Momma Hedy keeps moving her kittens

I walked into the kitten room earlier this week to find the nest was empty. I don't think I'll ever get used to the fact that mothers move kittens. I know it happens, It happens all the time with me, but when you are expecting to see kittens and nothing, your heart does stop for a second..

Fortunately, it didn't take too long to find them. She put them in the box I purchased specifically for nursing mothers before I found the basket. I had put bedding in it so Hedy would have choices when she gave birth (which you might remember she shunned all of my choices and gave birth on my couch)

I shared on social media that she moved her kittens and several people thought she might have moved them because I was handling them "too much". That is not why, this is why..

The babies have developed diarrhea and are messing the nest up and making it smell. It is a survival instinct to move the babies when the nest starts to smell. Strong smells often invite preditors and there is no convincing them that this isn't an issue - not to mention hanging out on diarrhea stained sheets isn't very healthy.

Gratuitous adorable kitten photos

I noticed the new choice was starting to get soiled so I changed the bedding in the basket and put them back in it.

I feel the need to remind you these kittens were 11 days old. 

This was not to Hedy's liking.. And just where were they the next time I saw them?

This was far from ideal as they were urinating and there was nothing to absorb it but their fur. I tried putting them back in the basket but to be safe I put a towel down under Raffe in just in case that was Hedy was determined to make Raffe a kittensitter

Which she was

Our little Sunsweet has the worst of the diarrhea. I was able to get a sample and I ran it to the vet to be tested and they didn't find anything. We are taking care of him and Marble who also seems to be having some issues. I am hoping this is just a blip and in a day or so we'll be back on track.

Peeper Patrol

Being May in New England, the peepers are coming out and being loud and obnoxious again. This year we don't have a fire pond in our back yard like we did in Maine, so I don't have to listen to them if I don't want to.

But in this particular post, I am talking about little eyes peeping open to spy the world. We have all ten eyeballs making themselves known.. which is fun because not all of them have lost their umbilical cords yet.

Sunsweet is peeping at you. 

Agate says hello 

Midnight was the first to open her eyes.
She is also showing spots of red, so it looks like she is a tortie 

Slate isn't quite sure about this whole "seeing" thing 

Marble obviously thinks winking is cool. 

The Kittens appropriate Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo in Latin America, Spanish for "Fifth of May", is an annual celebration held on May 5. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force against a larger French force was a boost to morale for the Mexicans. A year after the battle, a larger French force defeated Zaragoza at the Second Battle of Puebla, and Mexico City soon fell to the invaders. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico. More popularly celebrated in the United States than Mexico, the date has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. These celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863. The day gained nationwide popularity in the 1980s thanks especially to advertising campaigns by beer and wine companies. Today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with an arts festival, a festival of local cuisine, and re-enactments of the battle.

Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores, which initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain.[1]

And now it is mostly an excuse to eat tacos..

May the Fourth be with you #Maythe4th

Marble keeps an eye out for Rebels (to join up?)

Sunsweet isn't quite sure what side he is taking

Agate wants to go get power converters

Slate is going to topple the regieme 

Midnight heard the dark side has treats.. 

Naming Day for the kittens & Gender Reveal Party #hedyandthelamarrs

People on Facebook have been asking me for genders. I thought I'd save the reveal of those until they were named because who doesn't love a good gender reveal party. Mary won the naming rights to my next set of kittens and I wanted to make sure that she named a healthy set of kittens. At this point, everyone is doing well so, without further ado..

Orange - m - Sunsweet
Black - f - Midnight
Gray - f - Slate
Marble - f - Dilute tabby
Agate - f - Tabby

It is starting to really look like Marble is going to be a tri-colored tabby, as I am pretty sure that buff color on her face is actually a buff color and will start showing up a little better as she grows up.