Everyone is back from the vet and doing well. Today Mouse and her kittens were spayed or neutered. It is remarkable how minimal the procedure is these days. Incisions are very small and recovery time is quick. They were happy to be home. The kittens pretty quickly assumed normal activities: lurking and pouncing on each other, battling bits of paper, and chasing anything that moved. In addition they had the carriers to play in, especially the soft-sided one that collapsed and made a great tunnel to play on and in.
Mouse was a bit more concerned, and kept talking to them and checking on them and licking them when they can within range. Normally their response is, “Oh, mom, don’t fuss,” but today they responded a little more warmly. I think they felt comforted – and it’s possible they were also comforting her.
They say keep the cat quiet, after spaying or neutering, but even the vets acknowledge the impossibility of keeping kittens quiet! We thought about confining them to the dog cage, but decided they’d get into more trouble if confined. Climbing up the sides is NOT the ideal activity.
Two of the kittens had been given neckbands with their names on. The three tabbies, and especially Thomas and April, are hard to tell apart, so those two got labelled. When they got home I took the labels off. Thomas thought his was a great prize and carried it off, and Pippa took April’s.