Cats and Kittens

Around lunchtime today, we realised that we had not seen our dear old cat all morning. She sometimes has trouble with her spine / back legs, and as it was rather cold last night, we set about looking for her.

We hunted in all the usual places, but to no avail, so we began a wider search. Eventually, we found her leaning up against a wall, and sure enough, she was unable to move. We brought her in, and she's now in a box in front of the fire, but she is such a bad way, that I shall be phoning the vet in the morning. This has happened several times now, and she usually is up and about again within a few days, however, this time, it is looking so much worse than usual.

While we were all out hunting, I decided to check around the back of the house. I was calling out for her, and listening for any replies, when I suddenly heard a strange sound. It was a cat, but not our old cat. As I stopped to listen again, the sound was unmistakable. It was the cry of a kitten! Sure enough, Margaret soon appeared around the corner, with a huge smile on her face, and a fluffy bundle in her arms. In the search for our old cat, she'd come across not one, but FIVE kittens! We have had a stray around our place the past few weeks, and in the old, disused chook shed, she'd had her babies.

They weren't new-borns, either. I'd estimate them to be 5-6 weeks old. Their eyes are well open, and are changing from the blue colour, and they are just learning how to walk. Of courese, my girls were delighted! They spent the afternoon patting and swooning over the new-found babies, and selected a couple that they'd like to keep. I cautiously reminded them that Dad would make the decision as to whether we would keep any of them, but I didn't like his chances of saying 'no!'

During the afternoon, mother cat (who will not come any where near us) decided enough was enough, and moved the kittens. We had two inside at this stage, and we have no idea where the family has gone. Being a stray, she may still be on our property, but she may not. So, I'm guessing we now are the proud owners of two kittens! Dad seems OK with it, and of course, the girls are delighted. They are taking a little milk, and seem very contented, so, I guess it is all OK. Of course, if the family still is in a back shed somewhere, we'll need to deal with that at some stage.....

Anyways, here they are: 'Lucy', and 'Trisha'. They are just the cutest little things!





You just never know what each day will bring, do you??


Linda.