the Great Outdoors

Or, at least our back garden – but that’s how the kittens see it.

We were hoping to have them out for 15/20 min every day. We got them harnessed up (one pink and one blue) and took them out on Monday. B got Neira to climb the 1m fence in the back garden. Merlin couldn’t grasp it – he kept jumping like a Thompson’s gazelle but right into the middle of the fence, hitting it like a sack of baby potatoes. Very funny.

We also have a mound of architectural grass at one end of the garden and Merlin took it into his wee head to nonchalantly walk away, down the length of the garden before turning round and belting headlong into it…repeatedly. Oh and he chased a hornet, and to his misfortune caught it – and went mental – adrenaline over load. Like he was having a fit, but no evidence of a bite of a sting: I just think he got the shock of his life when the little critter fought back. If he had a voice, he’d have been yelling ‘get it off me, get it off me!!’. That’s exactly what it looked like.

And after that, it rained the rest if the week. Until today – we had them out in the sun for an hour. And took the leads off them – they were still cautious (him more than her – altho he might just have been tired).

And tonight, when we got back from the allotment at dusk, we let them out the front with no reins. They seemed to suit the half light – most confident they’ve been yet. Happy to be around us. The plan is to take them done the back first thing tomorrow while they’re still in their mental morning phase.

One small step for kittens…

Today was their first day outside. They have all their jabs, but aren’t yet chipped, so we want to keep a little bit of control…so we bought a couple of harnesses…

They weren’t happy with them until they got out and forgot about them in all the excitement. Neira was initially more cautious and Merlin was off exploring the grass and pointing (fascinated with all the flies). We gave them lots of encouragement and a few treats (not really interested). Showed them the outside litter and let them explore the flat downstairs. All in all, out for about 20 min. They were hyper after – they’d normally settle, but they were cleaning, fighting, chasing, sitting on the windowsill and looking out. But all the time in our company…wherever we were, they were!

They are sleeping now. No doubt they’ll be braver next time!

More Kittens

Will he ever grow into those ears?

10 - 12 Weeks

10 -12 weeks

Everything's an adventure:

such big paws:

Fight! fight! Fight!

Explore, explore, explore

Stretccccch

aaaaaaaaaand sleep

and a bit more sleep

a spot of tennis

and a nap...

Hidden agendas – 8 weeks

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The sleep series – 8 weeks

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8 weeks – The shoe series

8 weeks…and counting…

We had a lovely bed prepared for them: all soft and warm. Then they chose their own spot on top of the shredder, under the desk. We tried to persuade them a few times and in the end (cos they were so adamant) we put a blanket on their chosen spot…they slept there for weeks:

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Our New Kittens

Cancel the TV license, and charge up the batteries for the camera – the kittens have arrived.

Thanks to L for looking after them for us and for Rapaella for bringing them up so well. Mum is half Bengal and Dad is a black-haired British long-hair, so who knows how they’ll turn out. They were little tigers, but are getting more leopard-like (at least he is) as they grow up.

Let me introduce you to Merlin and Neira. They are brother and sister and were just over 8 weeks old when we finally brought them home. We have had them for about 6weeks now (although it feels like a lot longer, as they have already brought us no end of joy and entertainment). This is what they look like today…

Meet Merlin - he likes to pose for photos

and this is Neira: she's a little thinker

there's that posing I was talking about...

I’ll back -fill a bit of their story over the next few days and add a selection of the hundreds of photos we already have…a selction: I promise. Their wee personalities are constantly evolving and no doubt changes will accelerate as they hurtle towards puberty. Neira started a bit of cheek rubbing this morning as part of her morning greeting – first I’ve seen of that.

They have their full range of vaccinations for the outdoor cat, but we are keeping them inside until they are neutered (although, we may buy a couple of harnesses and giver them limited access outdoors until then…not decided on that one yet).

Crazy little bundles of random madness…

Did I mention videos? Oh yes, we have some of them too…

Before I go, these photos are from their first weeks…(thanks to L’s brother):

back when they were tigers

the whole litter