Cat-astrophes

Another undisturbed night – I’m loving that! I’ve been reading up on kitten development, I haven’t had newborn kittens in my life for 35+ years! And at that time, being a teenager, my dad made sure all necessities were taken care of.

My mum was a ‘duty-to-the-helpless’ kind of person, but no animal lover. Ha Ha, except on her plate! No, not pets, but we couldn’t drive past a herd of cattle without my mum counting the steaks! Her first employment was an apprenticeship in a butchery. My dad, on the other hand was a great animal lover. If he’d had his way, there would have been little or no room for us kids in the home for the animals. This is where my mum and dad balanced each other – although my mum was the stronger, more dominant personality.

Fast forward to the here and now. Having permitted a pregnant cat to take shelter in my home may have been a very sweet decision, but not the kindest, methinks. Oh, don’t get me wrong – this isn’t regret! Now that the kittens have arrived, I, too, am beginning to realise the responsibility aspect of the situation I’ve allowed. Hence my admiration for my neighbours strength to act with regards to Shadow.

I had been seriously considering visiting Pretoria at the end of November, as I’m invited to a wedding. Normally I dislike weddings – fairly intensely, I’m not one for those formal family things. But this one promises to be more casual and being in Pretoria, I could combine it with some much needed shopping. There are several affordable boutiques in Pretoria, where I can get decent pants that fit and suit me – which is quite a challenge given my age and size. Especially with this ridiculous hipster fashion lately – can’t get anything else for love nor money!

I’ve been saving up for a while now, though not yet enough to make such a trip truly affordable – at present, I’d still end up in the red if I carried out my plans. Or, if I’m frugal and avoid the red – I’d sink into the red when I move. Hence my pushing for a salary increase – which still hasn’t trickled through to me! So far, I’ve taken the cat care out of my gardening budget. I’ve got most of the tools I need, I really shouldn’t get more seeds anyway and compost is not that expensive. Kitten care, however, is expensive! At least, proper care.

Firstly, I’ll have to change mommy’s diet. Then, I’ll have to get some kitten litter trays and kitten litter sand also some kitten bowls. They’ll need deworming treatment at two or three weeks. And by week four or so they’ll start eating solids so I’ll have to get special kitten food for them. By about week six they also need to be vaccinated, neutered / spayed and so does mommy. It’s all good and well to google – but it’s not the same as reading up in a professional book or journal. So I’m trying to get hold of CatCare to advise me.

Back at home my poor neighbour has quite a problem with Shadow who is aggressively claiming her new territory – and has chased my neighbours two elderly cats away! They’ve both been gone for hours – though my neighbour is putting on a brave face assuring me (and herself, I think) that they’re nearby. She’s locked Shadow up in the spare room so that her own cats can safely come back to eat. Which both eventually did!

In my own home things aren’t all that easy, either. Silver was waiting for me at the door when I came home! She still isn’t eager to leave the flat, but staying in such a small space is so much against her nature, I feel if she doesn’t get out at all, she’ll go stir crazy, so I coax her to come out for a bit. I keep an eye on her though, and call her back with mewls if she wanders too far for my liking. One thing all the websites seem to agree on is that mother doesn’t leave the nest at all the first week – that’s why food and litterbox should be right next to it. Yet Silver doesn’t seem to have read that! It’s as if her mother-instinct is competing with her nature – don’t ask how that should make sense. It’s like two warring factions in her – and she looks to me to referee. Maybe I’m wrong to coax her outside. I go to her nest frequently, fussing over her, brushing her, etc. I’m noticing that when I pick up a kitten it seems more that she objects to attention not given to her than to my handling her babies. I’m becoming convinced that if she had the human free will – she would not be a good mother. But then again free will would also have allowed her to prevent pregnancy. Shame, she is still very young herself and at least she’s gotten good assistance – me! I guess the need for attention is just as natural as the instinct to care for her young.

When she was faffing around with the litter box again – she does NOT like it – I opened the front door to let her go where she prefers. She wasn’t exactly eager and first went back to her nest, then faffed with the litter box again until she finally opted for the garden. She’d barely left when the most awful cat-row started outside my neighbours front door! I went downstairs and my appearance sent the two strays scattering! My neighbour had gone inside for a jug of water – and I saw her tom sitting by the door! Apparently there now are TWO black and white tomcats spaying our front doors and porches every night! I’m not as badly ‘hit’ – possibly because I’m upstairs and don’t have a tom. But we definitely need to do something about those cats.

An hour later I’m changing into my jammies and Silver comes rushing out of the nest onto the bed for attention. After ten or fifteen minutes intensive brushing she eats a bit and then meows to go outside! I do hope she won’t stay long. The kittens are asleep, but they can’t be alone for long since they are too small to keep warm by themselves. Ah! About ten minutes later she’s back rushing straight to her nest – I don’t even get a passing glance. So, all’s well that ends well!