

Comparison by litter:

Birth REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

Von Trapp litter 81g-102g. Average 91g

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
Halloween Party litter 91-106g. Average 98g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g
Halloween Party litter: 171-208g. Average 186g

2 weeks

REM litter 257g-294g, Average 272g
Von Trapp litter 220g- 280g, Average 240g

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g
Halloween Party litter 242-303g. Average 272g

3 weeks
REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g
Halloween Party litter: 325g-401g. Average 363g

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g
Halloween Party Litter 385g-480g. Average 435g


5 weeks
REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g
Halloween Party litter 505g-600g. Average 558g
6 weeks
REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g
Halloween Party litter 605g-750g. Average 676g


7 weeks
REM litter 832-1012g. Average 921g
Von Trapp litter- No data available for this week
Narnian litter 728g-905g, Average 827g
Halloween Party litter 725g-915g. Average 823g

Mmmmmmmmmpffff!

Mama you is squishing me!

Note that Nicholas continues to nurse though, even when he has a big Mama flumped down on top of him! Although he's eating loads now, our Nicky still loves his milk. Even when Indigo squashes him!


Speaking of milk, as you may remember, when Indigo went to stud, we actually thought it hadn't been successful. No mating was observed, no mating behaviour seen or noises heard, and we were fully expecting to have to make a repeat trip. The only thing for it was to wait three or four weeks for 'pinking up'- the swelling and deepening in colour that is the first sign of a cat's pregnancy.


But this time I had an earlier sign. In week 2, and I can't remember if I mentioned this here, Lucy suddenly and inexplicably tried to nurse from Indigo. She was quite persistent, annoyed Indigo very much and... well it was just odd. Lucy stopped nursing at 5 months old and hasn't been interested since, so *something* was making her feel kittenish. And two weeks later it was apparent that Indigo was, indeed, pregnant, and the results are currently eating their way through a 400g can of Grau. A whole can, the piggies! (OK, Lucy and Inds are helping)


I mention this because none of the kittens have ever tried to nurse from Lucy, they know she doesn't have the necessary... but yesterday they did try. At exactly the same stage as when Lucy tried to nurse from Indigo. With exactly the same confused- but- intense expression on their faces as Lucy had on hers with Indigo. And Lucy responded the same way... with a smacking! The nerve of those kittens!


Now I realise as evidence of pregnancy it's extremely tenuous. So also is the fact that she was sick recently. (Indigo is susceptible to a little morning sickness, but that's Indigo, I don't know what Lucy will be like!) So also is her general demeanour- she seems tired, a feeling I well remember from early pregnancy, and hungry, but then we know Lucy likes her food!!! I can't find anything about these symptoms so early on in pregnancy in cats... only that the first sign is the pinking up at 3-4 weeks. And I know that with Lucy too, we don't even know if she did mate, let alone if that mating was successful. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that yes... I DO think the mating has been successful, and I DO think Lucy is pregnant.


Now I've said that, she's just bound to go into heat in the next few days isn't she? Oh well, Lucy can make a fool out of me if she wishes, I'm just interested to know if I'm right.

Princess

So after her performance at the weekend, I've been singling Miranda out for lots of attention, and whilst I still think she's not going to be suited to a very busy/ noisy/ young household, I've come to the conclusion she was just a bit overwhelmed. I guess we all have bad days! Really, she's a dear little thing, rather sweet and of course she's very pretty. I must get some better photos. This one was the best of a bad bunch, most of which consisted of a blur where she batted at, shoved her nose into and licked the camera.

Indigo has been trying to move the kittens into my bedroom. Now I am not keen on this because my other cats need their own , kitten free territory and generally the bedroom is their own private space, so I've been taking back any kitten she manages to get over. It's usually Miranda, being the lightest, the others are getting a bit heavy for moving easily but Miranda is still petite. So several times Miranda has been returned to the kitten room. Well, Indigo got so cross with me yesterday after one such return that she ran off with one of my slippers, and tossed that over the gate instead! Cheeky madam!

Yesterday

Desmond: Yay, they picked me! HAHAHA SUCKERS!

Leo: Really, I'm stuck with this clown forever???

Yesterday we were visited by N and G and their son, hoping to pick a pair of kittens. Desmond showed off beautifully, and I suspect he was a certainty within the first five minutes, but a buddy for him was a difficult choice. Desmond is such a lovely guy and he's pals with everyone, perhaps particularly so with Leo and Michael, but no-one would be a bad fit with him. Tough choices.

Ariadne was in a sociable mood too, and Nicholas put in an appearance half way through the visit. Michael had wedged himself between the sofa and the pen and promptly went to sleep, but Miranda... oh my gosh, Miranda did NOT distinguish herself I am afraid. Miranda put back her ears and said HISS! And then she said GROWL! And... yeah, she wasn't at her best, shall we say. I need to give her more attention I think, she's so quiet and sweet (usually) perhaps she gets less attention than the others? Or she could just have been having a bad day I guess! 

I had a nasty minute or two at one point, when I just couldn't find Leo anywhere. I'd assumed he'd dived under somewhere and would be out any moment, but time passed by and... no Leo. In fact I got to the point where I even (very slowly and gently!!!) moved a broom handle under a unit to see if he was under there hurt or something, because it isn't like him to run and hide, but no-  just a pen and some stray cat litter! But then I found him, curled up in a corner behind the dehumidifier, fast asleep. Phew! After that it was a close call between him and Ari, but in the end Leo was the one chosen

So anyway, Leo and Desmond are going to live with lovely young man to play and grow up with and a fab secure outside space to sunbathe in the summer. And they will have each other. Lucky, lucky boys!


As an aside... I'm still not 100% sure Leo is BCR you know. I think I'm going to ask some other breeders what they think. I looked at yesterday's photo for the longest time earlier thinking really, that's a BCR kitten? Surely not? I can only reiterate what I say every year. Tonks are notoriously difficult to differentiate, the chocolates especially. Sometimes we get it wrong. If your Indikon cat, as an adult, seems to be a different colour to the one on the pedigree and I agree, I'm happy to change the registration at my expense.

Nobody has come for Nicky, lady?

Don't worry Nick darling... I'm sure they will come very soon!

Hurrah!

Brothers- forever!

Quick post to say that Desmond and Leo have found their home! Together! More tomorrow, I am on Christmas cake duty this afternoon, having finally found a shop that hasn't sold out of greaseproof paper. Serves me right for leaving it so late, doesn't it? 

Monkeys

I'm just going to do a quick run down on each kitten because page views tend to go up post-advertising. *waves* I'm sure most people are just coming to look at pics of cute kittens but that's fine, I like to share! But for those seriously thinking 'Tonk', this is what my Tonks currently are like:

Desmond and Miranda... muh? We is trying to sleep here lady...

Miranda is a pretty princess, quite quiet and shy amongst all her boisterous siblings. She loves neck snuggles and having her belly rubbed. She's very fond of Desmond (this is going to be a theme... EVERYONE loves Desmond!) and can often be seen snuggling up with him. I suspect Miranda would suit a quieter home, probably with a sibling to keep her company if possible. Did I mention she was pretty? SO PRETTY! awwww! Miranda is TCR.

Desmond. What can I say about Desmond!!! He loves everyone, everyone loves him, and he is the cuddliest darling you ever saw. Honestly I don't think there's a bad or mean bone in this kitten's body. He's more than happy to have long naps and cuddles on the nearest available person, rumbling away all the while, and if there isn't a person available, well then a sibling will do, he loves his Mama, he even loves his big sister even though she's being so hissy! Desmond is BCR, our darkest kitten.

Mess with me and... I probably just give you a lick, ok?

Ariadne is very inquisitive, always nosing about, investigating, climbing, seeking out new experiences. She's the kitten I would feel most happy about going home without a sibling. She is intrigued by Theo but is respectful in her advances, and I feel an older cat buddy would suit her well as she's not 'in your face', but not intimidated either and can hold her own at any time. She's great, a proper grrrrl, plenty of sass, feisty and independent! Ari is BCR.

He reminds me of Lucy in this picture!

Nicholas likes the feather teaser and rolling on his back for tummy tickles. He also likes his stuffed mouse, and will walk around with it, growling! He can be a little nervous on his own, he needs the security of a sibling with him so I am hoping he will be chosen as part of a pair. He gets on very well with Desmond, and is often seen snuggling with either him or Leo. He's TCR, the palest kitten, almost white in the body.

Michael: I is the biggest now, Leo.

Leo: Pffft... I is the firstborn... still your big brudder!

Leo is a darling. He's got a good purr on him and likes to exercise it, but what he likes most is football. Give him a ball and he's quite happy batting it about and bounding all over the place after it. He's quite brave about new experiences, and would be fine going to a home with older cat buddies, but if he was to choose a buddy to go home with, he gets on especially well with Desmond. I THINK Leo is BCR, but his colour is taking a while to develop.


Michael is already chosen, but I see no reason to leave him out! He's a fabulous, all round kitten, cuddly and playful with a naughty streak a mile wide- watch out S and K! He gets on with everyone but isn't particularly attached to anyone, he's quite independent and people-oriented and easy going too... if Desmond is snuggling on his favourite shoulder, why, he'll take the lap, no problem! Michael is TCR... I think, but he could darken.

6 weeks!

Miranda is the sweetest thing

Stats time! Michael has had another gluttonous week and is now officially the heaviest kitten. He feels it too, really chunky and sturdy. Miranda feels like fairy dust next to him, but they are all good strong kittens with appetites to suit, and are growing nicely. I'm more than content with my little Halloweens.

I can't believe they are six weeks old. Tomorrow I will do a brief run down on their emerging characters.

Leopold

Birth: 98g

1 week: 177g
2 weeks: 242g
3 weeks: 325g
4 weeks: 385g
5 weeks: 520g
6 weeks: 635g

Ariadne
Birth: 91g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 285g
3 weeks: 387g
4 weeks: 470g
5 weeks: 560g
6 weeks: 670g

Miranda
Birth: 92g
1 week: 171g
2 weeks: 255g
3 weeks: 338g
4 weeks: 395g
5 weeks: 505g
6 weeks: 605g

Michael
Birth: 106g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 275g
3 weeks:348g
4 weeks: 415g
5 weeks: 595g
6 weeks: 750g

Desmond
Birth: 104g
1 week: 208g
2 weeks: 303g
3 weeks: 401g
4 weeks: 480g
5 weeks: 600g
6 weeks: 725g

Nicholas
Birth 94g
1 week 187g
2 weeks: 274g
3 weeks: 377g
4 weeks: 465g
5 weeks: 570g
6 weeks: 670g

Kittens in order of size:

Birth: Michael, Desmond, Leopold, Nicholas, Miranda, Ariadne
1 week:  Desmond, Nicholas Michael and Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
2 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Michael, Nicholas, Miranda, Leopold
3 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
4 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
5 weeks: Desmond, Michael, Nicholas, Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
6 weeks: Michael, Desmond, Nicholas and Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda

Comparison by litter:

Birth REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

Von Trapp litter 81g-102g. Average 91g

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
Halloween Party litter 91-106g. Average 98g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g
Halloween Party litter: 171-208g. Average 186g

2 weeks

REM litter 257g-294g, Average 272g
Von Trapp litter 220g- 280g, Average 240g

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g
Halloween Party litter 242-303g. Average 272g

3 weeks
REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g
Halloween Party litter: 325g-401g. Average 363g

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g
Halloween Party Litter 385g-480g. Average 435g


5 weeks
REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g
Halloween Party litter 505g-600g. Average 558g
6 weeks
REM litter 712g- 792g, Average 752g
Von Trapp litter  516g-740g, Average 606g
Narnian litter 595g-703g, Average 653g
Halloween Party litter 605g-750g. Average 676g

Visits

Because the teenager has had exams this term (and in fact still has this week), I haven't advertised the babies yet, and it's worked a lot better doing it this way. We've done the whole tricky weaning/ toilet training/ early socialising bit without me worrying about having to show the babies off. I'm definitely gong to hold fire on the advertising next time, in fact a breeder friend of mine commented recently she doesn't bother till eight weeks old!


That isn't to say that there's been no interest... there has. We had S and K over last weekend, who chose Michael, and we have visitors this weekend which we are very much looking forward to meeting. The weekend after that we have more visitors, who are ultimately looking to have a kitten from Lucy, and I expect by then I will have put an advert in and have had a little more interest. But it's been one family at a time, rather than all at once, and when visitors have come I've never once looked at the clock and been worried about the next people arriving, or that I haven't spent enough time on an email.  It's been lovely!


I'm going to have to think about it soon though. But next week will be soon enough, I think :)


Last weekend, I received a lovely email from one of last year's families, which I am going to share with you, not because I want to toot my own horn but because I was genuinely touched by such a lovely gesture! But then, 'my' families are always lovely! *grin*

Can't believe how time has flown and the kittens are choosing their new homes.  

You are a very special person Beth.  Your commitment to Indigo and her kittens is amazing.  We, the families, are so privileged to be able to share in their progress before we bring our little ones home, through your blog and by visits.  Even now, after a year, we still feel part of the extended Indikon family. You have always been there for us when we needed help or advice. Thank you so much.

....

 lovely little story on Teddy - the other day he came in from the garden and his collar was missing. I naturally remarked on this to him as I clipped on a spare one.  He dashed out and a few minutes later came in with his other collar in his mouth!  What a good boy.

Sophie, as ever, is a real character and continues to keep us on our toes.

Wow, how is that for a testimonial! Thank you so much, S and P!

Home!

Lucy is back from stud! Lucy is Not Happy. She wants to be in the kitten room, bus whenever Indigo or the babies get too close she's hissing up a storm and smacking... thus Lucy will not be left alone in there for the next few days.


Here's Ari in her full floof suit, with Lucy giving her a most unsisterly look.


With regard to her visit, Lucy went extremely shy and refused to engage with the humans at all, and no matings were observed. However we know that that doesn't necessarily mean anything *bends repressive glance at Indigo* so it is once again a case of wait and see! This is clearly the year for complicated mating... both Inds and her daughter giving me the runaround!

Light And Dark

At five and a half weeks, it is becoming more obvious what the kittens' coat pattern is. This litter is easy enough because 1) I know they are all chocolates, and 2) BCR ('solid') and TCR ('mink') are the only two possibilities, Indigo being unable to have CPP kittens ('pointed').


It's a bit of a rubbish photograph but I am using it as the kittens have conveniently sorted themselves into two piles- the TCR's on the left and the BCR's on the right. Yes, I THINK I have three of each, two boys and one girl apiece (which pleases me very much for some ridiculous reason- like dates that go 13/12/11 and such like hehe!) although I'm not totally sure.


Leo looks very pale in some lights, Michael looks darker... it's hard to tell for sure. But I THINK that Desmond, Leopold and Ariadne are BCR and Nicholas, Miranda and Michael are TCR.


I generally register them at about 7 weeks, so I have a little while before having to decide for sure, but I'm pretty confident now.


PS- please note Desmond's tummy, like a big kiwi fruit... he isn't the runt he pretends to be!!!!

Food!

Nicholas has FINALLY discovered food... in a big way.

OmnomSQUEALnomSQUEAAAALLLLLL nomnomNOM!!!!

Oh. My. Cat, lady, why didn't you tell me about dis stuffs before????

Er... Nicky... I've been putting it out for two weeks, mate! You snooze, you lose!

Speaking of snoozing, S and K came over today to visit the kittens again, and OF COURSE the little monkeys decided to hunker down for a long sleep. Sigh! But a sleeping kitten is still very nice, so they had lots of cuddles before deciding that MICHAEL will be their kitten.

It was a close one between him and Desmond, but in the end Michael was chosen. I'm pleased, as I think he will be the best match for them, and he is going to a home with a big sister cat (Lotti, another Indikon cat) and another Tonky sibling to come a few months after him. Plus a dog to annoy and several human slaves. Brilliant.

Long

Kittens grow in what I have heard described as a 'Christmas tree fashion', that is up then out. Length first, then they fill in. Mine seem to be in the middle of a growth spurt at the moment, which means they are looking a bit gangly, frankly! All legs and skinniness, except Michael who has a belly to be proud of.

Ariadne shows off a long front paw

I had to laugh at this picture though. Desmond, as shown yesterday, is the heaviest kitten in the litter, but this photo of him makes him look as though he's the runt of the litter who never eats! He does! Raw meat, cooked meat, tinned food, kibble and milk, and plenty of it. Nom nom nom. Apparently though, his weight gain last week all went on leg growth, because those things are ridiculous!

I am but a poor, starved kitteh... starved, I say... moar treats, please?

5 weeks old!

Why you point that clicky thing at me, lady?

Whew! The essay is done and in this morning and the next is not due till after Christmas so I can breathe for a bit.   Or rather, catch up on all the undone chores of this week- groan!I'll breathe an awful lot easier once the teenager's pre-public exams are over, but he has another week of those.

Weights today, and as you will see they are all gaining very nicely, and Michael's gain is quite astounding at this stage. I am so glad of those baby scales I bought when Theo was poorly. Weighing at this stage is usually complete chaos because they do not want to be sitting on a scale when they could be biting their brother's ear. It's just not interesting to them. It's interesting to me though, being entirely nerdy, so here we are:

Leopold

Birth: 98g

1 week: 177g
2 weeks: 242g
3 weeks: 325g
4 weeks: 385g
5 weeks: 520g

Ariadne
Birth: 91g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 285g
3 weeks: 387g
4 weeks: 470g
5 weeks: 560g

Miranda
Birth: 92g
1 week: 171g
2 weeks: 255g
3 weeks: 338g
4 weeks: 395g
5 weeks: 505g

Michael
Birth: 106g
1 week: 187g
2 weeks: 275g
3 weeks:348g
4 weeks: 415g
5 weeks: 595g (!!! I had to double check... but yes!)

Desmond
Birth: 104g
1 week: 208g
2 weeks: 303g
3 weeks: 401g
4 weeks: 480g
5 weeks: 600g

Nicholas
Birth 94g
1 week 187g
2 weeks: 274g
3 weeks: 377g
4 weeks: 465g
5 weeks: 570g

Kittens in order of size:

Birth: Michael, Desmond, Leopold, Nicholas, Miranda, Ariadne
1 week:  Desmond, Nicholas Michael and Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda
2 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Michael, Nicholas, Miranda, Leopold
3 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
4 weeks: Desmond, Ariadne, Nicholas, Michael, Miranda, Leopold
5 weeks: Desmond, Michael, Nicholas, Ariadne, Leopold, Miranda

Comparison by litter:

Birth REM litter 83g-103g. Average 92g

Von Trapp litter 81g-102g. Average 91g

Narnian litter 72-90g. Average 83g
Halloween Party litter 91-106g. Average 98g
 

1 week
REM litter 182g-217g Average 195g

Von Trapp litter 150g- 205g. Average 175g
Narnian litter:151-186g. Average 174g
Halloween Party litter: 171-208g. Average 186g

2 weeks

REM litter 257g-294g, Average 272g
Von Trapp litter 220g- 280g, Average 240g

Narnian litter 227g-279g. Average 256g
Halloween Party litter 242-303g. Average 272g

3 weeks
REM litter  338g-390g. Average 359g.
Von Trapp litter 250g- 341g. Average 286g.
Narnian litter 286g-366g. Average 323g
Halloween Party litter: 325g-401g. Average 363g

4 weeks

REM litter 437g-524g. Average 466g
Von Trapp litter 325g-448g. Average 365g
Narnian litter: 340-444g. Average 397g
Halloween Party Litter 385g-480g. Average 435g


5 weeks
REM litter 539g-604g. Average 581g
Von Trapp litter 394g-570g. Average 457g.
Narnian litter 486g- 560g. Average 527g
Halloween Party litter 505g-600g. Average 558g

Raw

I was having an interesting discussion yesterday about a raw food diet. Raw feeding does interest me. It's closest to a cat's natural diet, and, amongst other benefits, it's supposed to be very good for teeth. As four of five of my cats have gingivitis to some degree, anything that might help with that is an attractive proposition... if my cats would oblige, that is! I can't remember if it was within the lifetime of this blog, but when we were four cats, a long time before Lucy, I did try the cats on raw food. It was a disaster, they would not touch the stuff, got hungry and cross and basically I wasted my money. All in all not one of my most successful ventures.


Yesterday though, my friend said why not try Indigo again? Pregnancy and nursing will often change a cat's outlook to food, the hunger is more intense, the desire for densely calorific foods greater. Could she relent, and try the raw? And then I thought well, even if she doesn't it would be interesting to see what the kittens made of it, after all they are hardwired to eat flesh and at this age haven't been conditioned out of it. My friend kindly gave me a tub of chicken and beef to try at home and off we went.


Fast forward to teatime yesterday, and I put down a plate of the newly defrosted mince. Indigo took one look at it and retired to the sofa giving me glares that quite clearly said 'I am a princess and That Is Not What I Eat'. Fair enough! The kittens, however, they were rather more enthusiastic. NOM NOM NOM said Leo and Desmond, filling their tummies full, and even Nicholas, who has so far held out against the abomination of solid food in all its nefarious forms, had a sniff. Just a sniff, mind you, but our Nicky is very much about the milk, so a sniff is good!


So I call that a success, and as soon as I can scare up a bit of money, I shall be making an order.  Now, I should make it clear that I DO NOT INTEND TO FEED RAW EXCLUSIVELY because I am sensible of the fact that it isn't for everyone and these kittens will mostly be going to homes where cans and packets will be the order of the day, and I like my kittens to be used to eating several different things. In fact there are times when raw feeding would be unwise- if I am going out, for example, one shouldn't leave raw meat lying about for large amounts of time. I'm going to incorporate it in our practice here though, and who knows, if the kittens are eating it, maybe the adult Tonkies will follow suit one day?


Right, I should be writing an essay... offski!

Crazy

Don't expect too much (if anything!) in the way of posts for the next few days, and in fact the whole week might be a bit thin on the ground. I'm in the throes of an essay, the teenager has pre-public exams and what with all our cat commitments the time is just being gobbled up. Needless to say the little ones are getting lots of love, so blog time is the thing that has to be cut!

Here are some photos, sorry about the bad lighting.

Ariadne

Miranda

Leo

Leo again I think, with Lucy

Mama with all six