Pregnancy Diary – Lady Arwen Evenstar

Lady Arwen Evenstar in the starlight!

Lady Arwen Evenstar will be four years old on the 15th December 2020. She had her first litter on 22nd January 2017. Her second litter was born on 22 November 2018, and her third litter was born on 25 September 2019. Now, nearly exactly a year later, her fourth litter is due.

I took her to her gentle, good-natured handsome, many-times show champion stud – Cherie-Finesse Dreamer of Cherie-Zelle – on 16 July, after the winter dormancy period. Lady Arwen had had her annual inoculations and de-worming in advance, on 18 May. She was in good condition and ready for her next pregnancy.

Cherie-Finesse Dreamer of Cherie-Zelle
Cherie-Finesse Dreamer of Cherie-Zelle
A morning cuddle on due-date
A morning cuddle for mom-to-be on due date

A feline pregnancy is usually 63 – 65 days in duration, so I calculated Lady Arwen’s first due date to be 17th September. I started feeding her on Royal Canin baby mousse with a little water added, just as she likes it – morning and evening, as well as her regular pellets. As an experienced mom-to-be, Arwen started researching safe birthing spaces as early as half way through her pregnancy. I know that she has chosen a low built in cupboard in our bedroom for her last two deliveries, and so I have had that cleared and prepared for a few weeks, with her birthing box nearby.

Three or four days before her first due date, I assembled all necessary items.

You will see a heating pad on which I will place the kittens after delivery and once labour for the next kitten is underway. Sterile gloves and F10 to sterilise my hands. Sterilised scissors in case I need to help with the umbilical cord. Paper towel and clean towels and face cloths, to clear the membrane from babies’ faces if mom spends too long working on the umbilical cord. Linen savers to place under mom if she moves around during delivery. A scale to weigh the babies on, and a printed sheet ready to record time and weight of each baby’s birth, and to take note that the placenta has been delivered as well.

I don’t sleep well the nights before the kittens are born. I’m up and down, checking on the mother. She is often restless – scrabbling in the birthing box, going to the litter tray or to have a snack. You may wonder why I feel the need to play midwife – a) both of my queens want me there at the birth. Arwen actually called me loudly last time, while I was washing up in the kitchen b) kittens can be needlessly lost if the membrane is not cleared from their mouths and noses. I wait and watch, and only assist if the mother doesn’t get to it reasonably quickly. c) There may be complications – if the birth takes too long the mother may need a caesarean. d) It occasionally happens that an exhausted mother may be confused and think she needs the litter tray – only to give birth in the litter. This happened with Princess Bella’s second litter. Fortunately, I had been forewarned this sometimes happens and I caught the baby as she delivered it.

So – tonight is the end of Day 64. Arwen has had a lovely day – spending a bit of time in the herb-garden and quite a few hours sleeping on a garden chair in the sunshine on our patio.

Arwen sleeping on the patio on Day 64.

This evening she seems a little restless. She came upstairs at about 8 p.m. instead of remaining downstairs with us. However, she has eaten a good supper, and she’s grooming herself although she hasn’t started to wash her ‘birthing region’ which queens do to ease discomfort. I have been observing her and I don’t see her stomach or flanks tensing up. She hasn’t started to lie on her side and stretch her body – so perhaps not in the next few hours. Maybe not tonight. I do prefer a day time delivery! I’m going to bath and get myself ready for another wakeful night – or the arrival of our long-awaited treasures!

4 Comments

  1. Vanessa on September 19, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    Wow, what a beautiful mommy. What is the process of getting a kitty from you. My Miss Molly crossed the rainbow bridge about 3 months ago. She was a Snow White Persian. I got her as a baby in 2006, so she was 14. She died in my arms. I’m ready for a new baby. What is the price of your babies?

    • Vivian Jenkins on September 29, 2020 at 9:27 am

      Hi Vanessa – sorry, I’ve just seen this now. I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so hard to let our precious loved-ones go. Pets are so faithful and love us unconditionally!

      Thank you for your inquiry about this lovely breed of cats.

      I’m a very small boutique breeder with only two queens who are our beloved pets. As a result, we have one litter of kittens with each once a year. They are raised like tiny, adored princes and princesses in our home for twelve weeks before they are ready to go to their forever families. This year I’ve had an avalanche of inquiries, and my waiting lists for both queens was full before they were pregnant. I’ve even opened a waiting list for next year,

      I’ve also been referring prospective families to two of my very well respected breeder colleagues. I will send you the basic information, and if you are still interested, please contact me on vianzelle@gmail.com

      Here is some relevant information for you:

      All registered breeders of Persian Chinchilla (Original Longhair) Cats in the Western Cape charge from R6000 upwards for a pedigree kitten. 
      New owners sign a contract agreeing to sterilize their kitten at between four and six months.  All kittens are vet checked, dewormed and have had their first vaccinations when they are homed at around 12 weeks. 

      Prospective Forever families are respectfully advised that a kitten is not a gift for a child. He or she becomes a valued family member for the next 12- 15 years or more, with all of the significant costs and responsibilities involved!  (Please note that kittens will need second vaccinations a couple of weeks after arriving home with you.)

       If you are interested,  and would like to be on my waiting list, let me know. I have a questionnaire that I ask prospective families to complete. This helps me to assess whether the family is a good ‘fit’ for one of my kittens, and it is also very useful for prospective buyers as it heightens awareness of what is involved in adopting one of these stunning cats.

      Very best wishes
      Vivian

  2. Louie Gildenhuys on January 18, 2021 at 5:22 pm

    Ek stel baie belang in ń chinchilla small breed. Ek ht een gehad, maar is ongelukkig dood. Kan jy my ASB help?

    • Vivian Jenkins on January 20, 2021 at 7:51 am

      Hi Louie Thank you for your inquiry. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful Persian Chinchilla. I’ve replied to you via Facebook messenger – please let me know if you have any further inquiries.Be very careful of internet scams. Always check the CASA and SACC websites to see if a breeder is registered. There has been an unprecedented demand for this lovely sensitive breed of cats this year, so most breeders country wide have waiting lists. With very best wishes and God bless. Vivian

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