This is Ernie and her litter of 8 kittens, who were born on July 28th. This is the last photo I have of all of them together, taken about a week ago.
The kittens seem to be maturing in some ways MUCH faster than Ernie's first litter of 4, and not growing as quickly, even though we've been bottle feeding them all since they were 2 weeks old, since Ernie is so small she couldn't make enough milk for a litter of 8.
When I say maturing, I mean walking, weaning, seeming much more independent... I swear, in my recollection, the first litter didn't start even TRYING to eat soft or hard food until they were around 8 weeks old, while these little ones all enjoy both soft and hard food as well as mama's milk at... ummmm.... I guess they'd have been 5 weeks old in this photo? It took the kittens from the first litter longer to start walking, too... they were definitely a week or two older before they could toddle well enough to leave their nest box, and it took them some time to develop the coordination to be able to do more than just kind of derp around and fall over their own feet within less than a yard of the nest box. On the other hand, these little guys are all walking, running, exploring, and climbing proficiently. Ernie even managed to catch a bird which she deposited outside the nest box and over the next 24 hours, the kittens examined and devoured all but the beak and flight feathers. They also all started using a litter box we put out by their nesting box, since despite being stronger than their four older siblings, they seem disinclined to toddle all the way across the porch and climb down to do their business under the juniper bushes... that's just a bit too far for them to adventure unless they're following right beside mama.
About two days ago, one of the people who have claimed kittens from this litter took two of them home -- the darker tabby third from the left of Ernie, and one of the male black ones who we'd noticed the dark tabby girl bonded particularly strongly with. Their names, I understand, are now Gizmo and Gadget, and their new owner keeps sending photos to my brother of them happy in their new home. I'd have thought it was too early to separate them from their mother, but they ARE eating regular cat food, their new owner is still supplementing it with Whiskas cat milk, and they seem to both be thriving, so.... what do I know?
The grey kitten also has a definite home to go to in the near future, and we have two more people currently considering whether a new kitten would be a good addition to their homes, one of whom may take two of them as well. That's most accounted for, and all potential future owners friends of people living here who we know will be good kitty parents.
Speaking of which... The three kittens from Ernie's first litter who had to be taken to the shelter have all been adopted now. (We'll likely never know where they went, but they're no longer listed as up for adoption on the shelter's website.) The fourth is the one one I kept, now nearly as large as her mother at 5 months and 1 week old.
This is Nemo, who climbed into this spare computer case my wife had and gave me for my new tablet the instant I opened it and put it on the floor. She has since refused to get out of it. Meanwhile, the $35 cat bed I bought her several weeks ago, which is about the same size and much softer, remains an item she scorns, refuses to remain in for any length of time, and will not even put more than 2 feet inside it when I try to tempt her into it with treats or toys.
I have to admit I sort of knew that would happen, but the temptation to spoil one's babies is strong, especially since Nemo is my first cat who is actually MINE, not a family pet or adopted stray everyone in the house shares responsibility of caring for. She's growing up to be a stunningly beautiful creature, though... so much so that even my parents, who were not initially in favor of my keeping her, have grown fond enough of her to start giving her nicknames. Even my dad, who CLAIMS to dislike cats and was really huffy about the idea of having a BLACK cat in the house, has taken to letting her nap in a chair beside him when he watches the news, and calls her "rat cat" or "blackberry." XD
How could you not feel like the world is just a little better having this curle up purring next to you?? ^_^
