Kittens are developing physically and mentally fast and they have their basics needs. Mummy has to have a safe den where she
is able to care for her kittens. We always try to be as effective as possible.
Therefor we use “housing facilities” that are easy adaptable to the needs of
mother and her kittens.
We have always given this subject
the highest priority. We make a
considerable effort to create safe situations for our kittens to play together.
When kittens are three weeks old they start getting interested in each other and
in their surroundings. The first three weeks they were focussed on mommy and her
milk bar.
Bengal cats are extreme playful,
so when you want to keep your beloved pet happy collect toys. Everything that attracts
the attention of your cat can become the next toy to play with.
We like to give you a special present from us. All
readers are being indulge by the mothers of Airashii today. Motherhood is very
special, both for Bengal cats and humans. And we like to share our experiences with
you.
Playing, running, climbing, snoozing with mommy,
eating, playing with humans, and cuddling, lots of cuddling. That’s what
kittens do the whole day when they are seven weeks old.
We always try to find a name that fits a kittens personality and difficult most of the time that can be very difficult. This is
a beautiful white female kitten, so a feminine name would suite her well. We
are still doubtful and we think that Beautiful wild would project the image
that the name describes. Because she is a pedigree kitten this name will be on
her pedigree, but I think I will all her Beautiful, because that’s what she is from
her nose to the black point of her tale.
Beautiful is a very undertaking kitten and sheoften gets into trouble. Reaching the summit is her
ultimate goal, and when she has set a goal, nobody is able to get her idea
changed. So we have to watch her all the time when she isn’t sleeping. Another
option is to remove the two tall cat trees in the livingroom. We have tried that and Beautiful
was climbing the blinds and the cooker hood. We decide to remove nothing and
find some adaptations.
Fortunately Beautiful has learned to call us to assist
her when she encounters problems. In addition Liefje keeps a close eye on her
daughter and when she really is in trouble she will also call us. All is well.
Beautiful is very playful and fortunately her mother
is too. Bengal cats are a very playful, active and happy breed indeed. At first we thought
that, when they are playing, Liefje seemed to forget that Beautiful is only
seven weeks old kitten, but this was not the case at all.
Beautiful is playing and learning: in this video she
is learning how to presents herself as a big and imposing cat. Walking sideways
is the best way to get an imposing posture, indeed. Beautiful is very
passionate to give the right presentation so we often get the same approach frm her.
The tale of a cat shows the mental state of a cat,
when the tale is brush like a cat is very emotional. Of course you should look
for other signs, because a brushed tale can also mean, fear or anger. In this
case Beautiful is enjoying playing with mommy full heartily, because she has
complete confidence in her mother. She therefor enthusiastically practices all
her skills, to stalk, to attack, to seize, to outmanoeuvre mommy: all hunting
skills a future predator needs.
Hope to see you soon, have a great week,
love Liefje.
Sunday, 24 April 2016
In this blog I like to introduce Jazzy Jazz to you. Jazzy is a Seal Lynx pointed Bengal cat and she is a charming cat. She is an
elegant lady dressed in a soft velvety white coat embellished with light brown
embroideries. Jazzy does not walk, she moves like a ballerina in Swan Lake.
Liefjes' son needed special care and attention, because
we believed that his development was compromised. Already by birth he was
smaller and unlike his sister he did not gained weight steadily. In consultation with our veterinarian we
started to bottle feed him every two hours.
Liefje is a very communitive cat she communicate with us
the whole day. She makes soft reassuring sounds: ’prrrr, prrrr” meaning good morning
or hello. When she prrrrs’ we know that
she agrees with us and approves whatever we are doing.
This week was filled with excitement: emotions, joy, astonishment
and also some worries. When kittens have opened their eyes there is a feeling
of connection, there’s expression in their beautiful little faces. Of course their
sight is blurred, but I like to think that they are looking happily at me.
Liefje is a very strict mother; she keeps her kittens
under close surveillance. She has some very tough rules and when we don’t
follow them, we are faced with an emotional mother.
We should recognize that her first litter can make her
very nervous and insecure, and we have to avoid that at all times. So we have a
lot of reassuring conversations.
We have to weigh her babies every evening and Liefje
does not like that at all. She follows us, protesting loudly and she tries to
get her baby. After weighing the baby we show it to her and before laying it back
in their bed, we let her smell her baby. The poor baby has to endure his mother’s
though washing regime afterwards.
She is a very satisfied and proud mother of two and
likes to show them to the other cats and of course to us. A soon someone enters
the room she gets out the play pen to meet the visitor. After work Ivan almost immediately visits Liefje
and her baby and after a short conversation he gets a baby in his hands. Liefje
keeps a close eye on her baby and she meows loudly how to hold her baby. When
she is satisfied she returns her attention at her other baby and peace is
restored.So there is quality time for both of them.
Since a few days one of the two isn’t growing as we
like him to do. We like to keep a close eye on them and when a kitten isn’t growing
about 10% of his birthweight every day we observe his development and take
action when necessary. Firstly we support the baby with a few feedings a day. But
the day before yesterday we decided to bottle-feed the baby every two hours.
That is a very exhausting undertaking but it is very important to prevent weight
loss. This is also a very emotional period, because a baby
almost always resists bottle feeding. Kittens are as the French say ”gourmands”
and they just do not like kitten milk, they always prefer their mothers 'milk. Furthermore you have to try to hold a
very tiny and fragile and resisting baby without injuring it. When you succeed
you will have to convince it to have a sip. Fortunately a resisting baby always
protests loudly and thus opens his mouth widely and so you are able to have a
try. You have to bear with the baby there’s surely nothing better than its mother’s
milk. Well Liefjes’ sun does not like kitten milk at all and keeps resisting
loudly. Fortunately Liefjes'sun is growing very well, he has gained ten grams today.
He is a very active baby and is trying to walk.
His body is not ready for walking; the proportions seem best suited for drinking.
His short tiny legs are not made for walking yet and there is no coordination
of movement. But he does not care; he is walking or rather waggling. He proudly
goes where he’s never gone before. But most of the day the happy family is together, just
enjoying life.
A lot has happened and Liefje likes to report what has happened with her and her two gorgeous kittens. Enjoy this video.
Day by the kittens grow into little predators.They aren’t still agile, far from it but their little faces are getting the most essential
characteristics of a predator: wishers. Their sweet little faces change almost immediately
when their wishers start growing. Almost overnight they’ve got whiskers, the genuine
predator’s tool. A cat has 4 groups of four or five hairs in four rows on each
side of their nose. Our baby's have almost transparent white soft whiskers
waiting to be used. For the time being they don’t benefit our baby's at all and sometimes their mother remove her baby's ‘whiskers. The baby's already have the most
effective way of getting mommies attention: peeping! Mommy always comes running,so who needs whiskers
Bengal cats are very agile, well build and have a
perfect muscularity, their kittens do not.
They have a soft, pink tummy, very kissable indeed. The skin is very soft, almost transparentand, lose and wrinkly. There’s not much more
inviting to kiss than a babys tummy.
The babies still are sleeping most of the day and
night , but they are very active sleepers. They have very exiting dreams; often
about hunting their preys. In their dreams they are a fierce predator and their
whole body is ready for the hunt. Their ears vibrate to catch the slightest
sound and their claws are ready for the kill.
It’s all a dram ofcourse because they still can’t see yet.
Already their coat is showing colours: light brown rosettes
appear on their torso and stripes on their legs. Yes, they certainly are going
to be gorgeous Bengal cats, indeed.
Finally their eyes opened, that’s so very special. It’s
amazing what those eyes can do. Their little face changed overnight, and this
give me so much joy, excitement and wonder. Every morning those dark blue
mesmerizing eyes looking at me wishing me a very good morning. Happy days are
here indeed.
A lot has happened and Liefje likes to report what has happened with her and her two gorgeous kittens.
The kittens are twelve days old and Liefje has become
a very protecting mother of two.
Her hormones and instincts tell her to be a protecting
mother, but here is a contradiction. Liefje has a warm personality and she
loves to be with our other cats spending quality time together. Just being
idle, playing, frolicking or sharing their territory in the garden.Liefje also likes to share her hunting ground with us to
practice her hunting skills.
Her daily routines differs and she hasn’t found
her balance yet. She often overreacts to the visits of the other cats and
therefore discouraging them. Her attitude causes problems and she is very
disappointed when the visitors leave. She doesn’t seem to be aware of her
reactiontowards the others. So we have gradually taking a role as arbitrator in this matter.
We full heartily love our new role and full and spent
as much time as we can with Liefje and her babies
Up close we found out
that the babies are purring as well, at least when they are satisfied. A
babies’ purr is quite different and often there’s a symphony of purrs created
by mommy and her babies. Fortunately they love to purr a lot and they continue
their collected symphony for a long time. I am enjoying every purrrr of it.
Putting my head on
Liefje’s back I can join her babies drinking. Almost nose to nose I pretend I am
drinking and the babies always try to chase me away. They don’t like to share
their own, special, favourite teat. They tolerate no one and immediately start
fighting me off. They are fierce little fighters and they never give up, they just keep on
struggling.
The babies have very
tiny but extremely sharp claws, and I always reluctantly have to abandon the
struggle. That will surely be the case when the two babies join forces. I am
happy looser, because at the end we have to kiss and make friends again….and again….and
again….
Liefje likes to report on the adventures of her two gorgeous kittens.
Liefje’s has her first litter and she was overwhelmed. We
made a few suggestions for a den, but she was not satisfied and she kept
looking for the perfect place to have her kittens. Her first choice was all together
on the sofa, but we carried her to a better place. She was still not confined,
so we all spent time in her sturdy with her two gorgeous baby’s. This I call savouring
and we took delight in being roommates with Liefje’s happy family. We all enjoyed
every minute of it.
The last few days
Liefje was very restless, so everybody was nervous too. Liefje was looking for suitable places to
make her den. The other cats observed her actions, but didn’t understand what
she was doing.
Liefje is very busy
these last days of her pregnancy.She has to meet with the inconveniences of pregnancy and building her den.
Liefje is a set on a perfect hygiene, so she tries to
wash her body conscientiously. Fortunately her mother keeps an eye on her and often Dashima gives her a tongue with cleaning.
