The annoucement is Nebraska had her babies 1 week early (born 9th August), but under the strangest circumstances.
I set up a nesting box in the same room as Shanty both expectant mums a few weeks back. Shanty was due first, but both were due within a fortnight of each other. It's Nebraska's preference to shack up with another in the same room.
Anyway, the oddest of event unfolded yesterday, when Nebrask decided she wanted to climb in with Shanty and her 5 kittens and start licking them and basically stealing them from Shanty. I moved the spare nesting box inside a kittening pen and put Nebraska in there, hoping she'd settle down and stop being hormonal. Thinking to myself she's definately feeling mumsy, her babies will come next week and not the week after.
Instead of settling she was getting frantic and climbing the walls to get to Shanty's babies, as if they were her own and I'd excluded her. I had to let her back out for the noise she was making was very loud and it was getting late. I certainly didn't fancy receiving an ASBO for upsetting my neighbours, nor causing Nebraska any undue stress in her delicate condition. So I set up camp to monitor the situation through the night, as something was definately occuring.
Nebraska laid down behind Shanty and half the kittens were nursing from shanty, the other half being groomed by Nebraska. Who then proceeded to groom Shanty, and then the 3 she was nursing. 2 mum's and 5 babies laying together. As the evening progressed Nebraska came out of Shanty nesting box, and went back to her own. Excellent saga over, she's calmed down or so I thought.
She went into labour, gave birth to 1 kitten cleaned it up and then left it and went back to the week old ones that belonged to Shanty... how bizarre. Now I had a kitten squealling for its mum and being ignored. The saga was only just beginning and not coming to an end at all... eventually had to move the newborn in with the 5. Once it was there Nebraska was very attentive of it but still equally attentive of the kittens that were not her own, and it was beginning to get on Shantys nerves somewhat and she was hissing and growling. OK this was not working.
So, I had no option than to exclude Nebraska to a completely different room, with her new born kitten and re-set up camp there. I went back to ensure Shanty had calmed down with her babies. They were all nursing and Shanty was resting, good. Back to Nebraska, at first she wasn't interested in the baby she just wanted to get back to the other five. I spent time with her and reassured her, laid with her and her baby and helped her bond with it. The first kitten was born at 9pm, by this time it was getting on for midnight.
I came to the conclusion that it was because it was a singleton litter that Nebraska wasn't keen, but usually that just means they're not keen in any kittens. I haven't been able to come up with any better reason for this strange attachment to Shanty's 5 babies.
The second kitten put in an appearance at 3am. Thankfully this second kitten instantly kicked off the usual full on maternal instinct for her brood and not anothers.. Nebraska was licking it and the first kitten, and all in the world was good. I waited some time longer to see if anymore came but nothing, but I knew Nebraska would wake me if anymore were on there way! So I felt comfortable with trying to get some sleep, and when I woke at 4.30 both kittens were suckling and mum was purring away and grooming them and so we have just a duo.
I have no idea why Nebraska wanted another queens babies above her own, but thankfully it was only a temporary thought. Both Mum and kittens are doing well, and both the babies are Girls with bobtails and very strong faces. I am hoping after a time I can move Nebraska back in with Shanty, but I really have to play it by ear. I just want them all to be happy and contented.
It's rather coincidental that no-one picked any names from the list I submitted. It was most unlike my Totallycoastal followers not to join in the fun. I tried to encourage some audience participation saying my favourite 2. Now I think it was meant to be. The names for these 2 girls, will be the suggested ones, Totallycoastal HookLineNSinker (Linsey, instead of Linus) and Totallycoastal HighNDry (Andrea).
As usual, picture to follow.
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