Floozy update & upcoming HCM screening

Well, Floozy arrived 4 days before Christmas making herself quickly feel at home. Prune & Plum are still a roving displeased with their new family member & let her know in no uncertain terms just how cross they are.

Floozy though, despite her young age & small size is quite something & is totally unfazed by their grumbling, standing her ground & is very resilient indeed. So much so that she is not giving any ground & is still keen as mustard to be part of their gang. Luckily it’s all noise from Plum.. From for Prune, the one Floozy is most determined to take, there have been some swipes but it’s never with claws. Being a few treats out and hostilities cease, they have no trouble being in proximity when a lick-e-mat is put down or a few freeze dried chicken hearts are hidden in the fronds log felt of their Christmas pud forage mat. Bless them!

Heart screening time is here again & we have a road trip to Sheffield to pay a visit to our wonderful veterinary cardiologist Vicky Ironside. We will travel on our long journey to get to her home on February 22nd. Enjoy an evening then the next morning Prune &’Plum will both be having their heart screenings before we make our return journey on Sunday 23rd.

Prune is now retired but I am going to continuing to screen her keeping an eye on her heart as while it was within limits, last years scan did reveal she had undergone some changes.

At almost 3, Plum will be having her second screening & hopefully soon after I can get her together with her beau who was scanning in January l. This will be her second go at becoming pregnant with him. I am so keen for her to have success this time & produe her first litter of kittens at long last.

It’s such a shame we ended up postponing things after her failed first effort last year. Sometimes life has other plans for us & as it turned out my energies were very much needed elsewhere for most of the year.

I will be bringing the boy home to Plum’s domain this time because she is just so highly strung & anxious. I’m hoping that this approach will mean she copes better. I’m very grateful indeed that the owner of the boy is trusting me to allow me to bring him away. Fingers crossed it works out 🤞🏼

So before the trip toward Sheffield I must make myself up a new playlist since it’s such a long drive. Having the music ready will help me pass the time will allowing me to concentrate on the drive without having to think about finding the next album or artist to play.

While it’s only the two adult girls who will be scanned, I will probably take all three girls there with me. Perhaps I’m being overly protective here, but I feel very uncomfortable at the thought of leaving her at home on her ownsome without us being here. I know my son & my youngest 2 grandkids will be in situ here over that weekend - but they are not “her” people & they are not at all Sphynx focussed as I am. She will be their last priority & I’m not comfortable with this scenario . They’ll have their own agenda. I don’t want my kitten worried or confused, pining for us not understanding it’s only a night and day . She does meow to call out to me quite often still & I just can’t bear the thought of her crying for us & being unable to be at home to comfort her. She is so young. And so precious.

I’ve plenty of room in the car so it’s no bother to pop her in there with us. Just an extra cat carrier to pack & unpack at the other end.

18 more sleeps!

 

Miss Floozy Blue has had her first vaccine & microchip  implant so is on schedule to arrive on December 21st! 

Lisa, her breeder describes her as being the ring leader of the litter (1 sister & 3 brothers).I think this photo might be a sign of things to come. She looks rather like she is looking for trouble here doesn’t she!? 

 She weighed in at 1.25kg on vaccination day so was the heaviest of the bunch too. I rather think is going to grow up to dwarf my dear little Plum Pipsqueak who at 2+ years is a rather dinky 

 adult. 

Pint sized Plum

More Floozy Blue

 I received some new images of Floozy Blue from her breeder today. 

Her birthday was September 28th so she is now just over 4 weeks old

Her dad is named Levi Young and her mum is Moonrose Bella. Her litter mates include 1 sister and 3 brothers.

She looks like she was getting very interested in going exploring this morning! ❤️ 

Positive news - at last

Well, it’s not an understatement to say that 2024 has not gone according to plan -that’s for sure. In the spring Prunella went to meet her husband Oz for what was to be her last pregnancy, only to soon have an emergency operation & the largest completely intact pyometra my vet had ever seen in a cat. She would not have had a chance had it burst, however she made it through the operation some how and now is my retired & very spoiled matriarch. She has had some wonderful pregnancies and babies & I’m so grateful to her. She has done us proud & I’ve loved getting to know all of the new families who came into our world through adoption of her wonderful kittens & who we now think of as highly valued friends. 

Then came Plum’s first time mating - after all this was to my my first year in which this cattery would have two litters! Alas, her mating visit was unsuccessful, probably because she is highly strung so she was to meet up with her Ragnar again. However, I got covid then a dear friend of mine needed a lot of support in coping with her own serious health issues & this meant making the decision to postpone kittens for her until (fingers crossed) mating on the early spring of 2025.

I’m so excited to see dear Plum Pipsqueak become a merger successfully since I bred her myself it will be a milestone achievement. It’s been too long altogether now since we had any kittens born to raise here. 2022 seems a distant memory. Putting of 2023 for my surgery, then the difficulties of 2024 mean I’m ready for new things & with this thought I’d like to introduce you to a new face - not here yet as she is only 3 ½ weeks old, but I’m so excited to meet her at Christmas (or new year depending on travel arrangements to fetch her home. I’d love you to meet the newest recruit to Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire  - Miss Floozy Blue

Miss Floozy Blue

Hoping for aqua eyes! 

Coming from certified HCM screened & DNA negative parents both of whom are Blue Pointed blue/mink & who both have dreamy light aqua coloured eyes (which have no red glow), I think sweet little Floozy Blue will inherit these peepers too. She won’t be breeding until lat in 2025 (or early 2026) of course but isn’t she just adorable? I can’t wait for her to come home - I’m just not too sure Plum or Prune will necessarily agree - at least not at first! 

Once over their hissy fits though I reckon she will make a lovely playmate for Plum - particularly now that Pru is slowing down some. Dear Pru, she has definitely gained a bit of weight since her neutering - but she is still as gorgeous as ever! Can’t wait for her to become a granny-cat!

Still stunning! Those eyes!

MumPrune & her dinky daughter Plum

Plum’s turn at last!

Tomorrow, finally, Plum is getting to go to meet her chosen mate. It’s been quite a mission to find the right boy for her… there were 3 boys who unfortunately did not end up making the grade, which has slowed down progress for Plum a lot as she has been calling loud and clear every 4 weeks to tell me she is ready since late February. 

Not just any boy will do, for me any breeding has to be done with absolute integrity. First & foremost in selection is health & this means several expensive tests for both the male & female cat . These are often scheduled some weeks apart given that the finances need to be available to each cat keeper to have all of the test & also the specialists need to be available to see them. Getting all of the ducks in a row & keeping them in place is like spinning plates while juggling! 

So, I’m off with Plum to the North Weat of London tomorrow to meet Ragnar a beautiful young chap with all the right credentials. He is young like Plum is, and is proven having sires some lovely litters with other queens. He is a mink/blue tabby so carry’s different colours. Plum being solid and almost but not quite black (she was blue at birth but she and a brother darkened significantly a few days later (known as thermal though nothing at all so do with warmth!) her mum is all black, her dad all blue, her grandmother solid lilac and her grandad all black but carrying a red gene. I hope we will have a solid or two but she may have tabby or Torties. It’s a new phase!

What’s particularly significant for me with this new pairing is that Plum was born & raised here by her mother & me. As the daughter of my dear Prune she will be the very first of my own kittens to grow up & become a producer herself! 

Approximate Kitten Timings: 

For anyone thinking of applying for a kitten from this match, this being This being Plum’s first time as a maiden I’m not sure how quickly she will accept Ragnar’s advances however, if they get on & mate as soon as tomorrow evening - I should have pregnancy diagnosis by around July 8th/9th … with kittens arriving mid August (approximately the week commencing 19th) and then if those dates ring true those kittens would be ready for collection by pet homes only by week commencing 11th November onward (after their vaccines, microchips, health checks and so on). 

Here is pretty little Plum (right) laying protectively beside her mum Prune who’d very recently undergone an operation. I know Prune will make an excellent Grandma, guiding her daughter as she learns motherhood ~ I cannot wait! 

Emergency Surgery

 The last post I wrote declared kittens were on the way and indeed, all appeared as if they were however, days after this post Prune became quite unwell and we sped off to see the vet. He did a scan and immediately told me ‘something was going on in there but no embryos could be seen on the scan. He told me that he needed to operate there and then which is very very frightening for any pet owner. I was given two scenarios… if it was a cancer, he would not wish to wake her up again, and anything else found would be addressed once he had opened her up. 

I got home and set up a pen on my bedroom so that she could come home (if she was well enough to) and be able to be kept immobile and safe. And waited for what seemed like so long. A couple of hours pass and I’m told she is alive, no cancer but the biggest intact pyometra he had ever seen in any cat. Usually they leak pus and give themselves away but how this was intact was a surprise given its size. It was attached to the bladder and the womb and ovaries had to be removed along with it. A photo of the pyo in a large kidney dish with a 30cm ruler showed that if straightened out it would be about 40-45cm long. A scalpel opened it afterwards and it was filled with poisonous pus. I was informed jad I not brought her it would have burst within hours and she would not have survived it. 

She returned home with pain meds, a week of antibiotics and a belly sewn down the middle. Bless her heart. A week into recovery things were better in some ways but then she started being bladder incontinent despite weeing in the tray regularly. Everywhere she settled was wet all of the time. Back at the vet she was lightly sedated and her bladder emptied. A scan revealed the internal wound stump looked inflamed. A blood test showed her kidneys had taken a battering with numbers on op day good, a week later she had grade 2 kidney failure. We returned home more comfortable, with more antibiotics for a further week. Within 48 hours the leaking has d stopped. And a week later on review I reported a much brighter cat. We were going to repeat the blood test that day but Mark my vet said let’s wait a couple of weeks as he would have asked for a 4tj test then anyway. So we made another date and went home to continue healing. By the time we went back again my formerly very sick cat was once more engaging in play, cuddles, had regained weight lost and was bright eyed enough to even having been wheel running too. Bloods taken again revealed improvement on her kidneys with a warning that any future general anaesthetic may not be dvissble and we would have to be careful what meds she might have later on in her life. Great news, except now they reveal liver issues and so a supplement was devised which we are now in receipt of and will start in the morning. 

I’m so so disappointed that there were no kittens after all. A final litter from Prune would have been a delight. She has been a remarkable mum over these last recent years. But I’m also very very VERY grateful to still have her to care for and love. 

Losing her after the trauma of losing Noodle last June (Father’s Day) would have been unbearable. She will have the best retirement that I can give her and hope this new supplement prescription will help her live a long and spoilt life.

Meanwhile there’s the small matter of her daughter Plum who just turned two and has been seeking a suitable mate. A stud boy we had waited for, didn’t do well on his heart score unfortunately so the search began all over again! Thanks to some kind breeders in the community we have now found another lad for her who has all of his tests and papers in place. 

She has just come down from her latest heat cycle so it will be on the next one in 3 weeks of so that she will get to meet him. 

There will be kittens, just not as soon as I’d hoped to have them! Plum was born here and so when she has kittens of her own they will be the first second generation ones born in my cattery! 

Quite the wound. 

Prune (left) & daughter Plum just after the incontinence saga (puppy pads on every surface!)

And here is my beautiful Prune now ♥️

Kittens incoming!!!!

My wonderful and remarkable Prune (Prunella Prudence) is pregnant. We are on DAY 20 & she has shown me all the signs needed to diagnose a successful pregnancy.

Since returning from her honeymoon holiday with her handsome beau Pru had been off her food, disliking her normal dish. With such short gestation it’s likely that this was caused by morning sickness. Yes really! 

By day 21 even if no other signs are apparent we expect to witness ‘Pinking’ which is the main physical sign.  If I had any doubt at all by now then the colour change in her teats would clearly announce that she is pregnant. I can confirm that they are sporting a nice rosy. 

Other changes in Pru are that her usually slim tummy is both more firm and gently rounded meaning the foetus’s are in place and rapidly developing. I wonder how many there are? What sexes and what colour each will be!!!  

Additionally,  as is totally normal for Pru, she gets very EXTRA in terms of being needy and this has also been going on. Unfortunately for me she mostly exhibits this extreme behaviour at night, suffice to say there’s going to be lots of broken sleep but with wonderful purrs and immense cuddles ahead. 

Look how lush she looks today. Im biased I know but she is a very pretty girl with such a striking look! I hope you’ll keep popping back to see the changes happening to her over the coming few weeks. 

 

With feline pregnancy lasting just 63-65 days, with us already at 20 days, this means these kittens will arrive at the very end of May or very early June! 

Kitten colours

Prune is solid black with vivid bright yellow-green eyes. Her beau is solid blue with a paler watery jade green eyes.

All their kittens will therefore be either solid black or solid blue. Previous litters between these two have all had the pale green eyes of their dad. 

Kitten Viewings

Video call

By arrangement once feeding is well established for the litter. 

In person visits

Offered by appointment only from week 8 (*only once 24 hours has passed after receiving first vaccinations and microchip implants).

Repeat Visits

If you choose to reserve a kitten, you may return weekly until collection day. Some new families like to practice bathing and grooming under guidance. 

Kitten Collection

Kittens will leave with their full kitten packs no earlier than 12 weeks and only after their second vaccinations and health clearance has been given from our vet. * please note that I reserve the right to withhold any kitten - even if she or he has been fully paid for, should either my vet or I feel that they could do with a little extra time at the cattery with their mother. This would always be with the well-being of the kitten at its core. 

Prune is set for retirement.

This will be Pru’s very last litter. She is to be neutered after this litter are fully weaned. She very much deserves to enjoy her senior years in peace & so will continue to be the much revered and loved matriarch of my household. 

Youth

Pru’s daughter Plum Pipsqueak is now of age and is letting me know that she is more than ready to meet the Tomcat of her dreams. I hope this will happen in mid to late May (subject to his heart screening)

Are YOU thinking of buying a Pedigree Sphynx Kitten to be part of your family? 

If you are looking for a top quality Sphynx kitten who comes from heart & FULLY health screened screened parents from a breeder who is pet centred, caring & ethical please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I am happy to answer your questions & be your guide if this is required. I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Mating Day!

After weeks of waiting for her after her weird call over Christmas, Prune finally went into heat on Wednesday/Thursday and so today, Good Friday I drove her to meet up with her beau. He wasted no time on pleasantries and was on her right away. We left them to it and soon, as we sipped a cuppa the first coitus yell was heard. 

Post mating day 1. Prune rolls and writhes to coat the releases egg with sperm

According to calculations I will know by April 19th (day 21) if she is successfully pregnant and kittens will arrive from day 63 May 31st. I think it will be June 1st or 2nd judging from her previous deliveries. This is definitely her last one and she will be happily retired after this her final litter of kittens are weaned.

I am SO proud of Prune. She has birthed some absolutely smashing kittens all of whom have been such characters and who fill their families lives with joy (and mayhem!) 

Plum has been calling regularly too desperate to procreate but we have not yet got a suitable suitor for her.

Can We Please Talk About Good breeding

It’s so so important that the stud and female cat are both properly health checked… this is not just a vet visit and up to date vaccinations and regular worming but includes very specialise necessary testing too. 

• First they must be free from FIV and FELV - this is tested by a blood draw done  by the vet.
• AND they must have also have an annual heart screening with an accredited VCS cardiologist .
• Additionally it’s ideal now if they have also been DNA tested by Ann accredited lab as we now know one gene that is proven to be linked to the genetic feline HCM so prevalent in this (& other) breeds. There are more genes to identify but it’s a beginning and we must use all the tools available to us

There are far too many people advertising studs for hire & kittens for sale without the cat or parent cats having had all of this screening - which does admittedly require financial investment by the owner/breeder before any kitten embryo is ever begin  . They then sell cheaply to unsuspecting buyers who have not been told about the breed or HCM and what is also sad is that most of these people do not even know about the need to screen for the diseases let alone to educate their buyers! 

As a person who openly adores this breed I take its future very seriously and fully recognise my duty if I am to breed from my pets to ensure it is a more robust breed in the years to come.

I take equally seriously the health and well-being of my dear cats, their mates, of their kittens and of the families to which those kittens will go.  I’m always happy to discuss HCM, and open a conversation about it with all potential kitten purchasers. I will explain how & why we monitor and try to safeguard against it. And I will explain the protocols to which we must adhere wherever it is discovered. 

My plea to you: 

Please please take time to research the Sphynx cat. It’s a wonderful, characterful breed & everyone who has one says (a) one is not enough &  (b) that they will always have them from now on. They are absolutely life changing pets. But please, you must also research your breeder and the way he or she takes care of their pets & kittens. 

Cheap kittens are not a ln easy or short cut way to become a Sphynx cat owner. Wht it is sadly & all too frequently is a shortcut to unhappiness & the devastation of loss. Buying cheaply encourages poor keepers to continue breeding poor quality kittens from poor quality cats. Pay for quality & buy from a registered breeder who shows you their documentation and is eager to talk to you about the breed and its health. 

Thank you 

Testing Testing Spring 2024

Prune (right) & Plum (left) with not a care in the world! 

 It’s been a busy time here with the cats having a blood draw in January to be re-tested for FELV & FIV - both Prune & her mini-me daughter? Plum Pipsqueak receiving negative results - which is exactly what we expected - meaning they have no Feline Leukaemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. I didn’t suspect it but we test for it regardless as they will be visiting stud cats & need a clean bill of health when any cattery is accepting them in for a short stay. 

The February job was a 400mile round trip to see the veterinary cardiologist Vicky Itonside for their heart screening looking for any sign of the disease Feline HCM (Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy) l. Both girls came away with their certification however Prune now middle aged at 6 while within normal limits had sign of a thickening of a wall in one spot which was for me an area of concern. She was offered a special blood test there and then which I had done & the results did not point to her having HCM disease, though, given that we had had a very long journey on Saturday to get there, and an overnight stay where the girls chose not to eat or drink overnight - despite food water & their favourite treat being made available over a Saturday night and into Sunday - dehydration present in Pru at the time of the jugular being blood draw may have negatively influenced the blood sample & so having discussed the results of the heart screen change & blood test result I am going to repeat the same test this time at my home vet negating any risk of dehydration or hunger being an issue  in 6/8 months time - to be certain.

Pru is still agile, running with great gusto on the wheel & eats well, showing little sign of her years other than change to the pigmentation in her skin, this will be Pru’s very last pregnancy & litter. I had initially planned to spay her in 2023 since I was not having kittens due to my waiting for a surgery however, at the bequest of a dear friend eager to have a kitten from Pru join her cattery since she is so very healthy I decided to keep her active one extra year. But this will be her last & she richly deserves a long & happy retirement as the household matriarch. I will continue to heart screen her annually as it’s so important to monitor her & to build  knowledge to positively influence the future of this amazing breed.

Meanwhile, Plum Pipsqueak did not get to practice on any 2023 siblings which is why has always happened with adolescent girls eager to help out when a cat in my home has had kittens. So she will be having her first ever pregnancy & Kittening this year & learning on the job. She is eager to get started having been in call invert short cycles already & Im currently waiting on the DNA results of a stud male I’m  interested in pairing her with. Once his result is known, if negative, I’ll be taking her along to him within the next couple of weeks I think. Fingers crossed. 

Both ladies actually have been calling - but Pru is currently on a longer cycle more suited to this time of year. Plums more rapid cycling could be due to her youth but Prune will begin to have shorter cycles as the days lengthen further and warmer temperatures prevail. Nature really does know what it’s doing. 

I’ve already got two new ‘shell’ waiting to give them toward the end  of their pregnancies which I think they’ll love. They can have their kittens all tucked in snug but I can unzip and flip the shell open to monitor or assist in labour /birth and when kittens are new. Invariably I supplement feed so with two litters for the first & last time this year, if they are pregnant at similar times I’m going to double-busy (yes Micky Flanagan, I did pinch one of your catch-phrases!)

If you are seeking a Sphynx kitten (or Sphynx Kittens) Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire Cattery is a TICA registered cattery with TICA registered pedigree Pure Sphynx Cats who are health & heart screened & whose mates are equally carefully screened so that we product top quality kittens, raising them underfoot as part of the family and we welcome your early interest. Please do join us for this truly remarkable journey & get to know your future kitten from the word GO! 

Just email me at: nakedsphynxcathants@icloud.com or use the contact us form here on the website. 

Getting ready for 2024 kittening

Well, it’s Boxing Day, and everyone has been gifted and filled with indulgent food, including the cats who are loving their new mice, especially Plum who is very vociferous about her catch.

Handsome has very much enjoyed playing chase the Scalextric much to the annoyance of the children (them ranging from 5 to 39 years old!, while Prune has been either quietly sleeping away the afternoons or telling anyone who will listen her woes - this because she has come into heat very hard being as it’s  the first one in a long while. 

To see them here in this photo you’d never believe the amount of mischief they have tried to get in between today! Front is mum Prune, then there is Handsome & little Plum Pipsqueak both born in 2022

I’m already planning with appointments booked for ditto  by the i’s and crossing the T’s. Blood testing for the two ladies is taking place in January and then their heart screening is scheduled with Vicky Ironside in mid February so that we can press GO in late February or early March with them as they come into call after all the screening is in hand. 

2024 is going to be Prunella’s last litter. I had actually planned to retire her this year since I was having no kittens during 2923 however, I had a very special request made for a kitten from her by someone who is very dear to me so I am giving her a final litter after which she will be spayed and can finally retire in peace. She is an incredible mum & has birthed some truly remarkable babies so she absolutely deserves my thanks & a rest! She has her favourite resting spots & little quirks about when she must have her cuddles and how close to my face she must be to get them! She is being mated again to Ozwald.

Meanwhile, her daughter Plum Pipsqueak is in her second year & so she will be having her first mating in 2024 for which we have picked out a fully DNA negative tested male who carries several colours. I can’t wait to see what colour kittens there union will create! I’m hoping that from that litter I can keep a female.

I look forward to sharing all of the news here as it all begins to unfold. PIf you are looking for a Sphynx kitten I hope very much that you’ll drop me a line & will be “come the lucky recipient of one of Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire 2924 kittens 

The sad farewell I never wanted to make

It’s taken me several weeks to be able to come to my website and be able to write this entry. My heart is heavy with unbearable sadness. My dear, darling incredible Noodle was PTS on June 18th 2023.

I’d been thinking for several months how her snoring was louder and wondering how long I’d have with her. She had lost none of her chutzpah and still very much the diva until the end but she was looking older.

June was crazy hot and she was nagging me to take her outside, how she loved being out on the patio when I lived in Andover. How she missed the quiet and the warmth of those stones. In Chandlers Ford we don’t have the same privacy or safety and it’s noisy, but during the week, I’d harnessed her and taken her out to trot around the tarmac car park. She was so happy chatting away as we looked about. I promised myself to do this for her more as I videoed a minute or so of her adventure, footage I’ve not yet been able to watch. I never dreamt of course that it would be the last I made, or her last foray in the sunshine she so loved. I’m so very glad I gave her that time as just days later having found her paralysed on my bedroom floor and struggling to breathe. As I called frantically to find the Sunday vet service I knew this was the end of the road, yet hoped I was wrong.

Scooping her up, it was a 20 minute journey by sat nav to an area I’d never been to, alone. Every traffic light was red. Every Sunday driver in all of Hampshire in our path. Arriving and with nowhere to park, I abandoned my car and ran to the door pressing repeatedly on the buzzer to please please let me come in. As I did so, her bladder went, urine over me, the floor, her blanket and the counter. She was taken away immediately then just minutes later I was called in to speak with a vet. He didn’t need to say it was an embolism, however the fact that she was in end stage heart failure was painful to know. Immediately I said I understood and could I go to her as he said they were about to cannulate her. I assured him I was fine with this and was allowed to go in. She was injected with methodrone which took a minute or two to settle her and I was given consent forms to sign which would allow them to deliver the overdose of anaesthesia which would allow her to be free of her suffering. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, as I held her, and talked to her of her favourite things she quietly left this world. I held her a long long time, rocking her, sobbing just as I am now, telling her that “it was ok” until the warmth I knew her to have had faded away, My girl was no longer there. I wrapped her body in her blanket, kissed her and said goodbye. 

She was cremated by a local business who took great care of my beloved girl and returned her ashes to me within 6 days. Noodle now has a star named just for her (thank you Clair for such a thoughtful gift) and tattooist Steve Daish (Big on Ink) has given me a fabulous portrait of my girl upon my forearm, placing her for ever back into my arms where she belongs.

I’m so grateful for the kindness of family & friends who have supported me through these weeks. Noodle was never just a cat. She was a life saver coming into my world to give me the one I needed to love and hold in order to thwart my plan just coming to fruition to exit it. She has been the catalyst (pun intended) for new adventures, new friends and family as I became the best breeder of Sphynx cats as I can be, doing things right, doing them my way. While Noodle had just two pregnancies both ending with c-sections and one surviving kitten from each, she was an incredible mother, and support Aunt to all of Prune’s babies. She was delivery stuffed fish with a yell of “dinner’s done” right up to the last. The last two fish are still in my bedroom because, well, if I take them back I know it’s the end and that’s inconceivable.

7 years. It was all awesome. It was not long enough, the pain is immense but I would not change it for the world. I miss her sassy ways, her chat and indeed her back chat. Her running on the wheel saying “look at me, look at me” and her kisses and purrs. 

Thank you Noodle. I love you my beautiful baby girl xxx 🐾 🐾 ♥️ 

What a week!

 Covid numbers are not just creeping upward by appear to be skyrocketing which is very concerning indeed however, we broke cover on Monday to make a first trip out. Without mum to accompany them they were gathered together & into the pet carrier pre-sprayed with pet remedy & we set off. Normally I’m worrying ola out keeping kittens/cats warm enough outside but this time with the heat of this fabulous summer I was concerned that they were not in the car too long. Fans going but out of a draft we travelled only about 2.5 miles & parked up. As always, keen eyes will spot babies & there were lots of oooh’s & aaaah’s & questions. After an extended wait we eventually were called in & saw Mark Collins the head vet at the practice. One by one the kittens were examined, weighed, had heart & lungs listened to & with everything in order received their 1st vaccinations followed by their microchip implants. These were then tested to make sure they were detected & returned to the carrier. Job done we set off back home where they were eagerly checked over by mum & soon following me to the kitchen for food!

Sometimes there’s a few hours of being subdued after having received vaccines which can last up to 48 hours which is partly why viewings & collections are always timed to allow a gap of 2 days after having been seen so that they are back to themselves before any meeting date or collection. 

I have the microchip implants done at 8 weeks only if they are large enough at the 1st vaccinations. I do it at this appointment rather than the 2nd vac appointment for two reasons - firstly because this implant pierces the skin creating a small wound I want to ensure it is healed completely before they leave which it would not be if the microchip was done at the 2nd vaccination & they left at the earliest opportunity (48hrs after their jabs). The other reason I like the microchip done prior to viewing is that when a family choose their kitten I can scan & show them the chip number so that when they collect I can re-scan & reassure them they are receiving the kitten they originally chose. This is important where two or more kittens are of the same colour &  sex or as can happen with the Sphynx & other breeds (yes even furred ones!) the colour can alter making a kitten appear to have been swapped. 

Anyway, there were no reactions following the visit to the veterinarian & they’ve been growing stronger & more agile by the day (if not hour!). 

Today we had another milestone moment - when I found kittens using the ModKat top entry litter boxes rather than the open of side entry trays. This same thing has happened with single every litter we’ve had & once they’ve reached a stage where they can get up, in & back out again afterwards they choose never to use the open or side entry trays again, which shows me that there is a clear preference for this kind of tray. I believe this is because I keep the boxes filled deeply and this means they can dig down further as they would choose to do naturally and other tray types don’t allow for this. As a delightful consequence- I also like it as I find it both easier as well as more cost effective to scoop a deeply filled box which has good quality litter inside it. With a tight clumping litter you scoop down, under & lift allowing the dry grit to drain off and you bag only the clump or poop. Shaking creates dust & is unnecessary to do. 

Although they’ve not chosen to follow the adults at night, the kittens can all now get up & down from my bed too & thunder about the place playing games of chase! It’s brilliant. I so love this time with them! 

As you’ll have seen, we also had a photoshoot session this week where I was aided by a friend whose jog it is to acquire the kittens’ attention while I snap as many images as possible while hoping to get a couple of good ones which I use for advertising them. 3 kittens were happy to model but one, having been woken up to take part was not happy with the idea at all. Can spot which ones are of the kitten who was disgruntled! 

Second baths & crazy antics

Tonight (Saturday) the kittens & the adults all had baths, the babies being much better behaved than the grown ups! They are now all neat and tidy ready for their first ever outing as they visit the vet for their first health check, 1st vaccinations & their microchip implant on Monday. Normally I’d do the bath tomorrow but it’s my birthday & I may not have the time to do all the baths, ears & claws due to seeing family. 

Their feeding is going so well, there are absolutely no issues with their eating or digestion & no issues with litter tray use either! They are drinking water from the bowls of water & enjoying lots of play & sleep. I love when they decide they are sleepy & these little warm bundles climb onto my lap or snuggle in at my side to snooze away for a while. Sometimes I end up with a puddle of kittens & stay as still as possible for as long as possibly so as not to end their slumber.  

Once they wake again it’s time for running, climbing, jumping, pouncing, stalking, attacking. Today I’ve taken some toys up & put down a Y shaped play tunnel which has been mightily popular. There is a peep hole where the Y intersection meets - they’ll learn that this is both an escape route or an ideal position for a surprise attack ! They’re so busy! 

Just lovin’ life!

This is a dynamic time for the kittens. In their 7th week, they have already undergone dramatic change from the tiny almost helpless, yet doggedly  (cattedly?) determined newborns with tiny sealed folded in ears, eyes tightly shut to the marauding little hoodlums they are today with their satellite dish ears & keen sighted eyes that don’t miss a thing… I continue to be awed at nature’s capacity to not only create in a hurry (63 days from mating to newborn) to these independent characterful creatures learning the skills of life. Despite the life of luxurious domesticity they are destined to enjoy, evolution is in its full force as they play together rough-housing, they’re learning the skills of hunting & of overcoming their prey (or surviving a predator) practicing on each other. They swiftly learn the art of deception, crying out “I’m hurt” in order that a sibling loosens their grip only to take advantage moments later cashing on on their siblings duplicity by turning the tables. It’s endlessly fascinating & amusing as it looks exactly like the archetypal mischievous kitten. I love their attempts to look bigger as they arch their back & face their “foe” sideways on, how they creep & prowl, pounce & run, climb &…. One wait, I don’t know how to get down! Meoooooow - translating to “human, come save me”.

As I was searching online for something on my phone today, beside me there was the odd squeak & some jostling going on.. I lifted my arm & got to watch this….

All change!

So what’s happened since last I wrote - well first, baths that’s what! 

I learned early on in my career not to attempt all kittens at the same time… wet kittens going in every direction was a nightmare, so I do them one by one and at this little size I use the kitchen sink - saving water - and my rickety old back. 

Warm water in the bowl and a separate jug of water for the final rinse, a warm towel and Johnson’s baby shampoo at the ready one by one each kitten had their first experience of being immersed in water and I’m delighted to say that each behaved well. The first was happy to sit a while, whereas each that came after decided to get out but did not object when being put back and bathed. I let them get used to the feeling them I get on with soaping them by pouring some shampoo into my palm then rubbing my hands together then picking kitty up and standing them on the draining board I wash from neck down to tail all down the back and under tummy, then both front legs making sure to go into the folds at the armpit. I then soap the paws before doing the same with the back legs taking care at the leg crease folds. Lastly the genitals and it’s time to get back into the bath for a rinse off removing most of the soap. The jugged clean water used last of all after lifting kitty clear of the water. Wrapped quickly into a towel and dried off, next it’s face, ear and claw cleaning. The face is done with plain water in two half’s. The eye on the first side is wiped first with dampened cotton wool to remove any dried on debris, then around the side of the face and to the mouth and chin. Then a fresh swab for the other side. This avoids any infections that could be present being passed from one eye to the other. Next ears. Ear cleaner is dripped into the ear canal and this is immediately massaged in at the base of the ear. It’s important that this is immediate otherwise they will shake their head to remove the liquid. With the cleanser distributed, fresh dry cotton wool is used to soak up the liquid then this is wiped around inside the ear shell. I then make a twist and use this to go deeper into the ear to remove any gunk. This being the first ever clean I was rather impressed there wasn’t too much! Once the ear is done you can allow the head shake before working on the other. Next the claws are cleaned of built up gunk and clipped as necessary. I find baby wipes are the best at clearing the claws of this oily build up. Job done! Don’t worry, if you are a soon to be new parent of a Naked Sphynx Cat Hampshire kitten, the full instructions for all of these processes is in the care book you’ll receive in your kitten pack. 

So, 4 clean kittens have been eating well and growing like mad. And getting stronger. Climbing is now a regular occurrence and so came the time to dismantle the pen. No one had got out of it yet but I did not want someone to make an attempt and come to harm if they got stuck. Better to remove it and allow them their freedom. And this is what we did this evening.

They were so not sure what to do with this newfound freedom. They seemed at first a bit frozen by the new scope opened up. However it never takes long to gain courage and soon they were off exploring the room , with one even going a few steps into the hallway. Soon skittish play began and both adults joined in with this to some extent especially when the first kitten climbed up onto the sofa - but had no clue how to get down - A fall from seat height soon solved that little conundrum. 8 lives left!

So here I am writing and in my lap warm as toast is a sleeping kitten sleep climbed up here and seemingly felt too tired to do more! 

Lost mittens? Not these kittens!

 There were 4 in the bed & mummy said Roll Over! 

What a wonderful few days we’ve had as the kittens appetites grow along with them. At each meal time I’m now giving at least 100g of food slot evenly between them already and they’re so excited about feeding times that I’m warmly greeted with their beautiful little eager faces turned up toward me they track my every move I make until those bowls are placed before them. At first each kitten would remain at his or her dish, but now one or two have been a little competitive. It’s a case of the grass is always greener, as one will push in, taking ownership of the next food dish along, and if pushing in with their head is not working, I’ve even seen a gentle teeth nuzzle too - not a bite, no yelp heard, just an attempt to be persuasive as they try to see what their neighbour has that they don’t. You always see the different personalities come to the fore around food, one kitten is a much slower eater than her siblings  and so I keep a close eye that her food remains hers & that she has more if she wants it. Around her, her siblings are much more gung-ho eating as if this was their last opportunity to eat! I am topping up their fast emptying dishes until they are done. And I continue to watch as sometimes they walk elsewhere, then change their minds & return for another mouthful or two. I’ve noticed one appears greedier than the others & interestingly it’s the lad who took so long to come around to the idea of solids - or this food - now there is no stopping him! 

Once food is eaten, the litter tray might be visited, a short half hearted play, then a nice long nap to digest the food. They then wake for more play & litter tray use, by which time it is feeding time once more, around every 3 ½ to 4 hours morning until night & each kitten receives as much food as they wish to eat. 

They’re living the cardboard box I have given them to play with… it’s closed but with a doorway cut in, the opening pulled up to create a barrier wall. Their first play fort. Once they are out of the pen, the box fort will grow, more boxes stacked on top of each other with various doors providing lots of opportunities for pouncing on a sibling from a hidden doorway or as they pass below. Such fun is to be had from cardboard boxes, however, a word to the wise: keep a close eye on any plastic parcel tape you may use in the creation of your mega structure  as they will eventually start to rip and can then swallow bits of it which could cause harm in their tiny digestive tracts. 

I’m going to be giving them a first bath in the next day or two as their bedding is getting very mucky very fast now that mum is not needing to do so much with them since they’ve been using the litter tray. Having snipped their pointed claws this week and seen the gunk on their claw beds, it’s most definitely time !

Continuing & marked changes

The kittens are now really excited to see my coming with their food & are all managing a decent amount at each feed time. And the good news is that as of last night Mr Stubborn decided that he liked the food the others have after all which is helpful. 

As predicted the rocket fuel of solids creates huge change with more growth & more energy so there’s now much more awake & play time happening . It’s so lovely to see, especially so when they don’t even know I’m there! 

Litter tray usage is no problem to them & each has been self grooming after eating (if mum will let them!).

I’ve also installed a water fountain which the adults have been drinking from showing them what to do. Of course they have investigated as the sight & sound of the water is too irresistible. Paws in water & shaking of wet paws is funny! However Mum & Aunty Noo have been testing the water in there so they’ll copy that when they’re ready. Once free they’ll have access to bowls of water too so will know how to drink from both running as well as still water making it easier to adapt when they go off to their new families. 

Going forward, their routine will be regular feeding with the amount of food they require increasing daily. As they grow, they’ll soon work out how & be strong enough to get themselves out of the pen enclosure - at which point I will take it down just leaving their den up at least while they continue to want to use it. What I find happening is that once they’re free they want to follow mum & Aunty Noodle  & quickly learn how to scramble up onto and down from my bed thus sleeping in a big kitten & cat puddle which leaves me to fit in around them somehow. At this point the den most likely will be abandoned. 

Bringing kittens up underfoot like this is not how every breeder chooses to go about things I know. Most have “kitten rooms” where they’re born & once weaned the mother is removed. The kittens now grow up confined in this room which is of course the room is filled with lot of fun things to do, but the door is closed & they’re not living as part of a household & that feels wrong to me, when they are going to be pets who will live as part of a household. Of course it might be the choice of their future families to keep their kitten/cat out of their bedroom & indeed their beds (the Sphynx will definitely want to sleep in with you!) and thats very much a personal choice. As long as the kitten/cat has somewhere warm enough to sleep if they’re separated from you over night. My choice has always been that my cats are my family & I especially love the closeness these cats need . I have provided them with heat mats on top of my bed which means that they don’t want to climb inside with me. Because this feeling of family with my cats extends to their kittens too, for me, bringing them up in the manner I do feels right. Mind you,  I do have to get used to being walked over regularly during the night or even becoming an early morning play area! Bless them! 

A landmark day!

 

Hoorah! And Hip Hip Hooray! Today all four kittens ate solid food unaided! Already in just 5½ days they know that when I appear food is imminent & they’re coming out of the den in order to greet me! What a change! Not only that but the litter trays also saw action today too (in fact the first was overnight!) ; I’m so impressed that these incredible creatures never need to be taught, instinct telling them that this gritty substrate is for them to poop /wee into & mostly they will instinctually bury it too (though I watched one today who was missing this action - I’m sure it will follow very soon though. 

What a result though!!! I’m thrilled as even Mr Stubbornpants ate with an appetite that was astounding especially considering his up until now point blank refusal to even look like he enjoys eating. It turns out he does, so what changed? I’ll tell you - I simply offered him a different food! Who would have thought that he would refuse his BARF food! And that’s certainly a first for a well cat (and he is most definitely not unwell!) 

Just look at him go! 

 

The food he is tucking into is a veterinary recovery food - let’s call it a “triple strength rocket fuel” packed as it is with tons of added nutrients & with an especially strong aroma which, being a recovery food is designed to entice a lacking appetite toward eating. I didn’t even dish it into a dish so sure I was that he would turn his nose up at even this! How wrong I was! Golly, I’d delighted to be wrong & so, so glad I had this sitting ready in case of illness in a cat or kitten in the supplies cupboard & that I thought to try it out! 

My aim then as we go forwards is to give him this on its own for a day or maybe 2 then begin to transition him to accept the other food by mixing a small quantity of the other food with this, then to gradually over the next few days continue to adding more of one while reducing the other. With luck he will once he has the hang of reliably eating solids he will more readily accept (& like!) the food he should be having. 

Hands more free today then, I’m so happy to have finally got some new food themed photos to share with you. This is how they look when it’s  “grub’s up” time!