So as you know, the day the kittens were born, I moved them to the crate in the corner of the foster room. If you think of the foster room as a square… Okay, this will be easier if I slap together a little drawing. Hang on.
So, the kittens were born over there in corner D, behind the litter boxes, up against the door to the closet. After Nola had had enough time to chill out, I moved the kittens to the crate, which was ready and waiting in corner A. I assumed they’d stay there forever, like all the other mama kitties and their kittens did (except for Emmy, who literally had her kittens in a wooden box in the middle of the room.)
And Nola said “This is acceptable.”
“I suppose.”
“For now.”
The kittens nursed.
And nursed.
Also, they nursed.
“Lady, pardon me. They’re NURSING, and they NEVER DO THAT.”
So yesterday morning, I walked in with a plate of food for Nola, all “Good morning, sweetheart, here’s your – Oh!”
Nola had moved them to corner B.
Directly on the hard wood floor.
Now, I am perfectly aware that it’s instinctual for mothers to move their kittens. But seeing those wee little bodies directly on the hard wood floor when there were approximately 75 warm, cozy places in that room upon which to lay their heads really bugged me.
So I moved the kittens back to the crate. And I left the room. When I returned a short while later, she’d moved them back to corner B. I know when I’m beat – and really, Nola is in charge when it comes to those kittens. I’m just there to lend assistance and to provide as much food as I can get her to eat. I got out a blanket, and I spread it out and piled the sleeping babies atop it. Nola moved out of the way so I could slide the blanket into the corner, and then she went back into the corner and thought about it.
“Yeah, I dunno. I’m not feelin’ it. Maybe this neighborhood isn’t as great as I thought it was.”
I had a couple of appointments yesterday morning, so I left feeling fairly secure that Nola and her babies would stay on that blanket – or maybe she’d move them back into the crate. When I checked the camera about an hour later, I saw that Nola had moved three of the four kittens to corner D, next to the litter boxes. I emailed Fred and asked him to go in and move the kittens back to corner B, which he did. He also moved the crate so it was shielding corner B from view.
An hour later, when I was about to head home, I called Fred who told me that Nola had moved her kittens back to corner D. This time, instead of moving them back, he simply slid the litter boxes further down the wall a bit, moved the crate to corner D, and put the kittens in the crate.
It’s not ideal, but we can get into the room without worrying about stepping on kittens. The kittens are contained. And Nola is accepting this current location.
“For NOW.”
“I haven’t lived in corner C yet. I hear that’s the up and coming cool place to be.”
The kittens were highly unconcerned about the entire thing.
“Zzzzzz…”
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I found this video I made the day Nola gave birth. I attempted several videos while the kittens were being born, but none of them came out due to the low light and the fact that I was busier watching the births happen than paying attention to how I was holding the camera. In this video, the 4th kitten had just been born the instant before, and you can see her still in the amniotic sac, and then fighting her way out. It’s way goopy, and WAY cool. As always, skip it if you’d rather not see THE MIRACLE OF LIFE.
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Alice Mo the calico.
Sure does love her daddy, no?
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Previously
2016: “Here!” says Art Vandelay. “Let me help!”
2015: Meet the Fools.
2014: No entry.
2013: “Um. Is kinda boring in here, lady.”
2012: “Dat was yummy.”
2011: “Tastes like chicken.”
2010: FAKING IT THE ENTIRE TIME.
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
Yes, I’d be all “Nola! That floor is hard and cold!”, and like you (I’m assuming) it would keep me up worrying that the babies are lying on a cold, hard, scratchy floor and OMG what if they get a splinter!?!!?
But. Did you see little piece of candy that looks like he\she is tumbling backwards, itty bitty legs and pink toes to the air (in the `Also, they nursed` picture)?
Agreed! No hard floors for those delicate babies!!! Do you hear us, Nola?
Perhaps she is just enjoying watching you get in all a tither?!
I’m sure she is! She’s such a brat. 🙂
I certainly did notice that little flaily muffin tumbling back. I love it when they do that!
I can practically hear Nola cursing you out as she moves those babies “Stupid freaking human, moving my babies! “*$®℅€¢!!!!! I’ll put them where I wanna”
Alice’s love for her daddy is so adorable. She always looks sooooo happy to be near him, even if he’s not paying attention to her, lol.
“That’s okay, daddy, you go ahead and work. I’m just gonna love on you anyway cuz you’re the bestest daddy ever.”
Whoa, I’m a little dizzy now from scrolling up and down from the dialogue to the diagram trying to follow along! Next time how about one of those electronic football analyst charts so you can draw arrows and such? 😀
That might be beyond my skill level. 😀
A. I appreciate the foster room diagram, because, I’ve looked at 1265054654545674564 of Robyn’s pictures, but I could not have followed that process w/o the diagram.
B. I too, am dizzy from scrolling up and down to go back to the diagram to figure out where the Cajuns were being moved about…but still appreciative.
C. Why do Mommas always gotta put babies on the floor?!?!
If I’d had more time, I could have put a small picture with each explanation – with arrows pointing to the directions in which she’d moved them. Alas, it only occurred to me to make the diagram at the last minute. 🙂
With all that fur and those warm kittens piled on could it be that she feels too warm? Perhaps she feels cooler without the blankets etc. Beautiful family!
Maybe – but I’m starting to think it could have been the wind hitting the windows that was freaking her out. It was very windy here yesterday!
I’ll bet you’re right – the wind could definitely have made her think she needed to get her kittens to a safer place. Also – that video – Nola seems particularly unconcerned about what’s happening around her nether regions!
awww – Alice and her daddy
What is it about momma cat’s being all “nope – let’s be uncomfortable”? Last year Amaryllis moved her kittens BETWEEN the cabinet and the sliding door…. WHY?? (I finally shoved a box in there and put a bed on the bottom shelf of the cabinet for her – which she did use….mainly I think because I couldn’t see her on the camera)
I remember that!! I was wondering if the camera I had pointed into the crate was freaking Nola out. If it switches to night vision or goes offline briefly, it clicks. But it’s pointed at the crate right now and she doesn’t seem to have any issues with it.
Video CC: Uh, Mom, a little help here? Thanks!
OK, here’s my Mama Cat moves kittens story-
Way back in 1990 a kitty at my sisters farm decided to deliver her babies in the hay loft. She was a sweet, people loving kitty, so they gathered up her and all five kittens, took them to the house and made a nice comfy place for them on the screened-in back porch. The idea was to socialize the kittens and find homes for them and keep Mama secured until she could be spayed.
She ripped the screen and carried each kitten one-by-one back to the hay loft, ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE HOUSE AND ACROSS A ROAD!!!! Oh, and by the way, there were no stairs, just a totally vertical wood ladder. They gathered them up again, fixed the screen and put them back on the porch. She stayed put this time. Time for spaying, the vet says “No can do, she’s about to have kittens again.” Turns out she ripped the screen again, found her boyfriend, came back in. They reinforced the screen with chicken wire and nails. She had the next litter and not long after came to live with me, along with two kittens from that last litter. She was the best kitty EVER and lived to about age 24, well past her babies. Gosh, I miss her.
I’m guessing that girlfriend had a mind of her own and not about to let you forget it or stand in her way.
Okay, that is awesome (and true dedication!) When Nola moved the babies back to the corner the second time I was all “Wow, you must be so tired right now!” And she didn’t have 1/4 mile to go, ONE KITTEN AT A TIME!
Wait, THOSE are the lyrics to Alice’s theme song?
Always thought it was: Sure does love her Daddy – O!!!!
BTW, is Frankie on the other side, resting his head on Fred’s other arm?
It’s actually “sure does love her Daddy, yo!” 🙂
No, Frankie was off gazing upon the OTHER love of his life, Dewey!
Thank you for sharing your kittens with us Robyn. It is the first post I look for every day.
Thank you for reading, Dana! 🙂
re:video – um.. HELLO!! I’m down here soaking wet, stuck in this goop, and you are up there cleaning the clean kitten in front of you?? someone help me! I am a wee baby kitten!
regardless of where she decides to stick them, I hope it isn’t in front of the door again, because that can be frustrating.
I’m not entirely sure she even knew that kitten had been born!
So far she’s sticking to the crate. It might help that it’s turned cool, so maybe she wants to stay where it’s warm and cozy.
Between the Cajuns and (in previous entries), the Fakers, the Fools, the Royals, the Nominees, and the McMaos, it seems like April is high time for wee kittens!
squee!!!! i am so grateful when mamas have smaller litters (like 3-4 instead of 6-7) because it means no one has to do any real fighting for the milk bar plus they get sooo pudgy soooo fast!!!! <3 oh and it's less hard on mama too 😉
robyn, will you please remind me of the appetite stimulant you've used on your older kitties to get them interested in eating again? i remember it was something you gave when you noticed miz poo being less than enthusiastic about her meals… thanks so much.
I think you are looking for Liqui-Tinic. https://www.drugs.com/vet/liqui-tinic-4x.html
YES thank you!!! 🙂
Thanks, Starr! 🙂
A last minute kitten name idea–I was having Paella for lunch (Yum!). What about Andouille? You could call him “Andy” or “Little Sausage” as a nickname! 🙂 Apologies if someone already suggested this.