It seems that these kitties have gotten their land legs under them pretty quickly.
and
This group of little ones seem to be growing so fast! They seem to be maturing much faster than usual. Are you seeing that?
They do seem to be a little advanced for almost 5 week old kittens!
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I know your kitten room is 100% safe for kittens, but how often do you see the mamas actively intervene between the kittens and their environment, or even each other? Do they ever call them to the milk bar or back in the crate, etc?
Truthfully, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mama stop her kittens from doing anything. If they are teeny tiny and somehow wander away from the crate, mama might go pick them up and carry them back to safety. But once they get their feet under them and do things on purpose (even if ill-advised), it seems to be a matter of “If they can do it, let ’em.” If a kitten climbs up on the couch or a cat tree and can’t figure out how to get down, and they sit there and cry and cry, mama might go check on them, even groom them a bit and reassure them, but she doesn’t pick them up and carry them down – she lets them figure it out. (And they always do.) If two of her own kittens are fighting, she doesn’t intervene – she lets them work it out. Her main concern is protecting them from outside danger in the form of potential predators (the reason I don’t let Charlie in to visit kittens when there’s a mother present: if he makes a kitten floof and hiss, mama’s going to see that as a threat, and he might be twice her weight but she will kick his butt all over the place. Protective mamas can be SCARY.)
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They’re definitely migrating away from the crate. This bed has become their new (temporary?) favorite place to sleep.
Janeway checks out the pink Adirondak, while Kirk waits his turn.
Kirk’s all “These toys are MINE.”
Spock’s obsessed with Uhura’s feet and tail, and you can see how much she loves it.
Kes and Troi look like they’re ready for a nap.
Janeway’s always keeping an eye on me.
Troi checks out mama’s plate of food. (None of the kittens have actually tried the canned food or kibble – that I know of – but they’re starting to sniff around her plate to see what the big deal is.)
Kes is just cartoonishly adorable.
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Charlie’s not bothered by any ol’ 108ºF.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) yesterday.
YouTube link
First thing in the morning, the kittens are very complainy. Also, they play and have fun and use the litter box like a big boy, because they are so very brilliant.
Throw Back Thursday: This picture of (bottle baby) Jon Snow from 2013 will never not make me laugh. (Jon Snow, his sister Arya, and their brothers Hodor and Brandon were bottle babies. Arya was adopted and lives in S. Carolina. Jon Snow was adopted locally, and Brandon and Hodor were adopted together, also locally. I would love updates on any of these kittens!)
Throw Back Thursday: From 2015, this “album cover” featuring Spitz (from the Swimmers bottle babies), Calabash, and Zuke (from the Squash Bugs bottle babies) still makes me laugh.
Throw Back Thursday: From the Mewsketeers litter, Aramis (who we renamed Charlie when he became a permanent resident) met Uncle Archie and put on his floof suit. (Behind Charlie, also semi-floofed, is Porthos.) Also, Charlie in June of this year making Starling put on her floof suit. And lastly – just because I think it’s interesting – a look at his Basepaws DNA test, which we had done last year. I would never have expected so much Russian Blue, but the Maine Coon doesn’t surprise me at all.
YouTube link
Throw Back Thursday: from 2021, mama Molly Marinara and 6 of her 7 eleven week old kittens. (Well, some of them are her own kittens; black kitten Sofia Soy Sauce and siamese mix kitten Hannah Hollandaise were add-ins.) There was one more kitten – Alfie Alfredo – who was too busy playing to stop and nurse. I love how, about 20 seconds in, their ears start wiggling.
These days, you can see Molly’s kittens Theo Pesto and Sofia Soy Sauce on Facebook here, Alfie Alfredo, Christopher Chutney and Franco Fondue on Facebook here, and Tia Teriyaki and Hannah Hollandaise (now Mia) on Facebook here.
It’s Thlurrrpsday, and holy moly, wouldya look at the fabulous form on Uhura? A++++ !
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Previously
2022: Francesca’s all “Lady, you seen a milk bar around here anywhere?”
2021: Tia Teriyaki and Hannah Hollandaise were playing under the ham-mick, and I was trying to get a picture of them when Christopher Chutney was all “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!”
2020: “The pretty one” is Fred’s nickname for Aramis, in case you were wondering.
2019: Auntie Katriane’s tail is the BEST toy.
2018: No entry.
2017: Chip, lookin’ for trouble. As usual!
2016: “We is tryin’ to nap, lady. You go ‘way.”
2015: Meet Cletus van Damme.
2014: Exfoliation Monday, with Tricki.
2013: No entry.
2012: Petey hopes y’all realize that Caturday is for relaxin’.
2011: Volunteer Purslane, growing in one of the empty raised beds.
2010: I DID NOT toss Bolitar over the door, even though it sounds like it.
2009: The many faces of sweet little bunny Terry.
2008: Naturally, Zoe was all “Hey, this is cool! I like this!” and took up residence.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
OMG! That first pic of Kirk is adorable! Every day is a delight of adorable-ness!
I would love to know the DNA make-up of Uhura. I have never seen a cat that color. My aunt had a Burmese that had a golden-brown coat, but no white markings.
I think Robyn is waiting on the results of a test donated by a love & hisses follower.
Yes, the DNA results should be done by mid to late September, and I am waiting impatiently!
On one of the live feeds, there were two healthy kittens and a sick kitten. If the healthy kittens started playing too rough with the sick kitten, mom would intervene. It was really cool to see.
That’s interesting, and it seems related to Mz Robyn’s observations that Mamas protect kittens (weaker) from potential predators (stronger).
I don’t know why I find that so sweet, but I do!