posted 02-09-2004 11:11 PM         

It was not all easy going and we are suprised she made it this far, but we are very proud of our little "jellybean".
Her wrists were stuck at a 90degree angle to her arm and we have been doing physiotherapy several times a day to try to straighten them. There is still a long way to go and she may need splints when she is a little older.

this photo is of when she was first born. very weak and tiny. she could not suckle on her own, I slept by the box for 2 nights and held her to mammas nipple every 2 hours.

this photo is to show the size difference between her and her litter mates.

posted 02-09-2004 11:29 PM         

Thanks chessmind
This is a photo of Mamma, her name is Anushka and she is a Russian Blue. This is her second attempt at having a litter (last time she only had 1 baby and it survived just 2 days).
We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of these kittens for over 1 year (most spent trying to find another stud male for her) and we were MORE than shocked to see Jellybean born as a colourpoint russian !! The breeder of the stud believes Jellybean will get darker, but I'm not sure, we'll have to wait and see.

Anushka is a great mother !! here is a story from my diary:

Anushka has been yelling at me most of the morning.
She comes into the computer room meowing her head off, jumping all over the keyboard, rubbing her face on my hands, sitting in my lap, meowing, meowing.
I'm not sure what she wants, she acted like this on the day she had the babies too.
I ask her to show me the babies and she runs down the hall way, stopping and looking behind her make sure I am following, meowing meowing.
The babies are fine, she doesnt hop in the box, just licks them, meowing at me , rubbing against me. She is a proud mother.
I feed her, put her in the cat run, what does she want ??

Again she comes into the computer toom ( on the other side of the house) meowing, pawing at my leg, then I notice one of her kittens wriggling on the floor !!!
I freaked out ! why would she bring me a kitten ??
The other cats all standing around staring at the little grub. I scooped it up, it looked fine, just very confused.
Anushka runs down the hall, again checking I'm behind her.
I'm telling her the kittens are better off in the box, she sits with them, meowing at me.
I make her lie down and put all the kittens on a nipple. Anushka is purring away, eyes closed, tongue poking out, blissfully happy.
I can hear the kittens 'rattling' (trying to purr) as they knead away at her bosom.

posted 02-11-2004 09:43 AM         

When you said 44 grams I didn't think through just how tiny that is!

posted 02-17-2004 03:54 PM         

Lovely litter..... I actually had a kitten that was the size of my thumb (and i have a small hand) when it was born. it survived quite well.

Congratulations on the additions to the family!

////ej