katey's pregnancy

Tuesday 31st June '09
12.36am - A phone call from Katey - she is having contractions every 5 mins which goes to 4 Mins whilst on the phone to me. i tell her to keep me informed and tell her to try to rest as she can't go into hospital until they are every 3 mins.
7.15am - i give Vicky a call to see if she has heard anything about Katey. Vicky is on her way to Katey's to pick up her cats and bring them to us for their holiday whilst Katey is in hospital. Once Vicky arrives at Katey's she gives us a call to let us know that there are only cats there so they must be in hospital.
mid-am - we get a call from Katey to say her labour has slowed down, so its a waiting game. She is going to try to get some rest and will let us know when the pains heat up again.
Meanwhile everything continues in the cattery.......... kittens need to be fed and cared for ........... as do the Queens and Studs. All the fans are going on full to keep the air moving in the quarantine, the boarding cattery, and Purebliss Cattery.
we have a visit from 2 lady's wanting information on hybrids and harnesses so we send them to talk with Kelly and Sara of Kelsar Bengals who make great harnesses.
Lunchtime - Vicky is making lunch and we can all have some iced drinks to cool down.
pm - we will keep our fingers crossed that things speed up for Katey. when Katey was born i went into labour on the Friday and she was born on the Monday, i wonder if she is going through a similar thing.
jacky
www.pureblissbengals.co.uk
www.pureblisssavannahs.co.uk

meat day

Tuesday 16th June
Fed weaning kittens and very young kittens with warm cooked chicken in juices - they love it!
Older kittens given fresh raw, along with some of the adults who love it. we are also hand raising a savannah litter who's mum had decided it was time they stood alone - they can't quite manage it yet, so we are syringe feeding them every few hours to encourage them into early weaning.

Vicky collected Katey on the way to work this morning so that she could spend time with us - Katey is too close to her due date to drive.

Mid-morning and the vet makes his daily visit to Purebliss Quarantine - checks the cats and signs the book. Tim and Vicky had just finished cleaning out Betty. She is becoming cleaner in her sleeping area now she is nearing her due date - her pregnancy is so very different to the Bengal and Savannahs, and much longer.
Syringe feed the Savannah litter that needs help weaning.

Then the rest of the morning is taken up with mincing lamb hearts and chicken breasts. Then its onto the whole chickens - all to be ground twice so that no bones are left - full of goodness!

Lunchtime - Vicky and Katey are making the sandwiches whilst i hand feed the savannahs for early weaning.
Katey is very close to her due date now, so the warm weather is getting too much for her at times. After lunch she has her daily nap before Malcolm picks her up to take her home. Lunchtime feeds for all the kittens.

pm - cash and carry visit to buy some tinned and dry cat food, sundries etc. picked up some new toys for all the kittens. Put some straight into a couple of kitten litters - I'm really pleased with them (the kittens love them too) will buy some more later in the week.

no sooner back then Tim comes looking for me to answer the phone. Kittens need to take priority, especially these that need hand feeding. people don't understand sometimes that the kittens need feeding on time or they don't improve. we don't always answer every phone call as we are working with kittens or cats that need our attention.
Managed to get the early weaning kittens fed.

pm - time to take photos - took some photos of a couple of savannah kittens that i haven't had time to take before.
Hand feed the early weaners.
Nightly feed for all the cats and kittens - check all waters are full, and remove any poo from kitten litters.
take the savannah kittens from the webcam into the lounge. Leave Tim to clean out the kitten conservatory ready for a Bengal litter to go in. its lovey to see the kittens running and playing on camera.

8pm - time passes too quickly - we need to eat.
Hand feed the early weaning kittens, and check kittens all have dry to eat during the night.

we need to take some more photos but instead we have a cup of tea (for Tim) coffee (for me) and view a DVD.
the rest of the photos will have to wait until another day - there are only so many hours in a day and the health and welfare of our cats and kittens have to come first.
Jacky
www.pureblissbengals.co.uk
www.pureblisssavannahs.co.uk