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Witnessing the wonder of kittens being born
by Patrick Vogt
Kittens – the quiet days are over
30.7.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
Playing, eating, pooing and sleeping – all day long! Our kittens are keeping us pretty busy at the moment. Nothing’s safe from the three little rascals.
Seven weeks – that’s how old our kittens are as I write this. Seven weeks since mum cat Mira gave birth to three tiny balls of fur. She let us experience the birth up close. Perhaps she realised she needed some help. My wife and I are definitely cat midwives now.
Since then, Mira’s offspring have developed splendidly. The little ones are growing and thriving. They fascinate us every day… and they keep us increasingly busy. But first things first.
The escape
The move to the new surroundings goes well until I hear unusual noises from Zoe’s room one afternoon when I’m working from home… and then nothing at all. One of the three little rascals has tackled the once insurmountable «walls» of the enclosure, sits somewhat precariously on the sheep stool next to it and looks at me.
It’s confirmed that same evening that the three little rascals can no longer be kept in the enclosure. With their sharp milk teeth, they’ve completely perforated the net and would’ve strolled in and out of it anyway.
We gradually let them explore the whole flat more. But we still want to be around when they go exploring, just in case. We have many loopholes where a kitten can get in, but may not be able to get out on its own. Under our supervision and mum Mira, they’ve already made their first attempts at walking outside.
Speaking of Mira, in the first few weeks she was the caring mother her little ones couldn’t be without, but now she takes more and more time for herself. Weaning from breast milk goes hand in hand with the overall weaning process. Her offspring will soon be standing on their own two feet.
Time flies
Seven weeks – that’s how old our kittens are as I write this. Seven weeks already! Their day of departure is now closer than the day they were born. How time flies. From the twelfth week onwards, we’re passing two of them on. To trusting, caring hands. There’s plenty of demand, but we haven’t decided who yet. One thing I know for sure, it’ll hurt when they go.
The physical pain has been tolerable so far. In case you’ve read the first kitten post and are wondering – no they haven’t climbed up my legs yet. But hey, we still have five weeks together with the three little shits.
Which two kittens do we pass on and which one do we keep? What’s going to happen until then? And when are they going to climb my bare legs? Follow my profile and you won’t miss a thing.
Header image: Sofia Vogt
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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