The Next Stage for the Young Family

Now that the Tempos are developing, I am experimenting with their independence. In a few days, they will be eight weeks old, two thirds of the way toward being old enough to be adopted. This, combined with Rhapsody evincing some cabin-fever, persuaded me to keep her out of the library through the dark hours last night.

Unfortunately, since I don’t want the kittens roaming about unaccompanied by either me or their mother, I could not keep the library door open while I slept, so Rho had either to be out or in.

As it transpired, all went well. I woke a couple of times to find Rhapsody in the bedroom, up on Minuet’s cat-tree, looking out the window; she doesn’t have much of a view from the basement. I think she may have been a little bemused as to what she should do with her new opportunity. It was night, everyone else was asleep or trying to be, so she knew that it was time for rest, I’m sure. Nonetheless, it was new to her; she didn’t have a particular spot, and was probably uncertain as to what liberties she could take. But all of that will be settled with practice.

For their part, the kittens appeared untroubled. I did hear a couple of strange noises from the library, but neither were what I would have attributed to the Tempos. Checking on them, I found them snoozing, and in the morning, they rose from various sleeping positions to greet their mum and me with no special relief.

Rho does want back into the library from time to time when given the chance to enjoy the wider spaces upstairs, so I know she still worries about her babies. But she gave no proof of anxiety during the night, did not scratch at doors or cry. Whether she stays for a short time or a long, she will need to integrate into the crowd at the Cosy Cabin, and the kittens will have to learn to do without mum. Last night seemed to give an indication of continued satisfactory progress.