Mama Mia

And Her Kittens ….

Mama Mia

Mia when she was a stray (probably pregnant!)

Mia once she'd moved in and had kittens

Mia was a stray who kept turning up at my house. One of the neighbours put a note through my door asking if she belonged to anyone as she was concerned.

I phoned the number listed on the leaflet and told the lady she had been coming into me too

The lady told me she belonged to a neighbour down the road but wasn't being fed enough. Then a few months later Mia arrived again and delivered a litter of kittens in my home. I rang the lady again and explained I was going to take her in. Mia was so poorly I wasn't sure her kittens would live for very long it was an anxious few days

Mia and her kittensBut I gave Mia lots of protein and some of the other neighbours she befriended dropped by to see the kittens and brought her fresh fish.

Eventually she grew stronger and the kittens grew and I began searching for new homes

A friend of mine took 2 in and friends of my little sister took another.

I decided to keep 2 myself who were a little poorly compared to the others.

Merlin had some breathing problems and Marley was a little smaller than the others.

Unfortunately ALL the kittens then got cat flu which can be fatal in cats …..

Mia's KittensThankfully all the kittens survived the cat flu but two have been left with a few problems.

Merlin sitting here with his brother Marley, is prone to getting colds. Everytime the season changes he gets hayfever like symptoms. When he was younger he used to really cry he doesn't like feeling poorly. Angel (his sister) needs special food as she has a poorly tummy as a result of the virus.

Merlin does have a habit of getting into trouble. He is much larger (taller) than the others and is quite clumsy for a cat. As a result he has enormous claws but still regularly falls off the sofa and walls!

When he was just a few weeks old I came home to find he wouldn't put any weight on his back leg. I took him to the vet who said there's nothing wrong with him, it's possible he hurt it and now won't put weight on it. This was a sign of things to come he's a typical male and feels very sorry for himself when things are not right!

All Grown Up

Angel, Mia's only little girl looks so much like her mum though

Very intelligent, bright and active cat

Ziggy (in front) and Billy

Tabby and similar except one has bright yellow eyes like his mum (Billy)

Merlin (black) and Marley

Merlin was named for his secret magic stripes that you see only in certain lights. Marley was because a good friend of mine wanted to call one “Bob” so we settled on Bob Marley lol

Billy and Ziggy

Billy wanting to know where his dinner is !

Ziggy stretched out after a belly rub

As Billy and Ziggy went to near by friends I have been able to watch them grow up. When the family goes away on holidays I go and look after them.

Such a privilege to watch them grow. They both know me well. Which is fantastic and I love looking after them. I am grateful that they survived such difficult beginnings

Marley and Merlin

Marley sitting on knitted blanket I made for him

Merlin stealing unfinished crochet blanket

Marley and Merlin do cuddle up together in the winter and sometimes call for each other and play together.

Marley stays close to my side he's like my shadow and never far from home. I do however frequently find him walking behind me when I go out and have to chase him home!

Merlin despite his trips to the vets is happy and content. He's incredibly talkative and loud about it! He talks to everyone and anyone.

He loves my mum and it's quite funny when she comes to stay as he shows off in front of her. He makes out like he's the big boss when he really isn't at all. Most of the time he's a scaredy cat! Lol

MiaSo that's the story of Mia and her kittens

Mia still spends most of her summer outside but does come in every day for food. She still goes and visits the neighbours who took care of her when she was a stray.

She definitely chose me. I had to go away once for work and my mum came to stay. She told me that Mia was okay for the first few days. Then she sat on the arm of the chair by the front door for 3 days only coming down for food. Before eventually realising I was away for a while.

It took ages for her to find her voice. She never mewed at me at all. I often wondered if she would ever cry for anything again.

Then one day suddenly out of the blue she spoke. It was a long time before she would sit on my lap too. She wanted to but just couldn't find the trust. But we got there in the end. She does the most adorable thing where she puts her poor softly on my cheek as if to say “I love you and thank you” melts my heart every time