My life as cat nanny
My life currently revolves around Niblet care and making sure the other cats don't feel neglected. The Niblet is getting bigger; he was a whole 2 lbs. on 2 October and up to 3 lbs. on 8 October, which is about 9 weeks of age. That's a decent growth spurt. I suspect he's going to be a pretty good-sized boy when he reaches his full growth.
My day begins when the alarm goes off and I drag myself upright into a sitting position. This lasts about half an hour while I try to force my eyelids to stay open and cats begin prowling atop the covers to get petted and let me know they really, really need breakfast. Pulling on my clothes involves cats twining around my ankles while I try not to fall down.
When I set the bowls on the counter and open the cat food can, all three cats sit in their specific spots - two in the kitchen and one just outside the kitchen. They need a few feet of separation so no one gets food-defensive. Once I set down bowls and everyone is eating, I can finally get my coffee and turn on the computer to start work.
A few minutes later, it's time to bring out the Niblet. He has a small cage in my craft room where he stays overnight - if we leave him in the living room, he howls when we go out of sight and would keep us awake. I make sure the day cage has fresh water and put in his breakfast bowl. He starts squeaking and mewing excitedly as soon as I open the craft room door and say good morning. Open the cage door, and he jumps into my arms and starts to purr. This is adorable for about 30 seconds, at which point he gets over-stimulated and starts biting. (We're working on this.) He comes out to his living room playpen, which has expanded to two larger cages connected together with two bigger cat condos, a scratching post, many toys, and a full-size litter box. He gets his breakfast and I start work.
At some point during the day, I usually let him out to run in the living room for 30-60 minutes. The bigger cats are still getting used to him and he's still too little and vulnerable to be running around the house unsupervised. He usually gets put back in his cage when one of the older cats starts getting stressed from this little whirlwind constantly pestering them. They're allowed to get a few swats in to teach him proper manners, but we make sure it doesn't go beyond that.
I work from home and my desk is right next to the day cage. Niblet alternates between playing with his toys, sleeping, or howling if I walk out of sight. He gets taken out for cuddles every now and then, and is put back when he starts to bite and can't be redirected. (Apparently biting can be an issue for single kittens; they normally learn not to bite while playing with their siblings. We're doing our best.) He bounces around the cages playing so vigorously that it sounds like they should be jumping around the living room.
During this time I have a full-time job I'm doing, plus giving plenty of pets and love to the older cats. Hannah tends to go nap in the closet after breakfast; Milo and Daisy both usually paw my leg for attention at intervals and Milo wants to climb in my arms and be cuddled. At some point I also go out to the patio to make sure the feral cat feeders are supplied and the water bowl is full.
When S. comes home from work at night, Niblet gets excited and has to be played with and given attention. He adores his "dad" and instantly gets alert whenever he hears him. When we're getting ready for bed, I make sure his sleep cage has fresh water and kibble, his small litter box is clean, and I heat up his cuddlebaby toy in the microwave. I turn the radio on so it plays oldies at soft volume for some background noise and turn on the nightlight so he isn't in complete darkness. When the cuddlebaby is warm, I bring him out of the day cage, snuggle him, let him chew on his cuddlebaby for a minute while being petted, and carry him to the sleep cage. After putting his cuddlebaby on his bed and setting him in front of the kibble bowl, I tell him good night and close the door to the craft room.
He's sweet and adorable, but I will be so relieved when he's old enough to not need constant supervision and care.
My day begins when the alarm goes off and I drag myself upright into a sitting position. This lasts about half an hour while I try to force my eyelids to stay open and cats begin prowling atop the covers to get petted and let me know they really, really need breakfast. Pulling on my clothes involves cats twining around my ankles while I try not to fall down.
When I set the bowls on the counter and open the cat food can, all three cats sit in their specific spots - two in the kitchen and one just outside the kitchen. They need a few feet of separation so no one gets food-defensive. Once I set down bowls and everyone is eating, I can finally get my coffee and turn on the computer to start work.
A few minutes later, it's time to bring out the Niblet. He has a small cage in my craft room where he stays overnight - if we leave him in the living room, he howls when we go out of sight and would keep us awake. I make sure the day cage has fresh water and put in his breakfast bowl. He starts squeaking and mewing excitedly as soon as I open the craft room door and say good morning. Open the cage door, and he jumps into my arms and starts to purr. This is adorable for about 30 seconds, at which point he gets over-stimulated and starts biting. (We're working on this.) He comes out to his living room playpen, which has expanded to two larger cages connected together with two bigger cat condos, a scratching post, many toys, and a full-size litter box. He gets his breakfast and I start work.
At some point during the day, I usually let him out to run in the living room for 30-60 minutes. The bigger cats are still getting used to him and he's still too little and vulnerable to be running around the house unsupervised. He usually gets put back in his cage when one of the older cats starts getting stressed from this little whirlwind constantly pestering them. They're allowed to get a few swats in to teach him proper manners, but we make sure it doesn't go beyond that.
I work from home and my desk is right next to the day cage. Niblet alternates between playing with his toys, sleeping, or howling if I walk out of sight. He gets taken out for cuddles every now and then, and is put back when he starts to bite and can't be redirected. (Apparently biting can be an issue for single kittens; they normally learn not to bite while playing with their siblings. We're doing our best.) He bounces around the cages playing so vigorously that it sounds like they should be jumping around the living room.
During this time I have a full-time job I'm doing, plus giving plenty of pets and love to the older cats. Hannah tends to go nap in the closet after breakfast; Milo and Daisy both usually paw my leg for attention at intervals and Milo wants to climb in my arms and be cuddled. At some point I also go out to the patio to make sure the feral cat feeders are supplied and the water bowl is full.
When S. comes home from work at night, Niblet gets excited and has to be played with and given attention. He adores his "dad" and instantly gets alert whenever he hears him. When we're getting ready for bed, I make sure his sleep cage has fresh water and kibble, his small litter box is clean, and I heat up his cuddlebaby toy in the microwave. I turn the radio on so it plays oldies at soft volume for some background noise and turn on the nightlight so he isn't in complete darkness. When the cuddlebaby is warm, I bring him out of the day cage, snuggle him, let him chew on his cuddlebaby for a minute while being petted, and carry him to the sleep cage. After putting his cuddlebaby on his bed and setting him in front of the kibble bowl, I tell him good night and close the door to the craft room.
He's sweet and adorable, but I will be so relieved when he's old enough to not need constant supervision and care.
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