All ten of the kittens have left the clowder (our home) and it has been strangely calm and quiet. So Marfa and Kisa (with an occasional visit from Yegor, (Szabina is in heat – and must be rotated away from lover boy) – and I spent most of this rainy Thursday morning scouring Pinterest for interesting cat posts. I know, it is a tough job – but someone has to steal other people’s neat ideas. I am trying to move away from carpeted cat trees – so most of the things I found are carpet free….better for allergies. Some of our families have wanted to use covered litter boxes etc. Because our fur babies have pantaloons, it is best NOT to use an enclosed box. However,I found a couple DIY projects that are truly amazing if you need to “hide” box in the human’s corner of the room!  Check them out on the Pinterest page above. It won’t be quiet for long as Marfa and Kisa are both expecting litters next month. I’m trying to hold Szabina off a while so we can have some Christmas babies!

Marfa should be presenting her litter in a few weeks.  She is getting to that stage where she needs extra cat-naps to keep up with the growing kittens.   Marfa is the best mama cat.  She is  attentive, watches over her kittens with a lioness’s fierceness and yet is so proud to show them off when the time is right.  I have watched her mature in her mothering instincts, and as the litters have arrived; Bug Puppies For Sale In Ndshe has learned that there is a time to wean and a time to comply with insistent kittens.  Everlane T Shirt FitShe seems to trust Yegor to take over once she knows that the kittens are eating well and so as not to over-extend herself, she will wean the kittens – with empathy and sympathy –I know –I have a tendency to anthropomorphize — but it is so hard not to do!  Basenji Puppies For Sale Indiana

Anyway – she weans the kittens and let’s Yegor take over! When she is not pregnant or nursing her litter, she stays secluded in my bedroom and only comes out to eat etc.  From her pattern – it is obvious that she was meant to be Mother Queen of us all.     The King of Cottage Kittens It has been an eventful winter, having 10 – yes – TEN kittens romping around.  We have gone through hundreds of pounds of kitty litter – and I can honestly state that Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat litter is by far the best on the market.  If you haven’t tried it – I highly recommend it. Yegor, our King (sire) is one happy/contented guy.  Watching him care for his family is intriguing.  After he has been allowed to  mate with one of the queens, he becomes quite protective; grooming her and sleeping with her.  As the chosen queen proceeds with her gestation, Yegor stays close.  As she starts to nest and prepare for the delivery – he always spends time in the nesting/queening bed, leaving his scent for mama and soon to come babies.

Once the litter is born, he will check in; just a brief look and a few chirps and he is satisfied that all is well.  He will not visit again for quite a while, but he does stay close to the room where mama and babies are residing. After a few weeks, and the kittens have opened their eyes, he will take more interest in his offspring.  At this point, I move the mother and  kittens to the “toddler room” where they have safety and freedom to learn to walk, eat etc.  About this time, Yegor starts to get quite involved... he even seems really proud!  I have also noticed that he will sometimes move a kitten/litter to a more secluded spot.  Yegor’s real support and help take front stage once the kittens are beginning to be weaned. When mama cat escapes to the high spots in the house in order to get away from hungry kittens, Yegor steps in and takes over parenting.  He will bathe, nap, play and  fight with his kids and it can get a little rough at times.  It has been a privilege to observe the Siberian father tend to his family. 

Yes, I have to say Yegor is a good dad.  We are very fortunate at Cottage Kittens to have such a superb cat as King! Of course – there is a whole other side to him…..but that is another story for later!! Introductions – Welcome to Cottage Kittens! Hello and welcome to my Siberian blog page. I must state right up front that I am a novice to blogging – so hang in there as I figure this out! Introductions are in order: Me – I am the sole human in this household. I am allergic to cats and have had a passionate love for them ever since my first cat “Boots” was given to me at the tender age of four. She was a gentle tuxedo and she and I were inseparable. Then – 5 years later, my heart was broken for the first time as she was given away due to my increasing allergies. Marfa – my first Siberian kitten and I fell in love immediately and was soon to discover that Siberian cats are not like other cats!  She was born to be Queen and never lets us forget it! 

She introduced me to the tight-wire walking, high jumping, and zany personality of the Siberian.  Unlike other cats, she didn’t hide when people came to visit and we grew our cattery together. Yegor – our King joined us several months later and he and Marfa became fast-friends.  I had worried about the introduction of an intact male into my home – and Yegor has never caused a problem.  He is a big love-bug and takes care of all his ladies with tenderness and intensity! Next to join our growing cottage clan was Queen Kisa.  She is a stunning black smoke and is the mother to us all. A soccer player and avid mouse fetcher – she keeps us all on our toes.  As Marfa was born to be Queen, Kisa was born to reconcile.  She will care for  all the kittens and help keep the peace if fur gets ruffled. The most recent addition to Cottage Kittens is Szabina.  She scampers and plays hide and seek with all – her kittens included!  And she is known as the resident kitty thief, as she has been known to “borrow” other queens’ kittens to add to her own litter!