Ola's Kittens

We mated Applejack Viola to Champion Spindiamond Gloryroad, a blue point Balinese boy.  This mating was done to produce kittens which would carry the gene for the Siamese pattern and the gene for long hair, both essential for our Seychellois programme.  We have 6 kittens, all Oriental Shorthair in phenotype.

All kittens from this litter are now reserved.

1 Blue and White boy - staying here with us.

2 Black and white girl - reserved

3 Black girl - reserved

4 Black girl - reserved

5 Chocolate (havana) boy - reserved

6 Blue boy - reserved

22nd February 2008

Following a good labour, Ola gave birth to a beautiful litter of kittens.  All currently doing well.

26th February 2008

Day 4 the kittens are opening their eyes.

29th February 2008

One week old and the kittens have more than doubled their birth weight.

2nd March 2008

9 days old.  So far so good, all kittens well.  They are entering a very cute stage now of recognising each other as brethren rather than just competitors for milk.  They are starting to play by nibbling each other when not feeding or sleeping.

Ola's babes.

Kitten whispering.

7th March 2008

Ola's kittens are now 2 weeks old and I'm delighted to say that they are all thriving and coming along beautifully.  Of course they haven't yet reached their most adorable age and still resemble hamsters but they are getting there.  Whenever I go into their room and peer over the basket they all hold their heads up and look at me.  They are getting stronger now and are able to push themselves up on their front legs.  Can't help kissing and cuddling them whenever the opportunity allows!

Our 2 bi-coloured kittens.

Our 2 black girls.

Our chocolate and blue boys.

11th March, 2008

Our gorgeous babies are now 2.5 weeks old and have changed considerably in the last few days.  They are much more alert now and tend to feed less often.  They are really trying hard to walk and are definately finding it easier to get around.  They are so cute when they cuddle and nibble each other.  It is a real pleasure just to sit and watch them when they are awake.  Personalities are starting to develop.  I think it is time we started to think of names for them.

The line up.

14th March, 2008

3 weeks old today and they're off! I'm going to let the pictures say it all.  Except what they can't and that is the names we've decided on for our babies.  Having recently finished Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, I've decided on some of the characters names for Ola's kittens: The smaller black girl is very bold and adventurous and was the first to do everything so we are naming her after the main character Lyra Silvertongue (Lyra).  The chocolate boy is her companion and full of mischief (and noise) so he is Pantalaimon (Pan).  The other black girl is gentle and beautiful so she is Serefina Pekkala (Serefina).  Our black and white girl is strong and sturdy so she is Ruta Skadi (Ruta).  Our blue boy is very laid back so he is Lee Scorseby (Scorseby) and my very own blue and white boy is Iorek Byrnison (Iorek), beautiful and mightly.  Their pedigree names will all be followed by 'of Puddha's Palace'.  Here are the pics, taken today.

21st March, 2008

Good Friday and the first day of Spring, our kittens are now 4 weeks old and what a transformation has taken place in the last week.  They are now everywhere and that means TROUBLE.  It is so difficult to keep them contained and we seem to spend a lot of time trying to account for them all without stepping on them.  I think it is time they moved out of our lounge and into the cat room where they will be safer as well as having lots of cat furniture to explore.  They are so lovely now, they make a bee-line for humans and love to climb up on us, this is because they've been handled such a lot from birth.  They are getting cuter, here are the photos.

28th March, 2008

5 weeks old today, they are growing so independent its scary, what a precocious bunch Ola's kittens are!  On Tuesday this week I finally moved them into the cat room which is a much better space for them.  Of course every evening we bring them into the lounge for proper love and socialisation though to be honest they are visited in their room by myself and my daughter about 20 times a day.  They are so gorgeous we have to keep playing with them.  Initially when they first moved in there they were contained by their box, that lasted for a day.  Now they are up and down the cat trees, in and out of all the hiding places, just thoroughly enjoying themselves.  Weaning has also started and is much needed for poor Ola is so skinny from feeding 6 greedy kittens for 5 weeks.  They are enjoying tasting a variety of foods but really tuck into the chicken glupe I make for them.  They are still largely dependent on milk for now and that will continue for a few weeks yet but I am trying to persuade them that formula kitten milk is just as good as mums.  Naturally the kittens totally disagree.  The photos:

4th April, 2008

Six weeks old and Ola's kittens continue to grow not just in size but in courage, agility and awareness.  Weaning is going well though no major developments from last week.  Still just eating a little solid food about 4 times a day and then relying on mum for the main goodies.  We have established litter training this week.  I think all 6 kittens are now using the trays successfully.  Though earlier in the week I spotted a couple of the boys just choosing random corners, I think they are all just about there now.  It happens without any real effort on my part I'm happy to say.  Personalities are more clearly defined now.  Lyra is still the most adventurous.  Serefina is very cuddly and affectionate though still the most shy.  Ruta is playful and cheeky.  Pan is tranquil but still has a lot to say.  Scorsby is loving and a real softy.  Iorek is a bit of a wuss and still a mummy's boy.  I just couldn't stop taking pictures this week and got so many good ones but there is only so much space....

11th April, 2008

7 weeks old and for those families awaiting these kittens we are over half way to the point when they will be leaving me and joining you.  There is not a great deal to report on this week as much has stayed the same.  The kittens are all a little bigger than they were last week but the major development phase has passed and these babies are just cruising now.  Their landing skills seem improved though and my daughter tells me they are less 'scratchy' so I think they are getting control over their claws too.  Feeding them is proving difficult.  I've tried so many different foods but all these babies will currently eat is raw turkey or chicken mince.  I shall aim to diversify their diets before they leave me but it might mean seperating them from Ola to build up their appetites. 

I was thinking of filming them this week and putting that on the web rather than photos but decided against it as it would just appear as a blur.  They are so incredibly fast now and just won't keep still to pose for photos, hence the actions shots.  The shy kittens (Iorek and Serefina) have really grown in confidence this week and appear to be at the centre of lots of scrapping and chasing so perhaps they were just late starters in that department.  They all really love human contact and thrive on cuddles and cheek rubs.  Purrrrrr.

18th April, 2008

Well 8 weeks old today and it was time for a health check and the first vaccinations.  The good news is that all the babies are well but the bad news is they all cried when they received their injections.  It is such a shame because they were very well behaved when being checked over and then the worst bit came at the end.  They were all very subdued in the car on the way home and for some time after but then after tea they all felt much better and started tearing around the place, pulling clean clothes off the clothes rack, their favourate game.  They are becoming quite a size now and I no longer think of them as little kittens, I suppose it is because I have the younger litter who are such babies in comparison.  They terrorise their poor mum, Ola, and I think she is running out of patience with them.   Tonight Serefina found a toy mouse and delighted in throwing it around and chasing it.  It is the first behaviour of this kind that I've seen so far.  They usually just hunt each other.

25th April, 2008

9 weeks old and nothing is safe from these little monsters. My hands, hair and legs are all being laid into regularly. Scaling the curtains seems to be some kind of competition and as for my daughter’s Sylvanian Squirrel family, well they are really coming in for it this week. Those fluffy tails are just too good to resist. The noise is quite special too as they squeal and screech when fighting. There’s a lot of violence but also a lot of love. If I sit down for a moment I have 6 kittens all over me and theirs purrs are wonderful. I love kitten purrs they are just so loud as they rattle out from their little bodies.

Personalities are developing still further. Serefina is a little monkey at the moment, always attacking me and she used to be such a quiet love. Lyra is my parrot, regularly perched up my shoulder and always the first to seek attention. Ruta is trouble. She is bigger than the other girls and can really hold her own with the boys so is just always beating up her brothers. She is very soft and purry when her cheeks are being cooched. Scorseby, who used be something of a softie is now a hardcore instigator. He is so mean to his siblings and me too. Or actually anyone who will tolerate his biting. It is surprising how strong his jaws are. Pan is completely different, he rarely looks for a fight and is much quieter and more gentle than the others. I’ve got a real soft spot for him. My wussy Iorek has toughened up too and likes nothing more than a good scrap. Still loves his mummy’s love though.

2nd May, 2008

I can hardly believe Ola's kittens are now 10 weeks old and very soon will be leaving us.  Due to my heavily pregnant state, I'm looking forward to the extra space and reduction in work load (there is a lot more to do than one might think).  But I shall genuinely miss these little characters.  They really are all so lovely.  Of course Iorek will be staying on and that will ease the loss.

We've had a minor set back this week as a mixed diet led to the kittens having runny poos.  So some of them have lost a little weight.  If you are a big, strapping lad like Scorseby or Pan, then this is not a problem at all but if you are tiny, little Lyra, it's a blow.  Anyway a restricted diet over the past few days means the tummy troubles are now over and we are back on track so hopefully there will be a renewed period of fattening up for those who need it.

I can really see a change in the way the kittens are looking now.  They are starting to look like proper, mini Orientals and the kitten coats are all but gone, replaced by silky smooth, glossy fur - very nice.

10th May, 2008

Well a slight diversion in my plans yesterday meant that we didn't get to the vets for repeat vaccinations.  We are rescheduled for Monday and this should not interfere with plans for collection next weekend for those who want to collect their kittens then.  It will seem mighty strange without the biggies around and I'll miss certain characters in particular. We've had a fairly uneventful week really, just the usual hussle and bussle (semi chaos) of having kittens around.  They are growing tall now and slender too, taking on that real Oriental shape.  Scoresby is the biggest, then Pan, then Ruta, then Iorek, then Serefina and last but certainly not least Lyra but all kittens are strong and well as they enter their 12th week of life, such a short time to have come so far.  Still I feel it is time for them to start their big adventures in life in their homes and with their new families.  This I'm sad to say is my last entry in their log...  So fairwell my little darlings, my only wish for you is that life is very kind and very long for you all.