Pardalis Ocicats

Uno is relishing his position as the ‘big’ kitten.  He’s only ten weeks older than Fizz’s kittens but he looks enormous against them! He loves to wrestle them and bounds towards them, knocks them over then grabs them in a headlock and nibbles their ears :-)  They squeak a bit if he gets too rough….. Fizz doesn’t seem too worried and just watches with a bemused look on her face.  She wasn’t too happy to find Uno still here when she first came downstairs with her kittens but from the looks of things she’s accepted him as one of hers!

Uno had a trip to the vet this week, to be neutered. He was starting to take an unhealthy interest in his mum.  So, while he’s still a little young to actually sire a litter, we weren’t going to take any chances!

Lexi’s kittens have all found their new homes now.  We made sure Lexi saw each one go into it’s carrier in the hope she’d have some understanding of where they’d disappeared to.  In some cases she got into the carrier first to make sure it was suitable :-)  All her kittens went to lovely homes and we’re looking forward to hearing how they’re settling and seeing photos of them as they grow.  One, Florence, a chocolate spotted girl, is going to be shown and will be at the Ocicat Club Show in October which will be very exciting for both the new owner, who hasn’t shown before, and us of course!

Uno is staying.  He’s our first born, a Classic boy, who we’ve recently discovered is in fact Cinammon and not Chocolate in colour.  He’s wormed his way into all our hearts and is now the responsibility of our eldest son!

Fizz’s kittens are now downstairs.  They started on solid food a couple of days ago and all seem to have got the hang of it really quickly.  We’ve even had some success with the litter tray so we’re really pleased with their progress.

Fizz’s four babies are very robust and getting quite tubby!  It makes all the difference having just the four to look after and plenty of milk.  They’re a good couple of days ahead, weight-wise, compared to the heaviest of Lexi’s litter at this stage.  We’ve decided to go for an Olympic theme when we name this litter but haven’t got as far as thinking of any actual names.  Well, except one that my son named when he looked to see what sex it was - Linford…. I don’t think I need to explain why :-)  I’ve a dreadful feeling that name’s going to stick!! Funnily enough he’s the noisiest.  I tend to leave him until last when I weigh and check them each day as he kicks up such a stink!!

Fizz kept pulling up the corner of her bed covering and I couldn’t understand why.  Then, after the first couple of days I realised she was making a ridge so the kittens didn’t wander away.  Since I’ve placed a towel or another blanket around her making a safe cocoon, she’s perfectly happy and hasn’t disturbed the bedding since.  They’re very active kittens and she was getting upset when one would insist on walking round behind her and squawking when it realised there weren’t any teats on her back!

Well, she might have kept us waiting but it was worth it in the end!  Having spent every night since Sunday sleeping with one eye open so as not to miss the happy event, should she pick some unearthly hour to give birth, Fizz finally had her kittens yesterday evening.  From early morning she’d been in and out of her specially prepared box miaowing loudly but she chose to wait until Graham was home from work and we’d had dinner before she went into labour (very civilised!)  She took her time, giving birth to the four over a span of nearly two hours.  Unlike Lexi, who shot hers out at a speed of knots!  We enjoyed this birth more as we had time to inspect and enjoy each kitten as it was born, and it was cleaned and dry before the next popped out.  The first born came tail first and took a while to free herself from the birth canal.  I was just contemplating getting out the rubber gloves and giving her a hand, when she finally slithered out herself!!  The remaining three all came out nice and easily, head first.  We settled the little family into nice clean, warm quarters and they’re all purring along nicely.

We’ve got 2 tawnies and 2 chocolates, all spotted, a boy and girl in each colour which will make identifying them easier!  So we know she carries chocolate but have yet to see, from subsequent litters, whether or not she does indeed carry the classic or dilute genes.