The Clockwork Mansion

The Grand Hallway => The Outer Fortress => Topic started by: Dishonored on March 23, 2014, 06:41:50 PM

Title: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on March 23, 2014, 06:41:50 PM
 This can be moved if El Box deems it necessary.

Last Tuesday one of my many, many, oh Lord TOO many cats wanted in my house, so I let her in overnight. No sign of anything wrong, but she's well-behaved so no big deal.
Late Wednesday afternoon she had a kitten on my couch. No windup, no sign of pregnancy, just BAM! kitten! He's a very healthy white kitten with an odd dark grey blotch on his head.
His name? Why, Surprise, of course!
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Qilby on March 23, 2014, 09:12:26 PM
That's super cute! Is it a smaller cat and her first litter? We only rarely had single-kitten litters when I had (too many) cats growing up, but it did happen.
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: llearch n'n'daCorna on March 24, 2014, 05:59:17 AM
Quote from: Dishonored on March 23, 2014, 06:41:50 PM
This can be moved if El Box deems it necessary.

I think you got it fairly right. ;-]

Good choice of names for the kitten.
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on March 25, 2014, 03:16:37 PM
 No, Eany's an older cat. Last year she had a litter with only two kittens, 28 hours apart. Those were Mute and Miracle. I suspect that although she's healthy enough, this will be her last litter. I'd get her spayed, but I don't want to chance it due to her age.

And I can't lay claim to the name. I was originally calling him "Ninny-seeking Missile", but my mother thought Surprise was better.  :)
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Qilby on March 31, 2014, 01:54:18 PM
You know you can't legally make a thread about kittens and not post some cute pictures, right?  :eager
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on April 06, 2014, 03:53:35 PM
Unfortunately, I have very limited access to what seems to be the world's slowest dialup service. But I'll do my best.
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Sienna Maiu - M T on April 09, 2014, 03:52:49 AM
To the Library!~ :D

(That's adorable :>)
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on April 11, 2014, 04:14:26 PM
 Okay! Finally got a couple of pics up! Here's Surprise right after birth (warning: not for the very squeamish):
http://s25.postimg.org/mhztuc5ov/Surprise1.jpg
And another about a week later, with her favorite toy (besides me):
http://s25.postimg.org/a4mznfg0f/Surprise2.jpg
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on April 21, 2014, 04:42:11 PM
 No new pictures, but a quick update on my kitten. Surprise's mother, Eany, decided that it was time for her to be weaned. As in "No more milk today, try again never".

So I'm finishing off her proper weaning by introducing her to soft foods. Luckily, she has very sharp teeth and takes to it like a duck to water. I just have to "jumpstart" her a bit each time I feed her. (Pry open mouth, check. Put tiny bit of food inside by finger, check. Don't get bi-OUCH! Set kitten in front of food plate and watch her gorge, check. Burp afterwards.")

I said I never wanted to do this again, but several years later, I'm still a good mommy. So far.  :)
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Merlin on April 21, 2014, 11:45:39 PM
Surprise is so cute, aaaaaaaaaa :eager
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: ZacAttac21 on April 22, 2014, 12:09:55 AM
Quote from: Dishonored on April 11, 2014, 04:14:26 PM
Okay! Finally got a couple of pics up! Here's Surprise right after birth (warning: not for the very squeamish):
http://s25.postimg.org/mhztuc5ov/Surprise1.jpg
And another about a week later, with her favorite toy (besides me):
http://s25.postimg.org/a4mznfg0f/Surprise2.jpg

Wow, that's a lot of shed cat hair.
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on April 22, 2014, 04:51:44 PM
Quote from: CubiKitsune on April 22, 2014, 12:09:55 AM

Wow, that's a lot of shed cat hair.

It's because Eany is mostly wild, and pulled out all of her loose fur to make a "nest" for her baby. She always starts off as a good mother, but tends to lose focus after about a month. Also looks a lot worse since it's white fur on a dark green throw.

I'm finally back down to two indoor cats: Surprise, and my tomcat Mia. He's safe around the baby because his idea of fighting is a contemptuous glare and a walk away from you as if you mean nothing. (Actually, that's his idea of a lot of things...)
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on May 05, 2014, 05:53:46 PM
 Another update! (Wow, that's a heavy echo...)

Surprise eats on her own, tons of it, and four times a day. That's not including appendages, which are still her favorite prey. Here's a picture of her snacking. On me.
(http://s25.postimg.org/m77qe89u7/Surprise3.jpg)
Blurry because that's the way hyperkitten rolls. Best picture out of thirty; she moves fast.
Title: Re: Surprise!
Post by: Dishonored on June 15, 2014, 04:21:34 PM
 Last update! Surprise is old enough and independent enough to join her mother and the other adult cats outdoors, so I put her out. She's having a grand old time playing, exploring, and generally annoying the heck out of the bigger cats. She should be right as rain from now on.