Taking care of two kittens - an owner's view

Every now again I get chance to let you know how things are going with Lara and Max around the place. I must say they are an absolute delight to have around. I was very nervous about getting a kitten having had their predecessors, Katy and Lucy, for fourteen and sixteen years respectively and I had sort of forgotten what it is like to have kittens about the place. Friends warned me not to do it, they said I would not cope but in fact it has all been much better than I could have imagined!

I got Lara first and then Max about six weeks later. They are both very good, they have their mad games of course, but they are not destructive and are both gentle and sweet natured cats and each day I thank my lucky stars that I have them. Yes it was traumatic losing Katy and later Lucy, and I still miss them, but these two little bundles of fun have been just what I needed to make the world seem a happier place again.

Of course I was nervous at first, and I am trying very hard to keep them safe and well. Max had a bit of a sensitive tummy at the beginning but that has settled down very well now and if I give them anything new I sprinkle it with Dorwest's lovely 'Tree Barks Powder' and that seems to ensure we get no tummy troubles. Thank you Dorwest!

Lara was kept out of the bathroom for the first few weeks but is now allowed into it from time to time. Needless to say the other morning she decided to jump into the bath just as I was getting out of it and discovered, much to her amazement, that it was very wet indeed. She now has the cleanest feet of any cat for miles around!

This morning Max took on the role of apprentice carpet fitter as he sat fascinated watching me fit a new carpet in one of the rooms. Lara kept a respectful distance but he was into everything, sitting on just the part that I needed to move and watching every cut to make sure I did it properly!!

After that we all went out into the garden as the weather was superb. The two cats played happily for ages and then got into a 'chase' game. Max decided it would be fun to run up the trunk of the Golden Acacia tree and once Lara decided to follow suit he headed for the top!

I managed to catch Lara before she shinned up out of reach but Max was a different matter. He sat at the very top, about fifteen foot above the lawn, and stared down at me. I put Lara in the house and then looked at his predicament. He was reasonably safe at the top provided he stayed there but it was a long way down for a relatively small kitten and I really did not want to take any chances with him. I went and got the ladder and then surveyed the situation.

He was clearly not too happy about matters and looked rather concerned about how to get down. It had been quite fun getting up there and he had enjoyed the view at first but he wasn't too sure about a descent. He had tried going out on to some of the branches but they didn't feel too safe and he looked quite pleased to see me. I put the ladder against the tree and although it wasn't long enough to reach the top of the tree I figured I just might be able to reach him at a stretch. I secured the base of the ladder using a heavy planter and started my ascent ( I should perhaps mention at this point that, being the wrong side of 50, I had thought my tree climbing days were long gone!!)

Max had the sudden thought that perhaps another sortie on to one of the branches was a good idea but thought better of it when he slipped and had to hang on for dear life for a moment so he went back to the safety of the top of the main trunk which was quite flat due some severe pruning a couple of years ago.

I managed to reach him but he had a very tight hold on the trunk and was not about to let go (just in case). I let him go and he wriggled around for a better footing then I managed to get a hand on him again. This time I managed to prise him loose and carry him safely back to the ground and into the house for a cuddle.

I think he rather frightened himself and I am not too sure he will try the ascent again. However I am not taking any chances on that so the trees are getting 'collars' about six feet above ground. In other words they can climb a little and use them to 'strop' their claws but expeditions to the top are strictly forbidden!!

Joan

As you can see they have both grown a great deal since I first brought them home. Lara is now 23 weeks old and weighs in at 5 lb 8 oz, Max is 18 weeks and weighs 4lb 12 oz.

Page prepared 02-Jun-2002