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Edited to add: Lilia had unproductive contractions early this morning. I took her to the vet, where an ultrasound showed two more kittens still inside. They’re currently doing a c-section and will let me know when I can pick her (and them) up.
Lilia had her kittens yesterday! And here’s her birth story…
Friday evening, Lilia stopped eating. I think she had a few nibbles of her dinner, but she ate absolutely nothing on Saturday. I tried to get some water into her, and she was not having it. She was clearly nauseated and looked fairly miserable. Because of all that, I was 100% positive we’d have kittens by Sunday morning, so imagine my surprise when I woke up every hour to check on her, and by 6:00 zero kittens had arrived.
By now, I was truly concerned about the fact that she’d had no water at all since sometime Friday. The not eating didn’t bother me – that’s not unheard-of for a pregnant cat about to go into labor at any moment – but I worried that she’d get dehydrated. We decided to give her sub-q fluids. She didn’t love it, but she tolerated it. I stayed in the room with her and we snuggled on the chair for an hour or so. I texted Michelle that if she didn’t have kittens by this morning, I wanted to get her to the vet so we could find out what was going on.
After an hour of snuggling, I had to leave the room to do stuff, and Lilia flopped out on the floor and snoozed.
I checked on her several times over the next few hours, and sometimes she was on the floor, and sometimes she was in the crate. (I didn’t get overly excited about her being in the crate, because she’s been checking it out pretty regularly since I got her.)
Nigel and Matilda’s adopter showed up a little after 10 (I think) (see the next section for the details on that), and after they left and I did a few chores, it was 11:30 or so, and Lilia was still in the crate. I checked on her about half an hour later and – surprise! There was a kitten. She made it clear that she wasn’t in need of my help – growled at me – and so I stood up to leave, and as I did kitten #2 arrived.
Lilia cleaning kitten #1, and #2 had just come out.
Kitten #3 came along not long after.
After #3, Lilia spent about half an hour vigorously cleaning the kittens, cleaning herself, and cleaning up any stray birthing remnants. Then she settled down for a nap, and the kittens nursed, and for the next three hours there was nothin’. I went in and stared at her stomach for a good ten minutes, and saw no kitten movement at all. I wondered how it was possible that that HUGE belly could have possibly only held three kittens. I posted on social media that there were still only 3.
#3 was about 15 minutes old here.
The little gray and white one was the first one born.
Still at 3…
Naturally, about 10 minutes after I posted that there were still only 3, along came #4.
And then there were 4.
The sweet family.
It is nearly midnight as I type this, so I am headed to bed. Lilia and her kittens are resting comfortably – they are nursing, squirmy, and occasionally have a complaint. She’s doing great with them (with her guesstimated age being around 2 years old, I don’t believe this is her first litter.) I’ll be interested to see, upon waking, whether there are any more kittens, or if we’re sticking with 4. (I will report any additions when I get up in the morning!)
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In case you missed it on social media yesterday, this happened:
That’s right, Nigel and Matilda were adopted together! And yes, that was fast. I got word late Saturday afternoon that an application for Nigel had been approved, so arranged with the adopter to come Sunday morning. When she arrived, Matilda sauntered over, rubbed against her leg, and then flopped at her feet.
(I think Matilda must have been paying attention when Monty (now Cosmos) claimed his people!)
Nigel initially hid but pretty quickly came out to see what was going on. The adopter asked if he was particularly close to any of the other kitties, and I pointed to Matilda – she and Nigel have gotten to be good buddies in the last few weeks. I told her that there’d been no inquiries on Matilda at all, and she asked if there was a possibility she could take Matilda in addition to Nigel.
Yes please!
So that’s the second adopter in a matter of a couple of weeks who came for one and left with two. That’s a trend I can get behind!
They live locally in the Huntsville area, Nigel and Matilda will have other kitties (and dogs) to play with. Nigel is now Arlo, and Matilda is Emmylou. As of late afternoon yesterday, he was out exploring his new digs, and she was a little more overwhelmed, but accepting petting and treats. And we’ve been promised updates!
Today’s post includes the rest of the pictures I have that include Nigel and Matilda.
Nigel’s a talker? You don’t say!
It’s a rough life, kittens.
Snuggly boy.
Matilda’s always been an excellent poser.
Checking out the unknown. (Matilda is actually right behind Nigel, but she just kind of blends into the shadows.)
From left: Matilda, Benji, Margarita and Nigel. (Sebastian had already run down the stairs and into the kitchen. He definitely remembers his old stomping grounds!)
Matilda (left) and Margarita give me some attitude.
Uncle Charlie came upstairs to hang out in the foster room, and when Nigel and Sebastian discovered him, they were SHOOK.
Nigel never actually latched onto the bottle, but if I squeezed out some formula, he’d lick it off. (That’s Sebastian on the left, all “Um, that is MY bottle.”)
Matilda’s tilted head in this picture just made me want to squoosh her.
Uncle Charlie came for a visit (to the bowl of kitten food, that is) and the kittens put on their medium-fancy floof suits.
Nigel peeking in from the hallway is cracking me UP.
Organizing kittens. (Nigel was sitting at my feet yelling at me, I think.)
Nigel checks out the view.
Nigel and Matilda have a snuggle. Awww!
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Alice works on her tan.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr/ Bluesky) this weekend.
Lilia is SUCH a lap kitty.
This would have been a perfect shot if Matilda hadn’t been so busy flirting with the ceiling fan. (It’s pretty perfect, though.)
YouTube link
Watching the kittens play, and they’re having a blast. Matilda certainly does like to bounce around with her tail half floofed!
It’s a Matilda pie! (My favorite!)
YouTube link
Matilda has a purrrrr.
We got a box earlier this week with a BUNCH of packing straps wrapped around it. The kittens have been having a blast with them! (Sebastian, especially – he likes to carry one around the room and growl at the other kittens who come near.)
Good night innernets. (Benji)
Lilia says “Excuse you, my eyes are up HERE, lady.”
YouTube link
The kittens at play – Sebastian with the track toys, Sebastian playing with Margarita, and Nigel needs some attention (story of his life!)
Nigel has a blep.
YouTube link
Nigel shows off his excellent moves. Look at him jump!
Good night innernets. (Benji, Margarita, Nigel & Matilda. Sebastian was busy elsewhere.)
If Lilia doesn’t have her kittens by tomorrow morning, she’s off to the vet. (This is the look she gave me when I told her that. “Yeah, whatever lady.”)
Hooray, hooray, Nigel and Matilda were adopted – together! – today! They’re joining a family that includes other kitties for them to play with and some dogs as well. Nigel will likely be renamed Arlo – they’re not sure about Matilda yet. We’ve been promised updates! Happy life, sweet babies! ❤️
Welcome to the world, little ones! Lilia’s birthed three kittens in the last hour or so and all are doing well. She doesn’t want me in there, so I’ve just been making very quick trips in to peek in and be sure that all is well. (I’m not going to try to guess what we’ve got, color-wise. That gray one on the left looked black when s/he was born, so we’ll just wait ’til they’re all dry to figure out what we’ve got color-wise.)
We’re still at 3 kittens. I’m not seeing any abdominal movement to indicate that there are more kittens (which isn’t to say that there aren’t, just that I’m not seeing movement), and she isn’t laboring. She’s happy and purring, and the kittens are nursing well. I’m going to give her another couple of hours, and then change out the bedding and quickly weigh the kittens.
Literally 10 minutes after the last post, when I said she was still at 3 and I didn’t know if there were any more, she birthed #4. Right now it looks like we’ve got one gray and white, one black with white feet and chin, and two black. Possibly 2 girls and 2 boys, but not 100% on that. We’ll check again in a few days. Is she done? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We’ll see!
Good night innernets. (Margarita & Sebastian. Benji is about 5 feet away, sleeping on my bed.)
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Previously
2024: No entry.
2023: When I pushed the tree back in front of the window, Wren had to check and see if the view had changed.
2022: Other times he looks a LOT cross-eyed!
2021: Drum and Branwen (formerly Juniper) update!
2020: And then about 2 seconds after I took this picture, Lola also hopped the Last Train to Nopesville.
2019: Margeaux’s feelin’ judgy.
2018: No entry.
2017: “I HAS THIS PAW AND I WILL USE IT. IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.”
2016: Such a big ol’ teddy bear.
2015: Yes, Committee of Judgemental Kittens, I KNOW THAT THE TUB NEEDS TO BE CLEANED.
2014: “We don’t miss no stinkin’ Uncle Dennis!”
2013: No entry.
2012: No entry.
2011: “COOKIES, PLEASE.”
2010: “I’m gonna jump!”
2009: Fun facts about Creed.
2008: He just looks at her like “I don’t know what you want, but I wish you’d be quiet about it!”
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.