About three months ago, Youngest Daughter found a stray cat and brought her home. She named her Riley and took her to the vet for a check up. The vet said she was about six or seven months old and underweight (four pounds), but overall in good health. She didn’t have a chip.
Three weeks ago, on May 17, Riley had kittens! We couldn’t believe it. She was so thin when we got her. We could feel each bone. She gained weight and we thought she was just getting better. Calculating back from birth, she must have been only three days pregnant when we found her.
Alex, the dark tabby, was baby number one. One of Middle Daughter’s friends asked to adopt this kitten. Hence the current name, which I am sure will change when Alex the kitty goes home with Alex the adoptive dad. Benny (one of the orange and white ones) was next. The third kitten was the black and white one named Clark. And the last, but not least, was the fluffiest one with the white neck band, named Winston.
When the grands arrived a few days later, Snow White made a sign for the nursery box.
So small, so cute!
Riley is very good about sharing her babies. Initially, we were careful not to push it, but now she is quite happy to have anyone around petting on the kittens. With the exception of our cat Zilli. Poor Zilli. She has no interest in the kittens, but Riley won’t abide her presence in any room Riley may be in with her. Riley goes into offensive mode and Zilli retreats as quickly as she can. Currently, she has taken up residence in our bedroom, staying as far away from Riley as she can.
Ski, on the other hand, is part of the family. Riley is fine with him checking out the kittens, playing with them, and sticking around as long as he likes.
They are as cute as they can be and we have had a wonderful time watching them grow. Now that they can bumble around the floor, they are quite entertaining. Alex, the first to try anything at all, was the first one out of the nursery box. As you can see, we had to put painters’ tape on all the drawers. Riley kept opening them, looking for a new place to put the kittens.
It didn’t take him long to tumble back into the box, though.
Mama says “welcome back!”
And after play time, it’s always nap time!
We are keeping Clark (black and white) and Winston (orange with a white band around his neck). The other two have homes waiting for them.
~~Rhonda
2 Comments
I’ve really enjoyed watching them grow! Such a delight to watch them over the last few weeks!
So cute! My kids and I enjoy looking at the pictures of your sweet kittens.