Monday, July 14, 2008 Sunday Posted in Breeding Cats It was a beautiful sunny, warm winters day yesterday! It was nice to be able to open the cattery door & let fresh air & sun in - plus the cats/kittens like to look out and watch me garden. Yes I was having soo much fun being outside clearing up the mess the pukeko's had made (they had eaten all of my winter veges bar the board beans), that I forgot the time & so new owners met me in garden clothes & no makeup. Iorek's family picked him up - he is now called Louie & I think will be the young mans best friend. Lyra & Roger were able to go as I was cheeky enough to ask Iorek's owner who is a vet & his client is getting the litter mates - so maybe not too cheeky GRIN what he thought. Iorek's new dad (Micheal) gave the place a good once over & said we had a nice set up - very nice to hear from a vet! I got in BIG trouble from Abbey for letting them all in her bedroom - she had read till midday (nothing like a good book aye - she is reading Into the Wilderness series by Sara Donati so I know it is a good book - I sneaked her in a drink & bikie & her dad did her morning chores to let her lie & rot in bed as he says) She had made her bed but that was all...Micheal got to see Laura & her babies (in Abs room). They then met the grandmother - Briar - I didn't ask him if he thought Briar was pregnant -it must be a pain being someone special & always being asked things. Same when we have famous people getting kittens I try & treat them as I'd like to be treated & then name drop & go silly to my friends. - My vet Tracy said the closet she got to famous people is going to Mel Gibson's farm - her claim to fame is having her arm up Mel Gibson's cows butt. - Another  owner has had Mel Gibson sleep on her couch- drooooool. I know I will go silly if I met him - I'm hoping he will be Nathanial in the movie Into the Wilderness - Caro is fine with her babies going - she is still helping Cindy with her litter - it's rather nice to see - the two mums help raising kittens. It's always funny when the kittens have gone - I do miss them & even have caught myself looking for them - It's real nice to know they have gone to wonderful homes - it really is one of the best parts of breeding • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Sunday, July 13, 2008 Kittens Posted in Breeding Cats Saturday was a wet winters day - not too cold - but wet! My day was filled with people visiting & collecting their kittens. Top photo is of litter 1 week, 1 day old. We had some lovely kids come & their eyes were huge feeding all the other animals - they all come running when the nut bucket is rattled. I think sometimes we really take for granted the lifestyle our family has - we love animals and do get such joy from them all. This photo is of two that were meant to go yesterday - but the little girl had pulled out her stitches. - so she is confined to bathroom pen with litter mate to keep her quite. I felt real mean for the new family. One of the best parts of our hobby is meeting all the people & seeing the joy our kittens give. One couple shared how their previous kitten sadly had been run over - he used to go on Friday nights to the fish n chip shop, go on the cat lead & get them. I did zip out & get some fresh food - I hadn't been shopping & fresh fruit & veges was just about zero. While out I had to buy some flies for the frogs - $8.50 - too funny buying flies.....I know some of my friends would think I was mad but our frogs have lasted for such a long time - it would be sad to see anything happen to them. They are quite entertaining to watch! The kids were great - the training is all well worth it in the end - I could rattle off what chores needed doing & they both did some while I was busy with kitten owners & out shopping. They are really having fun playing on the Sims - they set the timer for 30 mins each & while one was on playing the other did chores - then they swapped.         • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Monday, June 16, 2008 Kittens Posted in Breeding Cats Our hobby breeding cats is a big part of our day - I took some photos for owners yesterday so here are some to share with you guys too. We have worked hard to be different in the cat world. I was quite shocked of how a lot of breeding animals are kept - what a life! I've made myself a bit unpopular in the cat world, as I am outspoken and I do want the standard for breeding cats to be way better than what it is. I don't want to attend cat shows after hearing other breeders came home with ringworm - charming! I'm thrilled that one person can make a difference & owners have the power of the web to research about buying a pet. Owners are voting with their money & by doing this they are demanding breeders to look at how they are keeping their cats & kittens. I'd never ever recommend anyone buying off a pet shop - you need to visit where the animals are kept, meet the breeding parents if possible. Look at the surroundings they are kept in. How do they interact with the owners & also you as the visitor. The cattery should be clean and not smell of cat. Cats are clean animals. The health of the cats & kittens should be looked at carefully. Is there any sneezing? - cats do sneeze like us if dust etc... but what you look for is lots of sneezing & especially a wet sneeze, is the cats eyes clear. Does the breeder have strict  policies about entering the cattery - eg our cattery is a closed cattery meaning no animal comes to visit our stud & we don't have to send a queen out to be mated - this stops bugs. We ask people when looking to please have a full change of clothes including shoes & jeans if they have visited a boarding or breeding cattery within 2 days. Most people who buy a pedigree cat love animals & want a life long pet that is healthy & has been socialised with people. I often find they are also animal lovers like us & most send me back photos of how their kitten has grown - it is a nice a hobby and thankfully one we all enjoy. Hope you enjoyed seeing some of out 6 week old kittens. Oh we have a big waiting list for our kittens some people wait over 10 months to get what they want eg colour & either a male or female. • Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Thursday, May 29, 2008 Cats Posted in Breeding Cats Of course as a family who breeds cats - well we had to go to the Musical Cats didn't we. A most enjoyable night out. James & my favourite was The Rum Tum Tugger is artful & knowing The Rum Tum Tugger doesn't care for a cuddle But I'll leap in your lap in the middle of your sewing For there's nothing I enjoy like a horrible muddle! Waylon Edwards made for a wonderful Rum Tum Tugger. Abbey & Brent's favourite was Grizabella - we all thought of Laura in this performance. Joanne Hodgson - well what can we say - the audience said it all with clapping in the middle of her singing - this lady can sing! Midnight Not a sound from the pavement Has the moon lost her memory? She is smiling alone In the lamplight The withered leaves collect at my feet And the wind begins to moan Our family knows Memory off by heart as it has been one of Abbey's piano songs this year. Thanks for comments r our mother cat - she is better & now sharing the nest with another mother cat who has kittens 1 week older • Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Unwell Mother cat Posted in Breeding Cats One of the mother cats was just off colour - a key clue is not eating. So out comes the salmon - always the best test to tempt an animal. She ate that ok. But I just had a niggle that something wasn't right. We had a day in town buying kids clothes - ahhh we are all now kitted out for winter (shopping is my least favourite thing to do - especially big malls & all the loud music in each shop & hot airconditioning.  And people shop for leisure????) When we got home I felt it best to take her & her kittens to the vet. Nothing obvious for the vet to see but her temp was raised. So some precautionary antibiotics via injection and the plan to bottle feed kittens. Thankfully we have another mother with kittens - her kittens are 3 weeks old. So we moved some of the kittens into her nest. She happily fed & looked after them. Leaving Cindy with two - enough to look after while she is resting & getting her milk supply back up. Caro sorted her kittens &fed them all. Once they were settled, she popped in Cinders nest & gave Cindy a snuggle while feeding Cinders kittens. Photo of Caro's & Cindy's kittens plus toys Caro puts in her nest. I got up in night to check on all & everything was ok. • Comments (6) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Kitten photos Posted in Breeding Cats I got these photos to work. but haven't got quilt ones or a special autographed book I was sent. Hope to get them loaded tomorrow am. But for now here are kitten ones. 1 week 3 days old. 2 days old - mum's eye & camera flash didn't work too good. The kitten nursery, it's a chilly Autumn week so fire going 24 hours a day  - hence the two litters are in our lounge - this is fine while kittens are young as they don't get out of igloos - wouldn't dream of doing this once they hit 3 -4 weeks. Opening of the lid so you can see inside. Kittens all have homes. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Saturday, May 3, 2008 We have kittens Posted in Breeding Cats Caro had 4 babies this morning- it's nice to have them again - kittens are a big part of our life. And I know they bring a lot of joy to owners. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Friday, May 2, 2008 WOW It is MAY Posted in Breeding Cats Last day of school holidays - it has been wet but not that cold. This week the kids friends have been here - Mitchell arrived from Hamilton - he hasn't changed & he just fits in. Both the boys had a ball wearing togs, rain coats & gumboots the riding their bikes through puddles. A warm shower afterwards completes their fun. Our jug blew up - many thanks to local council who keep issuing new building permits & our water system can't cope with housing already here. Hence we are put on bore water - so many homes hot water systems & jugs are blowing up. I am ever so greatful it wasn't our hot water system. So I have a new shiny kettle as one can't go without a cuppa tea. Kitten season begins again for us - we have missed not having kittens so looking forward to Caro having her babies (due Saturday) Caro is rather pregnant - I have lots of people waiting on list for one of our kittens. Word of mouth has got around how well socialsed & healthy our kittens are. I am a very out spoken advocate for breeding animals. - Many do not have a nice life sadly. Here's Caro being ever so good & not getting on my kitchen bench - I like my pets but they have their place & on the kitchen bench is a BIG NO NO! Today - James has Todd over - I plan to try & finish Abbey's Mary Ingall's quilt top - them only sashing & quilting needed. - mmm will have to go material shopping - how sad. Plus I want to list a few items on Trade me. Been too wet to get a nice photo of birds in our garden. Have a neat day. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Sunday, March 30, 2008 Our blog Posted in Breeding Cats Warm welcomes to our family blog - wow lots of new folks are visiting -  so the stats say. Our blog is about all sorts - a real jumble - which I suppose shows my personality - I am always doing something - often two things at once blush If you get a chance leave a comment & say hi - it's fun to meet the bloggers whom visit. I snapped this photo yesterday - two adult cats who have both visited the stud & are now inside for their pregnancy - having breeding cats & them being moved about causes peeking orders & often the cats have to readjust - these two cats always get on & are best mates so it was a shock that they didn't to begin with - the previous night I got up to a cat fight - even fur was flying - so out of character from these two. So I had to put one in bathroom & other dinning room for the rest of the night. Next morning back they were back to best of friends - As you can see snuggled up together & even Cindy is suckling off Caro (not that she has any milk). • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Saturday, March 8, 2008 It's Saturday morning Posted in Breeding Cats I finished my book - Barra Creek by Di Morrissey I really enjoyed it! Off to library today to see if I can get another of her books - I do soo love finding an author & then reading lots of their work. You can always tell when I have a good book as I sneak off to have a read - I even took it to art - poor Judith wasn't allowed to talk to me - much. Friday I got Abbey's mother of a headache - bed I went owie. Life went on without me - There was enough food in home for Brent to rustle up corn fritters, bacon & you guessed it tomatoes LOL. The kids did my chores - feed cats & litter trays, washing in & folded - the hard work of training the kids to be willing & helpful members of the family pays off. Headache has lifted - still nagging but I am on deck. - Its a kitten weekend with people coming to look & pick up their kittens. So not much will get done - I hope to cook up some more tomatoes. And do something with the beetroot - haven't decided yet. I hope to walk around border of home today & pickup pine cones we have enough for a sack - I've got quite a collection going with the ones I pick up when kids are having archery they are wonderful to get nice hot embers under a fire. That & egg cartons! Share market - I am not doing too good - mmm my companies I have picked are dropping eeeeek. Just as well its not Brent & My money aye. James is winning and Abbey a close second. It really is thrilling! Thanks Pam again for letting us play. Muffins are nearly cooked - Brent is working this weekend to clear his desk - so made him cheese muffins to take  in for a change from sandwiches. Today I hope to Move cats around fill tins & freezer with baking bottle tomatoes Use beetroot Strip another wall of wallpaper off Abbey's room - might grab a book on tape from library I can listen to while I work. Like to try & get a bit of weeding done. And a few more quilt blocks made if I can. Hope you all have a good weekend And I don't think there was anything unsuitable on my blog to read while you eat your breakfast this morning - I have had complaints you see hahahahah - Oh forgot to say another kitten fell in loo yesterday - we must remember to put the lid down!!!! And the kittens have ripped my curtain in bathroom - I found them swinging on it - looked soo much fun! - So need new curtains now. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Tell me why I don't like Monday's ...... Posted in Breeding Cats Well that's not true but how about I didn't like this weeks Monday. A trip to the vet confirmed my nagging worry - the kittens hearts were in a bad shape - verdict they had to be put down. Man I felt sad. Vet feels it had been caused by the mother cat having an infection - she had a c section ($900.00 vet bill by the way) - Not a fun time in the world of cat breeding. To top it I had to ring the new owners & tell them the sad news - man I felt bad - people book 4 - 5 months in advance for one of our kittens & follow the kittens growing via cat blog & website.  I totally felt devastated for them. It's never happened before in 6 years of breeding - we have very healthy cats & kittens - it's just one of those things - but one I hope never to have to go through again. Most of Monday I was a zombie - the lack of sleep since Friday night & the upset wacked me. I took James to Sea scouts & slept for 1 1/2 hours in the car. I even admitted to Brent I had tea organised - but could we just have baked beans on toast or something. He is awesome & no problem - he even cooked it & had it ready for when James & I got home. Abbey had fed all the cats for me & done the cattery,- all I had to do was dirt boxes. I was thinking life as a cat breeder must be interesting if you were a fly on the wall. EG James & I had the conversation the other night that went like this. Me _ James why are your jocks (undies) in the kitten pen? James - Laugh Me James! get your jocks out of the kitten pen they are playing with them! Yep James had had his shower & the kittens had stolen his jocks as a new toy - it did look funny but not really suitable for a clean blog such as mine - nor is it appropriate for me to sap a photo when the kittens are lying in your jocks while you are on the throne. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Friday, February 29, 2008 Cats & owners Posted in Breeding Cats For on of my MANY hobbies I breed pedigree cats. It's always nice getting emails & photos of how the kittens grow. Here is an email from an owner I got. Dear Leanne  We just wanted you to know how we are getting on. We moved to a new house last year and had great fun getting to know the neighbourhood and visiting the neighbours. We are good at finding things and bringing them home. So far we have brought home a pink fluffy ball, a long black shoelace and I'm afraid, some little animals too (we do have bells on our collars but the fish, skink, 2 birds and the baby mouse did not get away fast enough). We thought you would like this picture of us because we really tried to get a good pose for you, although we are not usually this serious-looking! Tina, Andrew, Lucy & Harrison really love us because they tell us that all the time! Love from Mandu & Inca • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Monday, February 11, 2008 Cattery Posted in Breeding Cats Brent has worked for many weekends building the outdoor run - it is now complete so the girls can use it. It still needs the adventure playground - but for now we have cat scratching towers and igloos. Next stage is to build another one to the right. • Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Monday, January 28, 2008 Cattery Posted in Breeding Cats Brent has done a wonderful job of the adventure playground - by next weekend he is hoping it is all netted in & roof completed. Where the grass bit is will be also netted as another outdoor area - with a bench seat so I can sit in the sun & read - not sure much reading will get done with kittens wanting attention. The next stage is another cattery barn at end of concrete facing the other one. Brent's taking leave in March so that's when that will begin. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Sunday, January 27, 2008 Cats & Quilts Posted in Breeding Cats I stayed up way past my bed time last night working on another quilt block. Nearly got it finished - will do it in a mo - just having me cuppa tea & blog time. But snapped a photo of caro cat (she was 5 yesterday) it's very hard to sew with cats about!! You can see the new block on right. • Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Saturday, January 26, 2008 Cattery update Posted in Breeding Cats Brent has made wonderful progress with the outdoor adventure playground. This weekend we will see more netting on & the roof for some shade for them. I snapped this photo of a kitten last night, • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Complications. Posted in Breeding Cats One of our queens was due wed 16th - over weekend she was spotting & I rang a vet - who said it wasn't urgent as she was happy & eating. Monday am I took her to the vets , she had a scan & the vets weren't too sure which was the best plan - but decided on an elective cesarean. They made the right call as a kitten had died & had caused her uterus to be infected. She was also then spayed due to this. I was present through the surgery which was quite an experience - totally different than having normal labors at home here. We were able to gt the kittens to feed & have colostrum. Her litter sister has 6 day old kittens & this queen took out of the nest the newborns & brought into hers. She is now caring for all the kittens. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Friday, January 11, 2008 New Kittens Posted in Breeding Cats Jazz had her litter on Wed am - I was asleep on stretcher bed & awoke to the kitten meowing at 3.43am - I only got to sleep at 11.30pm as Jasmine was fussing. He litter sister sat with her through the labor All finished - mum feeding babies on left - sister sits & waits for her litter due next week - she is chief bottom washer until then. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Cats Posted in Breeding Cats We have heavy rain - soo nice for the garden - it's here for about 3 days weather man says. The air smells soo clean. I had a day of moving cats. Last litter has now gone to new homes. So onto the next. Kittens nearly 3 weeks old. This litter is 7 weeks old & have been in the bathroom pen - now in cattery - they get to a stage where just too naughty in the house! Ignore mess I was cleaning out their pen at the time - & kittens skidded on tiles & into cat nut bowl. Another knocked over broom. This is a litter of 9. But they are cute & well worth the work. Jasmine is due today (Tuesday) so I slept on camp stretcher in lounge as I do when all cats are due. Picture of a very BIG Jasmine on my knee last night. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, December 18, 2007 One very tired mum Posted in Breeding Cats I am an early bird so was up yesterday am about 4.30am. But I didn't get to sleep until 2.45am & then awake at 5am. One of my queens was due yesterday & she started labor at 10.44pm. 12.17am first one born female 75g 1.29am male 85g 1.46 am female 85g 2.06 am female 85g She had quite a hard time with breech babies. She had 4 up till 2am - my little eyes couldn't stay open any longer so I lied down on stretcher bed I had made up in lounge - I always sleep with the queens when due.  Her nesting bed was right next to stretcher bed The mother cat waited for me to nap & when I awoke she began again 5.32am male 95g 5.51am male 75g 6.17am female 60g That's 7 kittens - I think she has now finished. The last one was only 60g very small & placenta didn't look healthy - I poked my nose i & revived it - clearing it's nose from fluid & rubbing her to get her going. She hasn't fed yet & each time I peek the mother has pushed her away from the others - but she seems strong so it's a wait & see game. The mothers know best. Still it is hard as humans to watch the mother push one out of the nest. Time to now clean up the mum - give her some egg & milk. Get the washing machine going with the dirty nappies from birthing - yes I use old nappies best thing to keep bedding clean for the mum. Feed & clean other cats & kittens then I think I'll have a wee nana nap. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

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