Marieke's cat adventure

Meet Olly, Poozel and Lefty

Olly, the oldest of the bunch, is almost 7 years old. She has a red coat with a white neck and white paws. Marieke gives her the nickname ‘Olliebollie’ because of her slightly rounder figure. Besides Olly, we have Poezel, an all-red house cat aged 1 year old. And then we haveLefty, a tortoiseshell kitten of almost 7 weeks old, with a mix of red and black and her left hind paw is red.

These cats are not pedigree cats, but great domestic cats who bring plenty of love and joy. Their owner
has always had cats and a total of 14 cats have been part of her life. The oldest cat she has had was allowed to live a whopping 17.5 years.

When Olly came into Marieke's life, the original plan was to have a litter with her. But sometimes things turn out differently, and Marieke got pregnant herself. As the use of the cat pill was advised against because of the cat's increased risk of cancer, Olly was spayed.

Preparations

The preparations for the kittens' arrival were well thought out. As a first step, an X-ray of Poezel was taken to confirm that she was indeed pregnant. Just before giving birth, an ultrasound followed to determine the number of kittens in her belly. To properly prepare herself and her son Daan (5), she read a lot about cat births and watched YouTube videos of cats giving birth together. They also bought a whelping box, a run, disinfectant, disposable mats and a scale to give the kittens a safe and comfortable start.

Poezel's delivery went well. Poezel chose the place where
she wanted to give birth and eventually crawled on Marieke's lap. She was very
affectionate and the delivery lasted less than 2 hours. Poezel gave birth to 4
beautiful kittens. It was fascinating to see how mother nature did her work,
because Poezel instinctively knew what to do. She licked her kittens clean, ate
the afterbirth and bit through the umbilical cord. The owner hardly had to
intervene, only occasionally helping to latch on and make sure the kittens
drank from their mother.



Olly, the other cat in the house, observed the delivery from the whelping box.
She thought it was all strange, but because she already knew Poezel, the
introduction of the kittens went smoothly. In the first weeks, the kittens
stayed neatly within the run, allowing Olly to get used to her new housemates
at her own pace. Now that the kittens are getting a bit more adventurous and
sometimes get too close, Olly usually reacts calmly. There is a little sniffing
and then everyone goes their own way.

The latest tips

As an experienced cat owner, she likes to give some tips to new owners. She stresses the importance of preparation and seeking advice from the vet. In hindsight, she realises that she may have taken too many precautions. A whelping box or box is useful for the queen during labour, and a scale is absolutely essential to weigh the kittens regularly and monitor their health. A run provides a safe environment for the kittens when they are still small and vulnerable.

Besides these specific tips, she also highlights some general points. Cats are great pets that bring lots of love and companionship, but they also cost money. Consider the cost of vaccinations, microchipping, de-fleaing, worming and any other vet fees. Cats can easily live to be 20 years old, so it is important to realise that they really attach themselves to you and that you take long-term responsibility. In addition, cats love to go outside and should have the freedom to be themselves. Although cats are not as easy to train as dogs, they each have their own unique character and charms.

They are all different in their ways. They each have their charms. So it was difficult for my son and me for the first few weeks to decide which one we liked best and would stay with us. We ended up choosing Lefty because she is the one who is the most relaxed and comes to us of her own accord. So basically she chose us 😉

The adventure of Olly, Poozel and Lefty shows how special it is to have a litter of kittens in your home. The mother cat's natural instincts and interaction with the other kittens in the house create a wonderful dynamic. It is an experience that enriches both owner and family and teaches valuable lessons about caring for these fragile little creatures.

So, if you are thinking of taking a cat into your home, be prepared, be patient and enjoy the process. Cats bring a lot of joy and love into your life, and you will undoubtedly build a special bond with your furry companion.