We have reached a new stage in the kitten's exploration of the house. The inside of the bed (under the covers) is now fair game. This is so cute. The night before last they burrowed under.

It is very cute, but also very uncomfortable. I am dreadfully ticklish and to have two furry bundles sneaking past me all the way from shoulder to feet is dynamite. And then there is the occasional accident with an unsheathed claw - all too often at about my buttocks region!

Undeniably, it is too cute. They did it again last night, and then decided to play underneath the covers. That was all very fine until hubby decided to deliberately waggle his feet to entice them. Fine! Except that the kittens were not choosy in whose feet they latched onto. My legs and feet (and rounded thing I sit on) are covered in tiny scratches, many of them leaked tny droplets of sticky ruby fluid, too. Added to that, Smooch tried to climb up my bare legs before I could get dressed after my shower. But who can resist such cuties...

I heard Simba growl for the first time last night. I've heard him hiss and meow, but this was the 'get away' growl. We had a piece of smoked salmon left over from our pizza, and we gave them some. Smooch wolfed his down and then tried to steal Simba's. Simba was telling his brother 'NO!' without a shadow of a doubt.

They are spending a little less time together. They mostly sleep together, but once or twice I have found them sleeping in different rooms. As they grow more confident and attached to us, I suppose they have no need to be so clingy toward each other. I think they'll always be close, but some space is good too, just like humans.

I am going to upload some new photos to the album, too - so check there for updates.

Their periods of most activity are the last hour or two before bedtime and the first couple of hours in the morning. In the day they sleep mostly, interspersed with shorter spells of play.

While they started out grazing for food, they are visiting the food dish less often, and are becoming morning and night feeders. We will switch them to that feeding regime at about 3 months old, but they're heading that way themselves anyway.
 

I came into the lounge late-ish the other night, wondering where the boys were. Pulling aside the curtain to the bay window, I found them both perched on the windowsill looking out at the birds perched on the power lines.

For a start I could not work out how they'd gotten up, as they cannot jump that far yet. Then I realised. Our fire guard, made of square mesh, leans against the wall under the window when we don;t need it, and they'd climbed up it to the window sill. Clever boys.

This morning, I saw this get taken a step further. Simba can jump from teh back of the chair to the window sill. About 30-40cm. Smooch cannot do this yet, so he sits and watches until Simba deigns to come back down. Which he always does quite quickly, since they like to be near each other.

We bought a digital camera at the weekend. I have wanted one for sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long! Now I've been snap happy with the kittens. But it's so great just deleting the bad shots. Very freeing, I must say. I have put the film in to be developed. The film covers the first two weeks with us. I'm looking forward to getting them back later this week.


 

I got another bathing with tiny rasping tongues this morning, they're sooo funny.

Smooch and Simba are hardly letting me out of their sight. Even when I go to the toilet, they're right behind me. Simba is asking for cuddles all of the time, and I am rewarded with deep, rumbling purrs the moment I pick him up. He loves nuzzling with me. We rub heads together and he is enraptured.

Smooch...well he is something of an enigma. He is constantly asking for cuddles, and even climbs up my legs if I don't pick him up. But as soon as he is up, he wants down again. Don't know what is up with that. Maybe he thinks he's missing out, but then finds he doesn't want what he thought he was missing. *shrug*

The two of them are asleep in the sun on the chair beside me right now.

I have moved their food and water dish from the bathroom to the kitchen, where Pudi was always fed. They have made the change without any drama, and know exactly where to go to get their food.

Last night they were treated to little tidbits of crayfish (lobster). Smooch was in absolute bliss: picture almost closed eyes, relaxed posture, and a smile to rival Shirley Temple's! Simba only ate it because Smooch was trying to steal it from him. Later, when Simba got a piece without Smooch around, he wouldn't touch it. Smooch found it a bit after that and ate it.

My beautiful babies!!!!
 

I spent all day in the city yesterday. To save taking two cars, I went in with my husband. I was up at 5.00am, in the city by 6.30am, and with all day to fill in till dinner with friends (for their 20th wedding anniversary) at 6.00pm. That meant my babies were alone from 5.50am until 9.30pm yesterday. I missed them so much. I'm glad there are two of them, so at least they had each other for company.

When we got home we were really tired, but unfortunately, the boys were in good form and play-fought like crazy. When it gets a bit too exuberant, one will meow in protest, and so while trying to sleep we kept hearing these meows, right there on the bed with uis, not to mention the jumping, pouncing, rocking and scrabbling!

This morning, before I could get out of bed they were giving me a good washing down. Hair, face, arms, fingers...hehehe. They tickle! Simba tried for my lips but I draw the line at that point.

Simba has just been the most clingy, purriest, lovable kitten today. I think he really missed me. Even while at the computer he slept on me for a while.

Their eyes are changing colours. Simba's started turning green a few days ago, but I noticed Smooch's are looking a bit more green than blue today. It's a shame as they looked really cool with blue eyes, but I love them nonetheless. Having kittens is a definite therapy for losing my faithful Pudi

 

I think the boys believe I am one of them. I got the most thorough washing from them this morning, while their motors were running at full steam (i.e. BIG purrs)

We have observed that the kittens will groom each other, often by placing a paw on the other's head or back and then licking them. This morning, Smooch placed a paw on my head and licked my hair. While he was doing that, Simba was licking my face, neck and hands. Oh, so cute!!!!!!!

Needless to say, they have quite a strong bond now with us, and especially me, as the one home with them all the time.

I am desperately trying to fill up the film in the camera so I can get it developed and share piccies of my boys, but I am not so desperate as to take a whole roll of similar shots. I need more action photos, and of course, they're a little harder to capture. Those little paws move so fast!

It rained the other day, so I had to hang the washing up in inside on the clothes horse. They have discovered the delights of pulling things off of it. Several pairs of underwear and socks are now strewn across the dining room floor.

Ouch! Smooch just climbed up my leg underneath the computer desk. I am serious when I say my legs are a mess of tiny scratches and puncture wounds!

We have started the process of teaching them "No". They first showed interest in our food yesterday at lunchtime - we were having quiche. After several repetitions of saying "No!" when Simba tried to lick the plate, the sound arrested his movements. A very good beginning to their training. Later he climbed onto me and kissed my lips; he could smell the quiche on my breath.

I am so grateful for my two babies. I pray they have a long and healthy life.

One of the differences I notice between the boys and darling Pudi, is she had a pink nose, and these two little guys both have grey noses.
 

Whilst I intended to add to this daily, real life is a different matter. It is a holiday weekend this weekend, which means hubby is home longer and I have less computer time.

Anyway, back to the boys.

They are soooo cute. Let me try and relate what's been happening over the last few days.

They love shoes. They keep dragging my sneaker out into the middle of the floor - bear in mind, the sneaker is double their combined weights!!! They also like my husband's jandle.

Last night was the best night yet with them sleeping on the bed. They did not rouse until 6am, but then after, raced up and down between us at breakneck speed. It's amazing how tolerant and indulgent one can be with two critters so cute.

They are both excellent when it comes to their toilet training. They know where to go and the only accident we had was when we didn't clean the litter tray out fast enough. I cannot blame dear Simba for that.

Today they have discovered the pleasures of lying in the sun. Usually they sleep on the bed or on me, but this morning, with the beautiful sun streaming through the window, they found it's rather nice to curl up in it. It is the first real oppoortunity for them to do so, as we've had terrible spring weather.

They do not like the lawn mower though. They have just been scattered from their sunny spot as hubby is mowing the lawn. Poor cutie-pies. Smooch made a bee-line for me, and he seems more relaxed now.

We are gradually opening up more of the house to them, bit by bit. So they get to know where everything is, without being frightened, overwhelmed or getting lost. I don't know when we will let them outside, but not for a while yet. They are far too little. I also don't know how long we should wait before introducing them to our dog.

They are bonding very well, although I think hubby is disappointed they don't come to him like they do me. But I'm home full-time so it is only natural they form a faster bond with their mummy.

Let's see, what other cute things have they been doing:

Smooch has discovered the ends of my knitting needles, much to the detriment of my productivity (I'm knitting scarves as Christmas presents).

Both kittens are practising their pouncing and this has provided us much merriment as they stalk and leap at each other.

Smooch prances, like you see a deer do. He bounces up on all fours, fully in the air. It's incredibly funny to watch.

They make really good dusters. Under the bed doesn't get vacuumed regularly , but they pull out the lint on their coats, which is then disposed of in the rubbish. Handy little fellows!

Well, time for more cuddles.


 

Yesterday was a big day for the kitties. They went to the vet for their first chec-up and their vaccinations. Smooch may have over-sized kidneys, but apart from that, they are healthy.

Then the biggest event yet...the kittens were let out of their bathroom enclosure, and the barrier taken down. They love racing around the house; two little sets of paws thudding on the bare floorboards makes me giggle indulgently.

For the first time, they slept on our bed overnight, and not in their basket. Well, they slept some of the time. The rest of the time they chased their tails, played together, adn clawed their way up and down my leg (it was hot, so I only had a sheet covering me--not much protection against their sharp wee claws).

They are brilliantly behaved, getting up a couple of times to go and use their litter box in the bathroom. I could not have hoped for such well-trained tots, but they are excellent.

They are asleep now on the bed, again, but I imagine they will wake up shortly.

Since I haven't got photos yet, I'll describe them. They are brothers.

Simba - Long fur, dark brown tabby with cream markings and whiskers.

Smooch - Completely grey, the runt so he's smaller than Simba.

Their personalities are quite well defined already.

Simba - He is my boy. I named him this because he hissed at everyone. In the pet shop, if anyone reached for him he would hiss. If you went to pick him up, he'd hiss. He no longer hisses, in fact he stopped the second day, but he is still very much my little lion cub.

Smooch - is hubby's kitten. He is small, but no less feisty or playful. He gives everything he has and more. He meows if he cannot find Simba, and Simba will go to him. Smooch will also meow to be picked up for cuddles; he hates being alone. Smooch loves his cuddles, and hubby chose an excellent name for him, before we even knew he liked to be cuddled all the time.

We are all bonding very well.

Why we ended up with two kittens is a sad story. Our beautiful cat, Pudi, became ill. When she got to the point of suffering, with no improvement with treatment, we made the tough decision to part with her.

The day before, we saw three kittens at a pet shop in the city, and once we knew what had to be done with Pudi, we rang and asked for the two we wanted to be held for us.

Picking them up was a sad and bittersweet event. Mourning my darling girl, I was sort of happy to get two new babies. We decided to take the third one as well, not wanting to leave her by herself, but by the time we arrived, she had been sold to another family. So we left with our two new bundles on the longest journey of their small lives - about an hour by car to our home.

We let them out of the "Pet Mobile" box immediately, and they promptly went and hid behind the entertainment unit with all the power cords and such like. We decided they needed safe confinement until they got to know us. It's been 20 years since I had a kitten, and I forgot how little and timid they are in a big adult world.

So they were penned in the bathroom, with a board across the doorway to stop them getting out. They had food, water, a litter box and a basket with a sheepskin, and toys.

The next few days, I spent time in there with them, as well as bringing them out to sleep with me in the lounge during the day. Hubby gives cuddles and plays after he comes home from work in the evening.

They are bonding quickly, though they are still learning their names.