So.... the meat delivery came this morning. Fridge & freezer now full of rabbit, pigeon & partridge & a quail.
Oh and.... so too did the kittens!!!!
Last night Angel was so loving. She was purring constantly and I laid on the floor, she laid against me and purred whilst I stroked her and rubbed her neck, behind her ears & under her chin, and even rubbed her stomach. For the longest time. By 11pm I was sure that tonight was the night. She had started pacing and trying to get behind my sofa. I blocked it off. I didn't want her to have them where I couldn't easily check on her & them.
So I grabbed so pyjama bottoms, a pillow & a blanket, and I got comfy on the couch. I also left her crate open (so she had access to her nesting box). I had also prepared a cardboard box with towels for after the birth, and put that at the opposite end of the room, against the porch door.
She chose the cardboard box.
I fell asleep shortly after 1.30 am. And woke up some time after 3am. I was aware she was in the box and having contractions.
I sat with her and talked to her and stroked her gently.
The first kitten was born shortly afterwards, at about 3:40am.
The second came 10 minutes later.
I panicked a little at this stage. She wasn't really bothering with the kittens. I started contemplating phoning someone (at 4am lol) and asking for help. I had used a corner of towel to rub the kittens gently and move them slightly towards her. I was careful not to interfere too much.
Anyway, eventually she started dealing with them. I was at the wrong angle to see, but with hindsight I think that their placentas may have been fused or come away together, because then she started dealing with them and eating something (the afterbirth) and finally chewing off the umbillical cords.
After that, the kittens managed to manouvre themselves quite well, and after a whils they both latched on and nursed.
I could see another kitten (or rather, the bulge of another) quite high up. At first it was still, but then it started wriggling lots. It seemed like ages waiting for the next kitten, in reality it was just over an hour.
At 5:16am kitten 3 was born. This kitten was funny... he came out and was deadly still. After a minute (or a few seconds? Time did not pass evenly), Angel licked him vigourously and broke the membranes.. all of a sudden the kitten flipped and wriggled more than I've ever seen.
Finally at 5:42am the fourth and final kitten arrived.
Angel knew exactly what to do with these last two and was brilliant.
Mum & all 4 kittens are doing great & they are all settled now in the box in their crate, though I have still to change it for a clean box with clean bedding.
Anyway. I am sleep deprived so I'll leave you with a few pictures.
***Warning: These pictures are taken during and straight after delivery so they do contain blood etc and are "graphic". Don't look if you are squeamish. Scroll down to the very last pic if you want to see *just* the cleaned up kittens***
First two kittens born #1 tabby, bottom kitten, #2 tabby & white, top kitten.
Kitten #3 appearing in sac
#3 is out!
# 4 just being born
# 4 is out.
All the kittens together.
And again.
And several hours later (10/11am, 6 to 8hrs old.)
