So as you know, the day the kittens were born, I moved them to the crate in the corner of the foster room. If you think of the foster room as a square… Okay, this will be easier if I slap together a little drawing. Hang on.
So, the kittens were born over there in corner D, behind the litter boxes, up against the door to the closet. After Nola had had enough time to chill out, I moved the kittens to the crate, which was ready and waiting in corner A. I assumed they’d stay there forever, like all the other mama kitties and their kittens did (except for Emmy, who literally had her kittens in a wooden box in the middle of the room.)
And Nola said “This is acceptable.”
“I suppose.”
“For now.”
The kittens nursed.
And nursed.
Also, they nursed.
“Lady, pardon me. They’re NURSING, and they NEVER DO THAT.”
So yesterday morning, I walked in with a plate of food for Nola, all “Good morning, sweetheart, here’s your – Oh!”
Nola had moved them to corner B.
Directly on the hard wood floor.
Now, I am perfectly aware that it’s instinctual for mothers to move their kittens. But seeing those wee little bodies directly on the hard wood floor when there were approximately 75 warm, cozy places in that room upon which to lay their heads really bugged me.
So I moved the kittens back to the crate. And I left the room. When I returned a short while later, she’d moved them back to corner B. I know when I’m beat – and really, Nola is in charge when it comes to those kittens. I’m just there to lend assistance and to provide as much food as I can get her to eat. I got out a blanket, and I spread it out and piled the sleeping babies atop it. Nola moved out of the way so I could slide the blanket into the corner, and then she went back into the corner and thought about it.
“Yeah, I dunno. I’m not feelin’ it. Maybe this neighborhood isn’t as great as I thought it was.”
I had a couple of appointments yesterday morning, so I left feeling fairly secure that Nola and her babies would stay on that blanket – or maybe she’d move them back into the crate. When I checked the camera about an hour later, I saw that Nola had moved three of the four kittens to corner D, next to the litter boxes. I emailed Fred and asked him to go in and move the kittens back to corner B, which he did. He also moved the crate so it was shielding corner B from view.
An hour later, when I was about to head home, I called Fred who told me that Nola had moved her kittens back to corner D. This time, instead of moving them back, he simply slid the litter boxes further down the wall a bit, moved the crate to corner D, and put the kittens in the crate.
It’s not ideal, but we can get into the room without worrying about stepping on kittens. The kittens are contained. And Nola is accepting this current location.
“For NOW.”
“I haven’t lived in corner C yet. I hear that’s the up and coming cool place to be.”
The kittens were highly unconcerned about the entire thing.
“Zzzzzz…”
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I found this video I made the day Nola gave birth. I attempted several videos while the kittens were being born, but none of them came out due to the low light and the fact that I was busier watching the births happen than paying attention to how I was holding the camera. In this video, the 4th kitten had just been born the instant before, and you can see her still in the amniotic sac, and then fighting her way out. It’s way goopy, and WAY cool. As always, skip it if you’d rather not see THE MIRACLE OF LIFE.
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Alice Mo the calico.
Sure does love her daddy, no?
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Previously
2016: “Here!” says Art Vandelay. “Let me help!”
2015: Meet the Fools.
2014: No entry.
2013: “Um. Is kinda boring in here, lady.”
2012: “Dat was yummy.”
2011: “Tastes like chicken.”
2010: FAKING IT THE ENTIRE TIME.
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.