Elektra's First Adventure

This is the story of Elektra's first adventure.  I say 'first' because this spunky girl is bound to have more of them.  She is already pretty fearless, and is instigating play time with her siblings.  Playtime for 2 1/2 week old kittens means wobbling in place and awkwardly batting at each other's faces, but still!  It's a start, and Elektra is the one starting it.

Tell us more about this adventure, you say.  It was pretty tame in terms of adventures, I suppose.  I gathered little Elektra up, and...!! ...stepped out of the Kitten Room into the hallway.  All the kittens tend to meow when I first pick them up; not from fear, more a 'hey what's happening!'  Elektra was no different, and she was emitting a stream of tiny meows for the whole hallway to hear.  And in the hallway there were two new listeners...

On the left is one of my two permanent cats, D'Artagnon (Dart for short).  On the right is my 6 month old puppy, Harper.  They had heard Elektra's meows, and rushed over to find out who was making such interesting and high-pitched noises.  So, I introduced them.  I had barely even sat down when Dart came and stuck his face right up to Elektra to say hello.

Don't be alarmed!  Dart loves kittens.  He's about four years old and is the best little dude and kitten-helper.  He's been there for all my past foster kittens, playing with them, grooming them, and just hanging out with them.  When first meeting new kittens, he usually just lays down right in front of them, as close as they'll let him, and slow blinks at them.  More often than not it's the kittens who are a little hissy, but they calm down once they realize Dart just wants to be friends.  Elektra seemed a little nervous at first, but as soon as Dart started licking her face, her ears perked up and she was more comfortable.

Meanwhile, Harper was laying nearby watching this tiny new creature, wondering what she was supposed to do.  Her earlier concern over Elektra's meows soon turned to bewilderment over how to react when Elektra walked right between her front paws.  She laid very still and let Elektra crawl around her paws, just occasionally sniffing Elektra, which the kitten didn't mind at all.

Then Harper followed Dart's lead and started licking Elektra.  She didn't seem to mind that either, although she was a bit slobbery from the excess grooming.

After a few more minutes of hanging out, it was time for Elektra to go back to M.  Who knows what stories she told her siblings about her two new giant friends!

Perhaps fierce little Vladimir will be the next to meet Dart and Harper?  Or maybe sweet Miranda Frost?  Or chill unflappable Hugo?  Whoever it is, I'm sure Dart and Harper will be excited to meet them.

Dramatique

Miranda Frost was enjoying her breakfast, kneading away on M's belly, when I snapped this.  Dramatic lighting plus a tiny kitten paw, and M looking on contentedly.  Hang this in the Louvre!

Kitten Pillow

I don't mean a kitten using a pillow.  I mean a kitten being a pillow.

Photographic proof that little Hugo Drax's favorite place to be is snuggled right under M's chin, as her kitten-shaped pillow!

Kitten #4

Introducing... Hugo Drax!

Hugo was the fourth and last kitten born, and he's currently tied with his sister Miranda Frost for title of 'biggest kitten.'  He is definitely a mama's boy.  His favorite place to sleep is right underneath M's chin... a Hugo-shaped pillow!

Kitten #3

Introducing... Vladimir Scorpius!

Vladimir, the third kitten born, is all black except for a spot of white on his belly.  He's a very expressive little guy!  He was the first one to hiss (at 5 days old), the first one to spit (at 7 days old), and the first one to purr (yesterday).  Who knows what kind of noises he'll be making tomorrow!

Kitten #2

Introducing... Elektra King!

Elektra was the second kitten born, and is a striking tabby girl with dark brown swirls and very interesting markings.  She is currently the smallest, but also the loudest!  I bet she'll be bossing her bigger siblings around in no time.

The second two kittens are both boys, but you'll have to wait until next week to meet them.  The suspense!

Kitten #1

Introducing... Miranda Frost!

This tuxedo girl was the first kitten born, and is distinguishable by her tiny white paws.  I think her whiskers are white, but they're so small it's hard to tell!  She also has a very cute little white stripe down her nose; can you see it?

Kitten Photo Shoot

Yesterday was a big day for such tiny kittens: they had their first photo shoot.  The wonderful Jason of Jason Putsché Photography stopped in for a short session.  We wanted to get some good photos of the kittens, but because they're still so young we knew we had to keep it brief so as not to stress them (or M!) out.

Jason is an expert and really great to work with, and he takes the best photos!  Unfortunately the other half of the Jason Putsché team - his wife, Ella - wasn't able to make it out to this shoot.  Luckily we've got more planned, to capture these kittens as they grow up, and I know she'll be there next time.  (Who could stay away from these cute tiny things, really.)  Jason and Ella are both awesome people and photographers who do all kinds of photographic work, from wedding days, to family portraits, to pets and feral cat colonies.

I like to think that M's kittens cooperated nicely while Jason was there.  Not squirming too much, not too worried about being away from their mom, and pretty much just being their cute kitten selves.  I hope we'll have some little kitten portraits to show you all soon!  And thanks again Jason, we'll see you again soon!

The Kittens Are Here!

Exciting (and delayed) news: THE KITTENS ARE HERE!  If you've been following us on Twitter, this is no surprise.  But here's the official blog post about their arrival, with more details and pictures.

Last Wednesday, April 10th.  It was a day like any other day.  I got ready for work, and went to check on M and tidy things up a bit before leaving.  I opened the Kitten Room door and gave M my usual greeting: "Hi Mama!"  I can usually see her peeking out of the side windows of the carrier.  She's still a little shy, but she's beginning to like me and actually enjoys being petted quite a bit.  As I lifted the blanket covering the carrier to give her a goodbye pet, I noticed something new... a tiny, still wet, wiggling kitten.

A kitten!!!  Finally, the day had come!!  My parents happened to be visiting, so I quietly exited the Kitten Room and then exuberantly ran to the kitchen to announce, "The kittens are coming!!!"  My mom and I went back in to peek at M and her first kitten, then we left her alone so they could get acquainted (and I made arrangements to go into work late).

After a little while, we went back in to sit with M - and discovered another kitten had already arrived!

M took her 'new mom' duties in stride (she is experienced in this, after all), and proceeded to give kitten #2 a first bath, all while purring and kneading.  Kitten #1 was busy nursing, and kitten #2 soon joined in.  My mom and I sat with M for a while, and she seemed to enjoy our company and the sweet talking/words of encouragement we were giving her.  M was going from having contractions, her belly moving around quite a bit, to laying calming, just purring and nursing her first two kittens.

After a couple more hours and still no more kittens, I reluctantly went in to work, leaving my (human) mom to monitor the new (cat) mom, and send updates.  Predictably, less than an hour after I got to work, I received a text from my mom: "#3 arrived," followed very shortly by "#4."  And that was it - four kittens total!  The first was born around 9 am, followed by the second around 10 am.  The third and forth were born in quick succession, at 1:05 pm and 1:11 pm.

I got home to find a content M, purring away while her four new, tiny, healthy, freshly bathed kittens nursed.  They're all adorable of course, and I'm glad this new little family is doing so well!

Guessing Game

A friend suggested we have a 'Kitten Pool' so M's followers could submit guesses about details of her impending litter of kittens.  Another M fan then submitted an illustrated guess.

So, here it is!  Leave a comment with your answers for the following:
     1. What day will they be born?
     2. How many kittens in her litter?
     3. What color will they each be?

Here are some hints:
     1. M's caregiver first noticed that she was pregnant on March 15th.
     2. She has gotten significantly bigger in the last three days, her belly is                       noticeably lumpy, and when she lays down it's usually on her side.
     3. M is 8-10 years old.
     4. She had 4 kittens in her last litter.
     5. All 4 kittens from her last litter were tabby and white.
     6. The father cat is unknown, so no help there!

There won't be any prizes for having the most accurate guess, but it's still fun!  All the guesses will be posted later in the week, assuming M doesn't deliver before then.  So far there's one guess, for a litter of 5 purple kittens.

Getting Bigger

I'm not sure how this is even possible, but M is getting bigger.  Even just a couple days ago, she was happily hanging out in and sleeping in the hide box.

Over the weekend, though, it seems that M has noticed just how much bigger she's gotten, and has realized that maybe she needs an upgrade.  Now M hangs out more in the larger carrier, instead of the hide box.  The carrier is much bigger inside so M has plenty of room to stretch her legs... and her belly.  The weather has been nice recently, so the windows stay open and she gets to listen to the birds chirping and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.  The carrier is covered, so she has a nice dark retreat if she wants it.

Maybe this is M preparing a nest for her kittens' arrival?  We'll see!

M's Apartment Suite

Some of you may be wondering what M's accommodations look like. Answer: a veritable palace for this mama-to-be, complete with master bedroom, sitting room, dining nook, master bathroom, plenty of room to stretch her legs, and two viewing platforms so she can take in the world outside the windows.

This pen (her apartment suite) is rather large, and we set it up in the Kitten Room the day before she arrived. For litters past I have simply used a very large dog crate, but this provides M with much more room to roam. The Kitten Room is just what it sounds like - a room used by the transient foster kittens I care for!  This is their home base in our house until they find permanent homes of their own. In the case of M, she'll live here until the kittens are weaned.  The Kitten Room is kept closed, so my permanent animal residents can't bother M.

In this apartment suite, M has numerous places to hide away, lots of soft things with which to make nests in preparation for her kittens, and plenty of natural light and fresh air. One feature that will be especially important in the weeks to come are the platforms. Kittens are a lot of work, and sometimes M will just need a little break! The platforms will provide the perfect escape, since the kittens will be too small to climb them... for a little while, at least.

Arrival

Meet M.

She arrived a week ago today, and is one very pregnant cat.  She lives in a very well-loved and cared for outdoor colony, but for the duration of her pregnancy and until her kittens are weaned, she will live with me in the Kitten Room.  Once the kittens are old enough, they will be up for adoption.

And M?  She will be spayed and returned to her outdoor home, to live her life with the rest of her family.  (Don't worry, they've all be spayed/neutered, too.)  I'm sure they will be happy to be reunited, and her caregivers will be glad to have her back.