Conference misery::feline_v1

836.0. "Burmese Babies!!" by HYDRA::LOOMIS () Thu Oct 15 1987 15:28

Yesterday morning I woke up, with Crystal in her usual sleeping place 
under the top quilt, on the bed, right next to me; but she didn't come 
around and say good morning by sticking her nose in my face, as she 
usually does....  she just stayed under the quilt cleaning (herself I 
thought), so I looked and there were 3 tiny kitties crawling over her!!!
She said, good morning mom, how do you like my kitties?

No time for more conversation, cause another one popped out right 
about then, and on an hourly schedule, another, and another; by now 
Crystal is getting quite tired, sleeping between kitties, and I am 
fussing over them no end, but (contrary to all my fears) Crystal took 
care of everything just fine!  (I had been planning to study up on 
emergency kitty midwifery, mostly from this notes file, but she caught 
me a bit by surprise.  I had heard so many bad stories about kitties 
caught in birth canals, mom-cats not knowing to break the sac and 
kitties suffocating, c-sections [Crystal's mom had to have one], etc 
from my breeder...)  And after 6 kitties, she was still a bit larger 
than normal size, I was sure there was another one in there though my 
vet and other experienced opinions were skeptical...  indeed, 2 hours 
after the 6th, the 7th appeared (Crystal sooo tired, saying, oh no mom
, not another one...)  Unfortunately the 7th appeared to be born dead, 
despite all my and Crystal's recessitation (sp?) attempts.

So now, I have 6 squirmy, beautiful, burmese kitties, and one VERY 
happy and tired mom-cat (Crystal purred all through the deliveries and 
everything!)  I think there are 2 blue, 1 platinum, and 3 either cream 
or red, too early to tell.... (see breeding notes below for info on 
dilute colors in Burmese cats).  

Questions for all you experienced breeders (this is my, and Crystal's, 
first litter):  Crystal hasn't left the kitties except for about 30
seconds, perhaps twice, in 24 hours.  I am feeding her right where
she's nursing for today -- Should I try to coax her out of the kitty
box?  If so, how?  I brought her food, water, small litter box,
upstairs, to encourage her to eat (rather than making her go all the
way downstairs to her usual food/bathroom place in the pantry) -- how
long will I need to keep this up with her?  When do the kitties start
on solid food?  When do the kitties start wandering all over the house
raising kitty terror? 

What a W O N D E R F U L experience!!!!  I've taken pictures already, 
(though I missed getting Crystal when she looked like a cream balloon 
with a cat's head attached -- she was HUGE [with 7 kittens, no wonder]
especially since she is really a very petite cat.)


The beginning of the story: Breeding "Foreign Burmese" cats:

Crystal is CFF registered as a "Foreign Burmese" (this is an 
"experimental" breed, not yet eligible for championship I believe..)
Her mom is a platinum "Burmese", from CA; her dad is a cream "Foreign 
Burmese" from England, now residing in Rhode Island (Crystal is a 
beautiful platinum-tortie, mixture of the platinum and cream).  The US cat 
associations recognize sable (brown), champagne (lighter brown), 
platinum (silver), and blue Burmese cats.  Cream and red Burmese have 
been introduced and bred in England for a while now.  The breeder I 
got Crystal from, and a few others, are trying to get the cream and 
red colors recognized in the US as well -- the cats have all the other 
Burmese characteristics, gold eyes, hopelessly affectionate, etc., as 
well as the interesting colors...

    I got into all this because a close friend of mine acquired a sable
    Burmese from England, carrying the cream/red gene, and we originally
    wanted to  breed Crystal and her cat Ben.  We tried, last spring,
    they spent a couple of weeks together during two different heats,
    no luck (Crystal seemed to want to turn over and do it like people...)
    After that I went back to her breeder, and mated her with an
    "experienced" male, didn't work the first try but the 2nd try with
    him, did!  So, this litter is the final result of alot of hopes
    and anticipation, for quite a while on my part--
    
    By the way, does anyone know if the size of the litter is determined
    by heredity/ father, or mother; or is it just random??
    
    To close with, if anyone is interested (or knows of any interest)
    in Burmese kitties, these will be for sale either as pets or breeders,
    depending on demand...  So let me know! (I've already seen note
    826.)
    
    Sorry this is SO long, but I had lots to say and have neglected
    an entry for too long...
    
    diane

    Congrats Diane, and Crystal too, of course!!!
    
    Purrs...
    cin
    

    
    Sure makes me wish we could add another to our family.....!!!
    Good job to Mom!!!!! (and Dad of course!)