Kittens

Our stray cat who comes around all the time because we keep her fed just had kittens on our back porch.  We knew she was pregnant, as no cat could possibly be as fat around her belly as she was.  It seemed like we were waiting and waiting for something to happen; and then one day it did!

One evening she laid on our back patio porch and began to meow loudly. Nate and Jaxton quickly realized what was going on and they recorded it.  She began giving birth on our porch!  As each kitten emerged, she licked that kitten clean and cleaned up all the evidence of birth.  Once 2 were born, we carefully moved the newborn kittens and mom into a small kennel on our porch for safety and shelter.  We let her continue doing her thing as several more kittens emerged.  One small kitten seemed pushed aside and unable to find its way to its mothers' milk.  Even Mittens did not help it find its way over.  She tended to push it further.  It was so strange.  We picked up the kitten carefully and laid it on top of the litter of kittens so it could find a tit for milk.  It found one and stayed put.  We saved it!

By morning, we realized there were 5 kittens in that kennel!  We couldn't believe it.  All afterbirth evidence was gone; just these tiny kittens feeding on their mother.  What a miracle of nature!  It has been so neat to witness this miracle of life!