Kitten Watch, Day 2

My children are delighted to be the new proud owners of Tiger and Eddy. The question might arise, how do Tiger and Eddy feel about it? As a cat documentary I bought for the kids a few weeks back said, when in the wild, cats face many dangers which they are well equipped to handle. As pets, cats face different challenges (scene shifts to three children bringing their new kitten home). My primary role yesterday and today has been kitten-representative and protector, reminding the kids that kittens like to run and play and not be held all the time, leave them alone while eating and drinking, they can make it to the litterbox on their own, etc. Emily, Miss Mini-Mom, is having the biggest challenge learning to adjust her expectations for the level of interaction between her and the kittens. We are blessed that these two little felines were well-socialized in their early weeks and have been accustomed to children. So for the most part, they quietly submit to being wrapped in blankets, rocked and sung to and generally carried around like wee-babies. Eddy is a bit more rambunctious and independant and Emily has earned herself a few scratches, but for the most part the adjustment time is going smoothly. The kids are and will continue to learn that letting the cats move as they will from time to time yields cats who come on their own to say hi and cuddle, which brings wide smiles of delight and declarations of ecstasy from Tyler and Emily.

For my part, I'm greatly enjoying the playfulness and cuteness of the petite furballs and learning their individual bents. Being somewhat quieter and calmer than my offspring, I seem to be seen as a sort of haven which the kittens come to for peace and quiet. And at least for now, I have my own white noise machine at night, a low rumble, purr from beneath my bed.