Day 48 - July 7, 2007

Again these are not the longest of entries with many photos because my time today has been split between washing, cleaning, syringe feeding, litter trays, and spending time with one of our ladies who is thinking about going into labour within the next 24 hours so I do have time constraints today unfortunately.

Our Capitals are such funny little creatures and are starting to spend more and more time downstairs, trying to get into the kitchen, and trying to annoy the rest of our cat family. But they are so adorable and even when they are doing things they shouldn't, they just get picked up and get cuddles. They still demand a lot of attention from me, in fact, as soon as they see me, they coming running over, particularly Dublin, and they are not satisfied until we have had some chats and some cuddles and they have the most beautiful purrs. Washington has me wrapped around his little paws at the moment because his favourite sleeping place is the top of the scratch post, so whenever it's feeding time, if he is asleep and he sees everyone else heading for the food trays, he looks at me and screams to be picked up and put in front of the tray. Naturally I pick him up straight away so now he won't leave his bed at all to eat, he insists that he is picked up and placed with everyone else at the tray. It's just as well that I see him tearing around like a loony with everyone else or he would be in danger of becoming lazy :) Port-of-Spain had an accident with the small water bowl last night. She was being chased by her sister, Canberra, I had only just re-filled the bowl and Port-of-Spain came tearing in through the door, in such a hurry to get away from her sister that she wasn't looking where she was going and ran straight into the bowl, soaking herself and the carpet. A quick dry off though and 5 minutes later she was back playing chase games although I swear that Canberra had an extremely smug look on her face as she watched me dry Port-of-Spain.

Day 47 - July 6, 2007

I had absolutely no idea that I took so many photos of our Capitals today, nor do I know why I took so many but by the time I had spent 2 hours sorting through diary entry photos I had lost the will to live :) It has taken me forever so today's entry will be short and sweet but hey, at least there are a lot of photos. I had to laugh at Washington this afternoon although I don't know that his new mum will find this particularly amusing. I was taking some photos of Snow Queen, and I glanced down to see Washington clambering out of one of the litter trays where he had been doing his business, but he was so excited about playing with everyone else that he just couldn't wait any longer to for anything else to "drop out". So out of the tray he jumps, runs a few steps forwards, stops, has a whinge, runs another few steps forwards, out drops a beautifully formed nugget, Washington looks at it in total surprise (he obviously had no idea that wasn't finished) as if wondering where on earth it came from. He didn't even have the decency to hang around at at least make an effort to cover it up, not that he could have as it was on the carpet, he just ran off out into the hallway to play with London. Bless him, the intentions were there which was why he was in the tray in the first place, but it appears that playing is more important than going to the toilet. All of our Capitals have been in feisty little moods today and have been pouncing on each other, playing the "Limb Biting Game", and not even the older babies have been safe from their attacks.

Day 46 - July 5, 2007

As per usual our Capitals have spent the majority of the morning, upstairs and downstairs, creating havoc and getting under my feet, with Dublin stopping me in my tracks wanting attention and cuddles whenever she sees me. They really can be little terrors but I wouldn't swap them for all the money in the world. I love Orientals with character and this litter certainly has character and then some. I do wonder if Diana (Washington & Port-of-Spain's mum) & Cora (London's mum) know what they are letting themselves in for. As you probably know, Canberra doesn't have a home yet but we are positive that the right family will come along for her, whether it's this week or in 6 weeks' time, it will happen. Of course we already know what to expect with Dublin as we have had the pleasure of living with her mother and her grandmother for the past few years. I am however, hoping that none of these babies end up as wicked at Teen's "Dingo" is, because I must say that during phone conversations with Teen, I look at Dublin and shudder to think she could be another "Dingo"! But before I scare off our new Capitals' families, I will say that for all their mischief, they are incredibly loving babies, more so than most others we have bred. This is a common trait with Drambuie's children, and this line in fact, so for each grey hair they give you when they are in your home, the love they give you will more than make up for it :)

Day 45 - July 4, 2007

All entries are short today with no photos as I've not had the time to get proper entries online.

Out of all our Capitals, Canberra is the one who looks most likely her mum. She sometimes startles me when she is lying down or playing and I happen to look at her and it is like looking at Drambuie all over again when she was this age. She is certainly equally as mischievous as her mother was! Mind you, all of the Capitals are. I sometimes look at Dublin and Canberra and think perhaps I'm keeping the wrong baby back with regards to size and type, particularly as Canberra is a much bigger girl, and Canberra is quite nice show quality, but there is just something about Dublin that draws me to her and I love her "type" and personality, so for me, it is going to be Dublin. Today they have not been downstairs a great deal, they really only came down to play for a little while this morning, then they all scarpered back upstairs where they have been creating havoc for most of the day.

Day 44 - July 3, 2007

Funny, funny, funny little babies. These Capitals really do make me laugh :) Most of yesterday afternoon, there were Capitals running around all downstairs, along with Liquorice and Ugly Duckling. Canberra was desperately trying to get into dad's room but couldn't figure out how the wire door worked and oh boy did she try hard bless her. Washington wanted to go into the kitchen, no surprise there as food is the love of his life and he obviously knows now that mummy appears from that magic room with food for him so every time I went in and out, I had to pick him up and carry him with me to make sure he didn't get into the kitchen. Port-of-Spain was playing with a ping pong ball thingy at the other end of the hall and the whole time she was playing, Ice was right on her back paws, standing over her, grooming her whenever she stood still long enough, and he was trying to tell her that he would look after her. As if she needs looking after! Dublin was following me around, as per usual, like a little sheep, demanding my attention. This brings me to London...............and you do really need to read Cointreau's kitten diary entry to get the full picture......................London is such a tiny little being and despite the fact that Ashanti is rather a large boy for his age, and despite the fact that she was playing right next to him, and even when he tapped her on the bum a couple of times with his paws, London paid not the slightest bit of attention to him. He couldn't understand it as he is a boy that is used to demanding, and getting respect from every adult cat in our home (you can tell I am extremely proud of this boy can't you), and for London to be totally oblivious to him was something worth seeing. At one point, she did actually turn around and pounce on Ashanti's paws, not caring that he was massive compared to her, and she continued to play her games and carry on without a care in the world. I don't know what it is about Drambuie's babies but they always seem to be the most laid back, bravest babies we ever breed, and certainly some of the most "in your face" babies.

Day 43 - July 2, 2007

Our kitten diaries start off the same again today and all 3 are not very long due to the fact that I had to take our new mummy and babies to the vets today so by the time I had finished the cleaning, did a few loads of washing, cooked all the fish for the mum's, babies, and adult cats, it was time to pack up Amarula and shoot off to the vets. Our babies are not particularly impressed with me today because we had someone here working on the spare room to try and sort out the problem and for the duration of his visit, the babies had to remain in their own room with the door firmly shut. For added protection, a wedge was placed under the door because Drambuie decided to help herself and everyone else out of the room yet again <sigh> Once the work had been finished, the babies' door was opened again and they were given full house access as per normal.

Our little "terrors" continue to progress very well and as each day passes, they are becoming more independent and much more demanding, particularly of my time whenever I am in the same vicinity as the Capitals. They continue to be very strong willed little babies, full of mischief, incredibly brave, and totally unphased by life. You may recall me saying in an earlier entry that if I had to have a favourite/s in this litter it would be Dublin and London, however, this has now changed. I honestly could not pick a single baby who touches me more than the others. Each of our Capitals have the most endearing traits that I love to see in Oriental kittens and if it were humanly possible (which it isn't!), I'd been keeping each of them. The only possible baby I may end up being incredibly happy to home will be Washington because I reckon that boy is going to remain a "Whingey Boy" for all eternity. A lot of the time he is quite good, but other times, he screams at the top of his voice solely because he isn't getting the attention he craves, either from myself or from the mum's. But he is still quite young and hopefully, in time, he will grow out of this. If not, then Diana is just going to have to invest in a pair of earmuffs :)

Day 42 - July 1, 2007

London had her own special day today as she was visited by her new mummy, Coral, and Jill who is Coral's friend. The visit did not get off to a good start as our doorbell doesn't seem to be working so the poor ladies were standing on our doorstep for 20 minutes before we realised they were actually there. London was happy to see her new mum although poor Washington was in a state of confusion as originally I thought Washington was Little Tuk so Coral was having cuddles with the wrong baby! This is what happens when babies eat more than they should and are bigger than they should be, and when I have had very little sleep. London was so funny because she spent part of her mum's visit, chasing, and being chased by Canberra, and getting involved in wrestling matches with all 3 of our Black Tortie girls. Despite being smaller than her sister Canberra, London can certainly hold her own in a fight :) It was lovely to see the babies wrestling and playing because quite often when visitors arrive, if they happen to turn up at a time when the babies are sleeping, then apart from cuddles with their fur child, there isn't really much excitement going on. Then Canberra decided it would be fun to eat Jill's shirt. It's so nice when our kitten families are able to be part of their babies' development by visiting them every few weeks, rather than just send a baby home with someone they don't really know. Unless you're actually see them quite regularly, you don't really know just how much they change every single day. There has been lots of ear chewing going on today so if anyone arrives to pick up their baby to take them home, don't be surprised if there is an ear missing!