A Day In The Life Of a Kitty

adiltofakitty @ 2008-05-27T20:32:00

2008-05-28T01:33:37Z

I'm currently having some issues with this livejournal blog. I will be continuing to update on the blogspot.com URL while I work on the problem here.

ADITL of a Kitty

Day Five... Eyes Opening!

2008-05-25T07:05:44Z

On Day Five we have three kittens with eyes open: Jelly, Hayden and Kristen. The three without are the three smallest in the litter, Peanut Butter, Jorja and Emily.

Day Four

2008-05-25T04:35:29Z

Missy & Kittens say Hello

(Youtube Link)

Emma & Lillie (my two cats) playing

Day Three

2008-05-23T03:30:33Z

"Emily" is named after animal activist and actress Emily Deschanel. She is the second smallest in the litter, but makes up for her lack of size with zeal for food - she has no problems in pushing other other siblings aside. She is a dilute calico.

"Jorja" is named after actress/animal activist Jorja Fox. She has absolutely adorable white 'swirl' markings on her face, and very pretty small orange patches. She is a black calico.

"Kristen" is named after Kristen Bell, an actress and advocate for animal rescue. She is the smallest and most petite in the litter, and is almost entirely that unique silver gray color with a few tiny patches of creme color. She is a dilute calico.

"Peanut Butter" is the runt of the litter, but also the loudest and most demanding. She has beautiful red markings on her face and looks also exactly like her mother. She is a brown tabby that may or may not develop Torbie characteristics.

"Jelly" is slightly bigger than her "twin" sister Peanut Butter, and is the first to begin to open her eyes. She also was the (with no grace whatsoever) walk/crawl around. She is either going to be a tabby like mom, or may develop torbie characteristics.

"Hayden" is named after actress and advocate Hayden Penettiere. She is by far the largest in the litter and already can hiss like nobody's business! She loves to be held and is the most lazy and laid back of the litter. She is a brown tabby bi-color that may or may not be a Torbie.

Day Two: Kitten Vs. Card

2008-05-21T23:13:14Z

As requested by a reader, here are pictures of the kittens with a playing card for size comparison.
The four within names will have them picked tonight...
Everyone looked good today - full tummies, and Momma is taking very good care of them.

<lj-cut text="kittens + cards under the cut">

Name Pending - Dilute Calico

Emily Deschanel - Dilute Calico

Jorja Fox - Calico

Name Pending - "The Twins"

Name Pending - Brown Tabby Torbie
</lj-cut>

I also managed to catch a few quick candids. See them <"lj-cut text="here">

</lj-cut?

Sixtuplets!

2008-05-21T03:49:28Z

The total tally for this litter is six, and what a colorful litter she had!
I'm not 100% sure who is males of the three I have listed below.

Kitten One:
Brown Tabby, no white.
Name Pending
This kitten is the biggest in the litter, also the strongest. He already has very good use of his legs.

Kitten Two:
Brown Tabby, no white.
Name Pending
The only physical difference between this guy and the kitten above is size... he is slightly smaller.

Kitten Three:
Brown Tabby with/white. Also has several red patches on his face and neck.
Name Pending
This guy is big bodied, but unlike his other sibling, not quite as active.

Kitten Four:
Dilute Minimal Calico
Name Pending
This girl is very uniquely marked, almost entirely gray with only a few creme hairs, mostly on her head and neck.

Kitten Five:
Dilute Calico
Emily [named after actress Emily Dechanel ]
I'm very partial to this girls color - I just love it!

Kitten Six:
Minimal Calico
Jorja [ named after actress Jorja Fox]
At first glance I thought this little girl was black and white. She is by far the loudest of the litter!

* For the next week I will be trying to document the entire litter every other day, or depending upon how mother cat (who also is getting a new name) reacts to me and my camera. Thus far she seems completely fine with all of the attention, and is very proud.

At the two week mark I will choose one or two kittens to take daily pictures of, documenting their growth up until they find new homes.

Feel free to ask any questions or to request pictures of a certain kitten.

They're Here!

2008-05-21T03:47:47Z

WE HAVE KITTENS!

Please excuse me for my lack of updates this past several days.
On Sunday the 18th, I completely kitten proofed the room Mama was in - or at least I thought. Her belly was far too big for her to jump onto the bed, and she was spending the majority of her time under the bed or near her crate. In my hurry to leave this morning, I neglected to close my closet door, and Mamma took full advantage. I'm still not sure exactly how she got several shirts and my sweatshirt off of my drawer and onto the floor - but she made a beautiful nest with them.

I'm excited to announce that she had six beautiful kittens. They all seem to be about the same size, and have a full set of lungs that they aren't afraid to use! Of course, Emma and Lillie are literally glued onto the other side of the door, trying their best to listen in.

The picture on the left is Mama's belly on Monday, and the picture on the right is her belly today. She is doing very well, still a complete purr monster and demanding attention.

Day Four, Five, Six

2008-05-18T02:46:46Z

Updates may be scant the next couple of days - I have a bad sinus infection.

Her belly continues to grow, as does her love for her food! However, no sign of kittens anytime terribly soon.

New Update Sunday The 16th :)

Day Three

2008-05-18T02:36:20Z

Momma now resembles a hippo, and waddles like a duck. These picture illustrates why. Pregnant and nursing mothers must be fed a quality food high in nutrients that will be capable of supporting kittens in the womb and once they are born. Momma eats Purina Kitten chow, and as the picture below suggests, momma has quite the appetite! Her nipples are not any bigger than they were since her arrival, so I don't think kittens are in the cards tonight.

She tries her best to demand loving and attention, but at this point it seems like the most she can do is use the litter box, eat, drink and sleep. If you were wondering about her size, it is important to realize that cats can go into heat as early as three

months of age, and become pregnant as early as six - twelve months in age.

Momma is maybe pushing a year old. She will be spayed after she weans this litter, but she may go into heat as early as a week after giving birth to this litter. Her URI has improved greatly, but she still sneezes frequently. Hopefully that will clear up soon.

Any questions? Feel Free To Ask!

Day Two

2008-05-18T02:35:08Z

Get a look at this big belly! If this picture gives you any idea, "Momma" is very friendly. She will walk right up to your hand and start rubbing herself on it - along with a loud purr. I'm very impressed with her personality. She has a serious waddle, and I've actually had to get a different litter-box to make it easier for her to climb in and out. Thankfully she still takes the time to cover up her business before she hops on out!

Because Momma is part of a "*temp-adopt" program, she must be kept separate from the other cats in the house - in this case, my own two cats. Neither appreciates losing their bedroom rights, but hopefully once Momma's URI has cleared and she has been tested by the shelter vet, she will be given access to the entire house. For now they are content to meow at her from outside of the room, and occasionally poke their feet under the door.

Day One: Momma Arrives

2008-05-15T08:40:41Z

Momma is here and learning how to navigate her new temporary "digs". She has a severe upper respiratory infection and has been in a shelter setting for a few months, so quarantine is essential, and not something that should be taken lightly. For two weeks she will be completely isolated from my other two cats, upon which time she will be taken to a vet and tested for any transmittable diseases that my two can get. Anytime you bring a new cat into your home, it is a good idea to follow protocol and isolate your new pet for at least a week.

Introduction

2008-05-15T08:30:47Z

Thank you for visiting the Livejournal page of "A Day In The Life Of a Kitty".
The original blog can be accessed here: http://adayinthelife-ofakitty.blogspot.com

The focus of this blog will be to educate cat and pet owners about the care of a litter of kittens, and how they can contribute to the pet population by spaying/neutering their own pets, and choosing to foster or "temp adopt" a pregnant cat or litter of kittens. This is going to a realistic blog that will show the trials and tribulations of raising a litter. Once the kittens are born, I intend to take daily pictures and updates of them up until they and Momma are available for adoption through their animal shelter.

"Momma": Momma is estimated to be (if she is lucky) a year old. She is heavily pregnant, and first arrived here on Mothers Day still recovering from a severe upper respiratory infection. When Momma first arrived at her animal shelter, workers did not realize she was pregnant, and gave her a "4-way" vaccination that may or may not cause complications with her litter. At this point my goal is to keep her comfortable, happy and on the road to recovery as she prepares to be a mother. Momma is a very petite cat, and is a brown classical tabby.

Feel free to ask questions! [ user information might answer some for you!]