The KITTENS ~ **latest PICS pg 19 (9/11)**

[kejoda]

I would love to have Rabbit

 

[chyam]

WE are all patiently awaiting some new photos of the cuties! and of course any updates.

 

[Patabel]

They are just too cute! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Grandma Bear]

I think we are all in deep love! So adorable, cute and cuddlely!

 

[chrissyk]

Any new pics this week? I'd love to see how they've grown

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Bumping this back up and hoping for pictures!

T&B

 

[chyam]

I was just thinking of these guys today...........pictures please! For those of us who have a houseful of cats already but would love another kitten! In fact I just threatened my youngest cat today (1 year old) that he could be replaced by a new kitten who would come when I called!

 

[wednesday]

Too cute for words!!!! Tigger and Pooh look like my sweet baby Chili when she was a kitten.... Awe!!!!!

 

[cvemom]

They are so gorgeous!!!!I love kitties! aw:

 

[Grandma Bear]

I'm sure all those babies keep you busy along with all of your other
responsibilities;but if possible, we would aLL like an update on how they are doing.

 

[simba928]

They are adorable!! I love the Pooh name theme. It seems like Tigger has the perfect name.

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL, ok...here's an update (LONG):

They are doing really well, 3 weeks on monday!

Funny thing happened early this morning. Their nest is in my closet and all has been well with that except the fact that now that they are standing up to walk more (wobbly, but they are starting to get it), Rabbit and Roo come to greet me when I come over to see them. They really are advanced with motor coordination, compared to the others. I think it is bothering Shenzi that they can get around. It makes her nervous, I think.

So, I was in bed this morning and heard some 'mewing'...out of the corner of my eye, I see Shenzi with a kitten in her mouth...she jumped up on the bed and then climbed into one of my dresser drawers with the kitten! (my DH and I both have separate high dressers on our sides of the bed) I must have left it partially opened last night and she somehow got it opened more.

I peeked into the drawer and there were 3 kittens in the drawer and 2 were in the drawer underneath that one...she was taking them in there from the opening in the back of the upper drawer! I guess she decided she wanted something more private! Good thing I didn't close the drawer without looking! If you saw how small the space was that she was getting herself and the kittens in, you wouldn't believe it!

I really didn't want her to use my dresser drawers as a kitten nest...not only because they are filled with my unmentionables, etc (LOL) but especially because the kittens were in a high drawer where they could get hurt if they happened to get adventurous and fell out.

So, I rearranged the closet with a piece of cardboard across the door threshold to make the nest more private and to keep the kittens in, but Shenzi can still get in and out. I also am keeping the door almost totally closed, hoping that will help. She hasn't tried to move them again, but I feel bad that she feels they weren't in a secure enough location. Maybe she is just worried about the other animals in the house? I don't know.

Other than that episode, they are still growing and gaining weight at a good rate. They now can hear and see very well. They are playing with each other a good deal now too. It is so cute watching them try to bat at each other like a game of tag! They like to snuggle when I hold them and love their belly rubs too.

I am in love with each and every one of them and it wll be very hard to see them go. I am still thinking I 'may' find a way to keep Rabbit. He runs (very clumsy still) to me when I come and I feel a close connection to him. My ONLY concern is acclimating Shenzi and one of her babies to the rest of our furry family members. I don't think it would be as hard if all of the kittens were gone, but if one is still in the house, I am afraid she will be defensive and want to fight the other cats (or the dog) to protect her baby.

I really do not think our animals would have a very hard time accepting either of them, they are pretty laid back. It's Shenzi that I think may not handle it too well. Maybe a very slow introduction, starting with her only...for small periods, over a long period of time? And then gradually bringing Rabbit out separately? I dunno. Maybe someone here has some suggestions?

I promise, I will post more pics tommorow. Thanks for the interest, I am totally loving having these furbabies in my home.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Sounds like your really doing well! I would wait until the kittens are older and then short monitored periods of introductions should work. Mom will fight to protect them now because the are too little to care for themselves.

 

[poohandwendy]

Sounds like your really doing well! I would wait until the kittens are older and then short monitored periods of introductions should work. Mom will fight to protect them now because the are too little to care for themselves.

Do you think when they are more able to protect themselves, she will know that and be less protective? I am hoping so, because I really would love to keep Rabbit too, but if I have to make a choice...Shenzi comes first, plus it wouldn't be hard to find Rabbit a loving home...he is adorable. But man! I will really be sad if I have to let him go.

 

[MerryPoppins]

If you really want to keep Rabbit and Shenzi, you might think about this. My vet suggested this method of introduction. Keep them in separate areas of the house to begin with (which you are doing). Then carefully switch Shenzi and Rabbit to another room without coming in contact with your other fur babies. Let the other pets into Shenzi and Rabbit's area to smell their litter and bedding. That lets them smell their smells and get used to the idea. It also lets Shenzi and Rabbit smell their smells. He said giving them a chance to get to know the new smells makes the actual introduction easier, because cats don't want to get in each other's faces to smell. It's threatening. Just a thought. He says slow introductions are easier than just putting them together all the time from the beginning.

 

[poohandwendy]

If you really want to keep Rabbit and Shenzi, you might think about this. My vet suggested this method of introduction. Keep them in separate areas of the house to begin with (which you are doing). Then carefully switch Shenzi and Rabbit to another room without coming in contact with your other fur babies. Let the other pets into Shenzi and Rabbit's area to smell their litter and bedding. That lets them smell their smells and get used to the idea. It also lets Shenzi and Rabbit smell their smells. He said giving them a chance to get to know the new smells makes the actual introduction easier, because cats don't want to get in each other's faces to smell. It's threatening. Just a thought. He says slow introductions are easier than just putting them together all the time from the beginning.

Do you mean, remove them from the room, let the other pets in for a while and then bring them back in after getting the other pets back out of the room? And to do this on a regular basis for a while before actually introducing them face to face? (just trying to clarify)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Do you mean, remove them from the room, let the other pets in for a while and then bring them back in after getting the other pets back out of the room? And to do this on a regular basis for a while before actually introducing them face to face? (just trying to clarify)

I think that's a good plan! When we introduced our kittens to our existing cat we kept them apart for a week or so, with a bathroom door between them. The were able to sniff at each other under the door. When they were actually introduced face to face I don't remember much adjusting time.

In your case, once the kitten is older the mom cat probably won't be so protective. We had mom cats when I was young and as I remember, once they got to a certain age their mom let them stand up for themselves and actually seemed to almost withdraw a bit. Seemed a way for her to let her babies go I suppose.

So how are you doing on homes for the orange kittens and/or the tiger? Just wondering if I need to plan a trip up to PA in the near future. It could be perfect timing for me to convince my DH with my oldest going to college and my youngest starting kindergarten (gee, honey, I really want little creatures to take care of with my children growing up LOL).

T&B

 

[MerryPoppins]

Do you mean, remove them from the room, let the other pets in for a while and then bring them back in after getting the other pets back out of the room? And to do this on a regular basis for a while before actually introducing them face to face? (just trying to clarify)

That's pretty much what he suggested. Adjusting to the idea and the new smells is the first step. And then he said let them have short visits together, followed by time in their "safe" zone. He actually said that usually when introducing new cats the only ones who are usually injured are the owners holding a cat. Most of the rest is hissing and swatting and a little fur flying, but usually no major damage done.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Awwwww, I personally would have adopted Roo since the little one is a cutie

 

[jipsy]

I love owl! So precious! aw: aw: