4-18-24 Thursday

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Yesterday morning I woke up at about 6:00. I’d stayed up ’til a little after midnight the night before, but Meander was just hanging out in her window bed, chilling, CLEARLY not in active labor, so I shrugged and went off to bed.

When I went into the room to check on her at 6, I found her with what I thought at first was 3 kittens, but after they wiggled around some, I saw 4. 4 very light kittens.

I went downstairs to tell Fred and to show him pictures and when I came back…

Well hello #5! A little orange tabby.

I went off to take my shower, and when I came back about 15 minutes later…

A very wet #6 was in and amongst the others.

She held at 6 kittens, thankfully – 6 very healthy, wiggly kittens who nursed beautifully.

The little orange tabby went wandering a bit.

Got confused by Mama’s foot.

But figured it out! (We’ll need to get him on the signup sheet for the brain cell, I think.)

Now that’s a cute pile, right there.

It’ll be interesting to see their colors develop over time.

I tried, about mid-day, to change out the bedding in the crate. Meander – who was sitting in the window bed, taking a break – wasn’t having it. The instant I touched one of her kittens, she was right next to me, growling. Some mamas are growly for the first day or so. I finally, with Fred’s help (he distracted her), managed to get the kittens moved into another crate (someone sent us a new one! Same color and about the same size as the red crate the Crumbs are using) onto clean bedding. I tried to get the kittens’ ears marked with fabric marker and I’m not sure how well that’s going to work, so I augmented the color with a tiny dab of paint. I may just give up and go to the collars, I’ll see.

All kittens weigh between 4 and 4.6 ounces (113 – 130 g). I tried to get pictures of all their faces, but did not. I also tried to sex them, but was in kind of a hurry (not wanting to stress out Meander), so I don’t know. More information in the days to come, I’m sure.

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ATTENTION PLEASE.

Now that they are 10 weeks old and their spay/neuter surgeries are scheduled (for May 14th), FORGOTTEN FELINES OF HUNTSVILLE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE CRUMBS KITTENS.

If you are interested, please email Forgotten Felines of Huntsville at info (at) ffhsv.org to inquire. They will be spayed/neutered on May 14th, which is a Tuesday, and they can go home as early as that following weekend.

There are no bonded pairs in this litter – they all get along well with all the other kittens. We are located in Huntsville, Alabama and out of area adoptions are allowed BUT adopters must come here to complete the adoption.

Descriptions will be done in the next couple of days, and I’ll start posting them, but this is your heads-up: if you’re seriously interested, I suggest you not wait. They can go from “no interest” to “adoption pending” pretty quickly.

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Pita is a cutie pie.

Crouton came climbing up the front of the couch to get the feather teaser, and Babka was giving her advice.

Then Babka decided to SHOW her.

Crouton is a fast learner!

“They’re crazy!” says Ciabatta.

Pita and Pumpernickel have a snooze in the ham-mick.

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Charlie in the little purple doll bed, keeping Fred company during his work day.

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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) yesterday.

Welcome to the world, Hopalong Gang! This morning, between 5 and 7 (Central time), Meander gave birth to SIX tiny kittens. We have what appears to be 4 Siamese mix, 1 orange tabby, and 1 that looks to be a buff (but could be a Siamese mix – it’s not dry yet, so we shall see.) I am pretty sure that she’s done. All the kittens are vigorous and nursing, and Meander hasn’t stopped purring. ⁠
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Meander politely asked me to give them some peace and quiet (a very polite growl, and then she looked a little embarrassed) so I’m leaving them alone for a few hours. I do need to get in there to look them over more closely and weigh them (and the meezers marked so that I can tell them apart), but there’s no rush.

Looks like we’ve got a Pita-banana-lemon-kiwi-strawberry tart! I think that’s probably my favorite tart, but I’ll have to try other flavors, obviously.

All morning long, I’ve been trying to figure out why the date is stuck in my head. WHAT happened on April 17th, am I missing someone’s birthday? Someone’s anniversary? What IS it?!⁠
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Now I know – it’s the 16th anniversary of the very first time we had foster kittens born in our house (and how neat that my most recent kittens were born on this date, too!) Kara (who we ended up keeping as a permanent resident; you may remember her as the late Sheriff Mama) gave birth to four kittens – River, Inara, Zoe and Kaylee. ⁠
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I always referred to Kaylee as “the little raccoon” because of her cool markings. She was adopted locally, and this is what she looks like today on her 16th birthday. Gorgeous girl – and she reminds me so very much of her mama.⁠
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(River and Inara were adopted together – they were renamed Dora and Nate, and have since passed away. I never heard any updates about Zoe – so if Zoe’s people are out there, we’d love to hear about her!)⁠
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Thank you, Richard and Patricia! ❤️

Sweet snuggly Pumpernickel and Ciabatta curling up for a nap on this gray and rainy day.

YouTube link
In case you missed it, Meander had her kittens this morning – 6 of them!

This is what the little family looks like after I changed the soiled bedding in their crate (and for that matter, switched them to another crate. The one they were in was not in the greatest shape). Everyone is healthy and doing great! (I’ll get them all named in the next few days.)

Good night innernets. (The Hopalong Gang)

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Previously
2023: All lined up – another milk bar drive-by, I assume.
2022: We have a lights-on, no-one-home situation here with Mondo (left) and Clover.
2021: We have met the vacuum cleaner, and we are not fans. (Canasta & Pinochle)
2020: No entry.
2019: Laura’s all “Pa. Your foot is HEAVY.”
2018: Oh that boy and his giant paws, always on display.
2017: The little explorerer (Beignet) is busy exploring!
2016: “Whatever THAT means.”
2015: #Belushi don’t need no stinkin’ eyeballs.
2014: “What? Was nappin’!”
2013: “WHAT GOIN’ ON OVER HERE, MAMA? OH, THAT’S BIG KITTY FOOD. I’MA GO EAT SOME LITTER!”
2012: DarWednesday!
2011: Rufus, fangin’ it.
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: Kara’s birth story.
2007: Hatehatehate.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.

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