Tuesday, June 20, 2006

A day of Surprises....

four of them to be exact! (or "Look What the Cat Dragged In!")

Last Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny and I had the day off from school, so out I went to plant some window boxes. Just after opening the overhead garage door to get some tools, I noticed one of our calico cats, Isabel, dragging something towards the garage. Guess what! Yes, a calico kitten! Cutest little thing imaginable!
We thought Isabel had miscarried weeks ago because she had never looked very pregnant, and then she wasn’t! Wrong!
So of course, I grabbed my camera :)

Isabel obviously had intentions of making a nest in the garage, which Ross has converted into his woodworking shop. I, and all my garden paraphernalia, have been banished to the big shed across the driveway from the house. Protests didn’t make an iota of difference.




I explained to Isabel that ‘dad’ wasn’t going to be impressed with her nesting in his shop, and pointed her towards the shade of the nearby wheelbarrow.
The temperature was already hot and the humidity was high when I finally got down to work at the picnic table outside the garage.



Around 11:00AM I looked over to the wheelbarrow and did a double take….I saw not one, but TWO kittens! Another calico! Well well, surprise number two. I got the camera out again :)




Big sister, Cleo volunteered to do some babysitting for Mom. Cleo is Isabel's kitten born last summer. She's so helpful :)



At 12:30 I'm back out again after lunch and what do you know, yet a THIRD calico kitten has shown up!! Cleo is still babysitting. Out comes the camera again.
Have to stop and play a while with these little beauties. This is cutting into my work time, don’t you know? And it’s hotter than Hades by now.



Where's Mom?
Can you guess?



At 1:30 I go inside to get a glass of cold water, and coming back outside I almost tread on surprise number FOUR! This one is a ginger (or orange) male…just for a change. I’m spending an awful lot of my work time taking pictures! (So what’s new?)



A mother's work is never done. What a diligent girl!



Fuzz balls.



Time for a rest! Posted by Picasa

The kittens are about 4 weeks old I’d guess. All four were tame right from the start, although the little guy was a bit of a scaredy-cat for just a little while (or maybe he was being macho and protecting his sisters). He did the little hissy spits at me at first, but got over it quickly when he realized I was friend and not foe. Usually, if the mother hides the kittens outside the barn we have to tame them when she finally brings them out into the open to meet us.
I found a nice comfy cardboard box and put an old towel in it for Isabel to make a nest in. She seemed to find it suitable. When evening came I put the box under a big planer in the shed across the driveway. She apparently found that acceptable too because she hasn’t moved them, except to bring them to the back door every morning where they alternately play and sleep on the patio all day long. I carry the box to the patio in the mornings and take it back to the shed at night.


I fear for my gardens!


Does anyone want a beautiful, charming and very cute kitten?? (or two)?

23 comments:

Anonymous said...[Reply]

How wonderful and sweet!

Susie said...[Reply]

Kerri,
You had to know that I would love this post!!!
They are so adorable and I would love to adopt one or more....
Maybe you know if this is true or not but I've always heard that there are only female calicos..
I just know Vincent would be packing his bags if someone new invaded HIS turf...
So, I'll be content to admire through pictures :-)

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

They are so cute! Too bad my husband has allergies, I miss having cats.

Jellyhead said...[Reply]

What heart-warming photos! - and a great way for me to feel good first thing in the morning. Thank you for all these beautiful pictures!!

TJ said...[Reply]

Reminds me of my childhood...we always had cats and kittens.
:-D

Carole Burant said...[Reply]

Ooooooooooh they are SOOOO adorable!!! To think you didn't even know Isabel had had her kittens...let alone FOUR of them!! They are just too precious for words...wish they'd stay tiny like that:-)

sonia a. mascaro said...[Reply]

They are adorable, Kerri! Unfortunately I am too far away!
Love all photos!

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...[Reply]

Ohhh they're so cute. But aren't calico cats a little wild?

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

I just love kittens and especially calicos. I'm such a softy for kittens, but I have 7 of my own and there is a pregnant female hanging around our house. I think we may have some kittens of our own very soon.

Your pictures are so crisp and clear and the kittens are so cute. I just love kittens.

Kerri said...[Reply]

Sue, yes calicos are always females. I read an article somewhere recently that talked about a rare male, I think in CA.
Friday, they're not wild at all, usually very sweet...just like any other cat, given lots of love and affection.
They're usually very good mousers.
Thanks so much to all for visiting. I love to hear from you!

Val said...[Reply]

Oh oh oh!! Want to have one of those kitties. So gorgeous! I can't wait until number one son comes home and I show him the photos. He looks like a big tough guy, but when it comes to cats and kittens, he's a pushover. And don't our cats know it!

Alice said...[Reply]

You know my address don't you, Kerri? I'm not sure how you will package them for International Travel, but ....

They are just beautiful. I love kittens at that age and I wish they would stay that size. Okay, okay, you're right...I'm not a real cat person.

clairesgarden said...[Reply]

Kerri they just lovely. she looks like a good patient mother, and her last years kitten still helping too. lovely. time to play with kittens, no working!!

squire said...[Reply]

Isn't it funny how with kitten or puppies, "love at first sight".

Miss Robyn said...[Reply]

oh they are so cute. I had a calico cat a few years ago, her name was Agnes. I would take one, 'cept I am looking for a pure black cat, ha! but like you say - what do they do to the garden. ooh but they are so sweet.
It is cold here in the mountains at the moment, but I guess not quite as cold as it can get there.

Marlene Depler said...[Reply]

Think of what you would have missed if you weren't outside attempting to garden! We get ourselves outside and sometimes we are distracted---but with good reason. Thanks for sharing your distraction with all of us.

This spring I was distracted my a mother fox and her six little offspring. They moved on and then now I have been distracted watching a duck with six ducklings. They go for a swim in the little pond every morning and every evening.

HORIZON said...[Reply]

Oh my, oh my, oh my goodness- how lovely. Just saw all those wonderful pictures- you really caught the moment Kerri. How sweet are they- my daughter would be around for a few if we lived closer!!! Wonderful markings also.
There is something wonderful about nature that makes you smile. Bests.

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

Both the hundreds of miles between NY & TX and my son's feline allergies mean that we can have no lovely Calicos for our family, either, but your photos have me making stupid crooning sounds while I roll the entry up and down.

You should have no trouble finding homes for them, just with saying goodbye~

Annie

Diana LaMarre said...[Reply]

What an exciting day you had. They are so cute.

Sigruns German Garden said...[Reply]

How cute, how cute, that Kittys! Can you bring me one? No, do it not, my Mr. Wonderful will kill me, whe have three cats.
Kerrie, I have a photo for you at the blog.

Sigrun

Dianne said...[Reply]

I love kittens, but you are a bit far away or I'd get one for me or mom. ; )
You should submit some of these great shots to Cat Fancy magazine.

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

What a wonderful gift ..a family of kittens..wonderful post thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

So cute! Nice blog!