So after lurking and reading posts from this site for a while, thought I'd join and ask a question 
Our Lily (1/2 Burmese, 1/2 "mixed") gave birth on Sunday - 3 healthy kittens and 2 that sadly didn't make it.
It's her 2nd litter. First time around was before we took her on as her previous humans had to move and couldn't take her with them, and she only had 1 kitten. At this point they also rehomed her kitten (approx 3 months old at this point) as well to somebody else, and for the first couple of days she was with us she would make this low-pitched guttural "OOOUUUWWW" sound as she was looking around our house, as if calling for the "lost" kitten.
As an aside, this was an UH-OH pregnancy, she came into season very shortly after we got her and we didn't realise she's been caught until too late as she's mainly an indoor cat, and so she will be taking a trip to the vet once babies are weaned to prevent any more.
This time around, she seems to be making the same sound when she requires a human to babysit her kitties whilst she eats/drinks/takes care of business etc. and so has to leave the nest (a shallow cardboard banana type tray under my Mum's PC desk).
9 times out of 10 it *has* to be me personally - she wouldn't let her first kitten make an appearance on Sunday until I'd woken up, and was frantically searching for me and as soon as she saw me within 30 seconds "he" (even at this early stage it looks like a boy!) was born. Since then, it's as if I've somehow taken on the role of Daddy Cat which is an honour, I must say. Other family members are allowed to look at the babies, but I'm the only one she lets particularly near the box, and seems thankful in her way when I rescue one of the babies from an awkward position for example - I'm always careful not to handle too much nor for too long and always where she can see what I'm doing, usually just scooting one away from where she's sat awkwardly almost on top of it, or if it can't quite find it's way to suckle.
Is it usual for Mummy Cats to actively require a human babysitter? Are they usually so vocal in calling for someone to keep a watchful eye whilst she's otherwise busy? Could it be because she knows the other 2 didn't survive and so is overprotective of these 3 (in which case I guess it's even more special that she trusts me so much)...
I must say, she is a very good Mummy Cat judging by the amount the babies get washed and fed (often toileting them one end as the milk goes in the other end simultaneously - if only life was so easy for us humans!).
Our Lily (1/2 Burmese, 1/2 "mixed") gave birth on Sunday - 3 healthy kittens and 2 that sadly didn't make it.
It's her 2nd litter. First time around was before we took her on as her previous humans had to move and couldn't take her with them, and she only had 1 kitten. At this point they also rehomed her kitten (approx 3 months old at this point) as well to somebody else, and for the first couple of days she was with us she would make this low-pitched guttural "OOOUUUWWW" sound as she was looking around our house, as if calling for the "lost" kitten.
As an aside, this was an UH-OH pregnancy, she came into season very shortly after we got her and we didn't realise she's been caught until too late as she's mainly an indoor cat, and so she will be taking a trip to the vet once babies are weaned to prevent any more.
This time around, she seems to be making the same sound when she requires a human to babysit her kitties whilst she eats/drinks/takes care of business etc. and so has to leave the nest (a shallow cardboard banana type tray under my Mum's PC desk).
9 times out of 10 it *has* to be me personally - she wouldn't let her first kitten make an appearance on Sunday until I'd woken up, and was frantically searching for me and as soon as she saw me within 30 seconds "he" (even at this early stage it looks like a boy!) was born. Since then, it's as if I've somehow taken on the role of Daddy Cat which is an honour, I must say. Other family members are allowed to look at the babies, but I'm the only one she lets particularly near the box, and seems thankful in her way when I rescue one of the babies from an awkward position for example - I'm always careful not to handle too much nor for too long and always where she can see what I'm doing, usually just scooting one away from where she's sat awkwardly almost on top of it, or if it can't quite find it's way to suckle.
Is it usual for Mummy Cats to actively require a human babysitter? Are they usually so vocal in calling for someone to keep a watchful eye whilst she's otherwise busy? Could it be because she knows the other 2 didn't survive and so is overprotective of these 3 (in which case I guess it's even more special that she trusts me so much)...
I must say, she is a very good Mummy Cat judging by the amount the babies get washed and fed (often toileting them one end as the milk goes in the other end simultaneously - if only life was so easy for us humans!).
