Happy Birthday!

Astrid had her kittens today. There are four of them, one black, one grey tabby and two tortoiseshells; we know the genders of the last two, of course, but the others will be a puzzle for a while.

She produced the first little one at about 10.30 this morning, and the last about three hours later. All look and are acting healthy, getting plenty of nutrition from mum. The new parent herself has eaten a large amount of soft food, is breathing normally and is calm.

Readers will understand that this is not an unalloyed blessing. While the rescue-group is happy at the successful births, they represent what shouldn’t be happening: an unsprayed cat adding to the feline overpopulation. If she hadn’t been captured, Astrid would have produced her offspring outside, and raised them feral. Some may not have survived – an unpleasant thought in itself – and those who did would have created another dozen or two or more litters, while Astrid herself would have gone on to add to the problem. An unspayed cat, living outside, can have several litters a year, and nothing would have prevented it.

But life will be good for these five. The babies will grow up socialised and hopefully find their homes soon, while their mum – now reckoned to be about a year old – will also have a chance at happiness. Until then, they will stay safe and watched over in their foster-home.

Happy birthday, little ones!