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12:50am May 28, 2012
feliscorvus: [picture shows four newborn kittens snuggled together in a pile. There are two grey kittens, one black and brown tabby, and one solid black kitten. Their eyes are not open yet. They are in a patch of shrubs and plants.] Not the greatest quality picture but I didn’t want to risk getting any closer (much less moving the kittens), but these are Bella’s FOUR babies! I am flabbergasted that she managed to fit them all inside her. I snuck in and took this photo when Bella got up to eat. She’s got them hidden under a patch of blackberry and other plants. It’s going to be precarious for the next 2 weeks as the kittens are so tiny and fragile, but Bella has at least cleaned them now and seems to be nursing them constantly. Some of the other feral ladycats are also helping her stand guard — Rosie, for instance, has been keeping an eye on the babies all day, which I am sure Bella appreciates. I can’t claim to read their minds but given how Rosie has been acting I would not be surprised if she is empathizing a lot with Bella (given that she too was a young mother — she has been spayed for a few years now but I don’t think those instincts disappear once you’ve had to use them).  Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Kitten pile! Also I wouldn’t be surprised if maternal instincts in cats aren’t even all that hormone driven. They certainly don’t seem to be for humans. I am really glad she has had other cats to help her through the birth and standing guard and stuff. I’ve heard of that with female cats but never seen it in action.

feliscorvus:

[picture shows four newborn kittens snuggled together in a pile. There are two grey kittens, one black and brown tabby, and one solid black kitten. Their eyes are not open yet. They are in a patch of shrubs and plants.]

Not the greatest quality picture but I didn’t want to risk getting any closer (much less moving the kittens), but these are Bella’s FOUR babies! I am flabbergasted that she managed to fit them all inside her. I snuck in and took this photo when Bella got up to eat. She’s got them hidden under a patch of blackberry and other plants. It’s going to be precarious for the next 2 weeks as the kittens are so tiny and fragile, but Bella has at least cleaned them now and seems to be nursing them constantly.

Some of the other feral ladycats are also helping her stand guard — Rosie, for instance, has been keeping an eye on the babies all day, which I am sure Bella appreciates. I can’t claim to read their minds but given how Rosie has been acting I would not be surprised if she is empathizing a lot with Bella (given that she too was a young mother — she has been spayed for a few years now but I don’t think those instincts disappear once you’ve had to use them). 

Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Kitten pile! Also I wouldn’t be surprised if maternal instincts in cats aren’t even all that hormone driven. They certainly don’t seem to be for humans. I am really glad she has had other cats to help her through the birth and standing guard and stuff. I’ve heard of that with female cats but never seen it in action.