Edited to add: She went into labor not long ago, and as of right now (almost 6 pm central time) she’s had 4 babies – looks like two dark (tabbies or tuxies, maybe) and two orange. I’m updating at the FB page, and will post a final tally here later.
Updated: She has delivered a total of 7 – 4 orange or buff, 2 dark (black or tuxie or brown tabby, it’s hard to tell), and one who looks very much like Ruth from Khaleesi’s litter. We’re going to bed – I’ll check on her a couple of times tonight, but so far, everyone looks great!
Over on Facebook yesterday, Clare asked which mama has made me wait the latest for her kittens. I had to go back and look, because it always feels like forever, and I figured since I was looking anyway, why not do a post about it?
Our very first litter born here was Kara’s. We got her on April 16, 2008. She looked like this:
The evening of the very next day, she had four little ones.
You can read her birthin’ story here.
Our next pregnant cat was Mary Margaret, immediately nicknamed Maggie. She came to us on March 11, 2011. She looked like this:
THREE WEEKS LATER, she looked like this:
On April 2nd, she went into labor and had six kittens.
You can read her birthin’ story here.
Next up was Emmy. We got her on February 17, 2012 (she was one of a group of about 40 cats abandoned at a house in the country, and was feral.) She looked like this:
12 days later, she looked like this:
That was the same day I made the Emmy’s Alien Belly video and shared it:
The very next morning (March 1st), Fred went in to check on her when he got up at 3:30. She was in the middle of labor, and made it very clear that she didn’t want us around. She ended up having four kittens:
You can read her birthin’ story here.
Our next pregnant cat was Catherine (who immediately became Kate). She came to us on February 24, 2013. She looked like this:
A week later, she looked like this:
A couple days later, we got the view from above:
Finally, when she’d been with us for 3 1/2 weeks, Kate gave us the Royals on March 19th. She had five wee kittens.
You can read her birthin’ story right here.
And our most recent pregnant cat was the loontastic Khaleesi. We got her on April 14, 2013. She looked like this:
For some reason, I never did get a picture of Fred holding her up to show her belly, which is a bummer. I imagine, since I still had Kate in the other foster room (siggggh, remember when I had two foster rooms? Grrr, Fred.), I was busy and just didn’t think to do it.
Two and a half weeks later, on May 1st, she had four little Dragons, and adopted the little orphan Norbert.
You can read her birthin’ story here.
So, in summation:
Kara – waited approximately 30 hours – birthed 4 kittens.
Maggie – waited 22 days – birthed 6 kittens
Emmy – waited 13 days – birthed 4 kittens
Kate – waited 23 days – birthed 5 kittens
Khaleesi – waited 17 days – birthed 4 kittens, adopted 1
I got our current mama on March 19th, which means it’s been 13 days. I don’t know how much longer she’ll go, but as far as I’m concerned ANY TIME NOW, MAMA. ANY TIME.
This list would feel incomplete if I didn’t at least mention our two fakers, who came to me under false pretences – I was told they were pregnant, and they WERE NOT.
Maura, in 2010. She came to us on March 15, and I wrote about the fact that she was a fakeypants on April 6th, so it took us 22 days to come around to the realization that we’d been hoodwinked.
And Lilybet, in 2013. She came to us on February 4, and I posted about how we’d been bamboozled by her on February 19th, so it took two weeks to get that confirmation, despite the fact that she never even LOOKED pregnant and was a pretty small cat.
“I see what you’re doing, and you are exceedingly RUDE.”
“What you MEAN I still got food on my plate? I don’t want THAT stuff, it’s like 10 minutes old. I want the fresh stuff!”
“RIGHT HERE is where the food goes, lady!”
Her appetite had died off quite a bit toward the end of last week and over the weekend, but the last couple of days, she’s been absolutely voracious. Yesterday, she finished off 6 cans of food and ate a ton of kibble. Usually, in the day or two before they give birth, their appetite tends to drop off drastically. With this one, I have no idea what’s going on. I’ll give her as much as she wants to eat, and just hope that SOME DAY she sees fit to give me those babies.
Listen. If YOU were hugely pregnant and had just eaten a large snack, you might find yourself a little belchy, too. DON’T JUDGE.
Archie, son, you need yourself a pedicure. Those are some dirty feet you’ve got there.
“Don’t be touching the toes, lady.”
Previously
2014: Eventually, both gum balls ended up at the bottom of the stairs, where I stepped on them.
2013: “Don’t you go riling up my babies, lady.”
2012: “Do NOT boop my nose, lady!”
2011: Ohmygod, SO RUDE, taking pictures of the pregnant lady from behind.
2010: “I! HAZ! A! COMPLAINT!”
2009: Fred thinks Beulah is ugly.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
holy crap, 6 cans of food? she’s eating you out of house and home!
Is it just me or does this Mama’s belly look bigger than any of the other expectant ladies? She must have 23 babies in there! Come on, mommy, you must be pretty uncomfortable by now… giving us those babies is bound to make you feel better eventually!
that girl better not be going for the record….none of us will survive it!!
btw – love that back foot sticking out in the momma loaf pic…even her feet are cooperating anymore. 🙂
I think she either has a lot of kittens or a few well-baked kittens! Like about 2 weeks old when they’re born 😉
See, Loaf Mama KNOWS it has only been 13 days and that you are capable of waiting MUCH LONGER!! 😀
And I snickered as I scrolled down to Emmy and thought to myself, “Yeah, Fred didn’t dare attempt to hold Emmy – no standing belleh shot here!” 😉
Thank you! all my questions and more answered. You are a star.
“Whatchoo want, lady?” Well you want her to give birth to her kittens. She really is a beautiful cat as I’m sure her kittens will be…whenever she decides to present them to the world.
Norbert’s story is still my favorite. I can’t believe you’ve only had five mamas–I always imagine you constantly having a pregnant or nursing mama, but I suppose it’s not actually that often!
Love the picture of very-pregnant Maggie being held up by Fred – she really is rolling her eyes at you! And my favorite birthing story is Khaleesi adopting Norbert in mid-labor – “I don’t remember giving birth to that one, but I must have!”
And that look she gave Fred, “Are you sure this is mine?” Of course it was pretty obvious later on when he didn’t look like any of his siblings with his Ferrari curves.
Ooo, “Ferrari curves” — I like that description very much for Norbie.
He’s more along the lines of a Subaru now, but with a really nice paint job;)
HA!!!
Wait, we’re not counting the faker?
Kate was such a beautiful pregnant mama. Not a big longhaired fan, I just see a lot of combing but she was gorgeous.
Kittens? What kittens? She is clearly baking up a herd of water buffalo.
6 cans?!! Whoa…
Judging by the girth of the other Mamas next to current Mama-in-residence, she is clearly having 84 kittens. Either that, or she’s baking a few puppies in there as well, for sh*ts and giggles (which would be totally.so.cool!).
Reading over at facebook- the babies have started arriving! (not an April fool’s joke, I would never.)
Many congratulations to both mamas! I’m looking forward to the final count and hoping that all is well.
Yay yay yay yay!! To paraphrase Frosty the Snowman, “Happy Birthday babies!”
Yay!!!! I love the orangie!!!
The pictures of them being held up by Fred remind me that they are cat mug shots! YAY… April Fools Day babies!!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! Babies are here!!! 6! No wonder she was sooooo huge! Aw, happy birthday babies, and congratulations Mama!
Whoa! Seven now! No wonder she never stopped eating! 😀
Oh man, that slow blink that you get from Mama Kitty is so adorable! I love the slow blinks. <3
YAY April Fool’s Day’s kittens!!
so weird.. my MK is only eating about 3 oz .. well 6 over the course of the day..
Happy birth day Mama & Robyn!
Happy Birthday Kittens!!