Sunday 12th March
My little ones just keep growing up. They are being so good at the moment, saving all the mischief up for when I let them out of the room. Later today I want to give them a wee run. They are using the litter tray well at the moment, one of litter trays was nice and full this morning. I am very pleased, because they are only 5 weeks old, but giving them the bathroom in this way, seems to have really worked. With the older kittens, I was only just getting a few to use the tray and tearing my hair out. It would have been harder to have shut Lil's in there at that age, as she would have kept lifting them out! Fortunately G does not do that, she just leaps out herself and leaves them behind!!

They are eating more and more now, which is good. I suppose the fact that G is not with them all the time, offering them milk, makes them a little bit hungrier.

I took photos of them last night. A nice one of little Lilac Girl on their scratching post, and a couple of Large Chocolate girl, and Mini Chocolate girl on top of their basket. I cannot decide what Gollum's colour is going to be, he is either Lilac or he is going to darken to become more caramel. I think I am hoping that he stays Lilac.

There is also a photo of Mini Choc, who climbed into Richards sleeve, and he was carrying her around the house cuddled up with him. She is a little girl that I am thinking of keeping here. She is sweet and full of mischief. I am not very good at parting with any of my babies!! I have to be very firm with myself to make sure that I do not keep too many!!

It is snowing very gently outside now, not much here compared to a lot of the rest of the country, but enough to make it feel cold, and to make you want to curl up somewhere warm.

As I sign off for today, Lil's kittens are 'killing one another' on the settee to my left, and all sounds quiet with the little babies. They should all be settling down soon, so that I can go out and buy yet MORE cat litter!!!

Saturday 11th March
My little babies really are growing daily. A few of them have been eating chicken and biscuits. They are not so interested in the milky mix now. The biscuits were pretty much finished when I went up this morning. They eat the Royal Canin Baby Cat biccies, as they are much smaller for them.

I bought them a little toy yesterday, and little scratching post of their own. Argos is very good for inexpensive scratching posts. I put them onto the top of it last night, to take some photos. It is not very high, but they have not managed to climb it themselves yet. They have given it a good scratch. They prefer to climb their wicker basket.

Galadriel is sooo much happier since they have been up there! She loves the basket, and she is in there with them at the moment. It is interesting that Lil and the older kittens rarely go in there to see them. I am not even sure that Lil has wandered in there at all. Spotty and Fluffy like to visit sometimes, and Spotty lay down and slept with them for while yesterday.

They have been pretty good with their litter trays. Although there was one small wee patch on the bedding this morning. I think they sometimes wake up, feeling sleepy, and don't really think about what they are doing, probably a bit like the kitten that weed on Rich this morning ( see Lily's diary). but generally I am really pleased with them so far. I might give them a little extra space tonight for a while.

Friday 10th March
Galadriel's kittens have been very good with their litter training, I have had lots of wees in the litter trays in the bathroom, so if they keep this up, then they can have a little more room to run around over the weekend ( Lily's kittens have just invaded me again!!!), so fingers crossed. Gollum however ( why don't kittens understand the word, go away I am trying to type, and no, you cannot help out!!) was not born with patience, as he wants out and he want out NOW!!! I have taken a few photos of him trying to scale the wooden barrier that I have at the door. He is climbing on the boxes that I have put there( please go away big kittens, I am trying to type!) to stop him trying to claw his way out!!!!

I also took a couple of little Lilac girl, asleep, or heading for sleep, on my lap.

My knees are lacerated with scratches, from their little, or not so little now, claws, clambering over my legs!!!

They are slowly getting the hang of eating, and mini Choc and large choc have lapped from the saucer now. Little caramel tabby girl, does not like the milk mix, but will nibble on the chicken. And a few of them have been munching biscuits.

They are currently asleep, so I am trying to get this all typed up, before they wake, as when they are awake, they really need someone in with them, otherwise , they yell their heads off for someone to come in with them!!! We love them to bits, as they are soooo cuddly!!!

Thursday 9th March
We have now entered the next phase in their growing up, and training. Yesterday, as planned, I dismantled as much as I could of the box in the room down here, and customised part of the bathroom for them. This is great because it now means that I can actually move in here!! The main box will have to stay until someone large and strong can move it into the loft for me!!! Galadriel has been heaps happier so far, since moving them. She now has the much coveted wicker basket, that I use a carry basket when I take them out. It is very large and they all love it. So now G goes in with HER babies happily because they have the basket and the older ones do not, lol.

The little ones have not quite grasped the usage of the litter trays since the move!!! Fortunately, because the floor in there is not carpeted, I can just spray and wipe it over when they have little accidents. There was a rather large 'flood' in the corner this morning!!! But I did managed to get my little chocolate girl to use the tray this morning, and a few last night. So it is just going to take a little time and patience, and they should get the hang of it. As soon as they have, then they can have a run on the landing as well. They are growing up so very fast now!!

I managed to get 3 of them to lap from the plate yesterday, and a fourth from my fingers. This morning I had 2 from the plate, and 3 from my fingers, so slowly but surely we are creeping there!! They have a sniff of the food that G is eating, but I still think they think I am trying to poison them, lol.

Most of the photos that I took last night, were of them in the bathroom, and a few of them in their wicker basket. The beauty of it being used as a bed, is that when I take them to the vets, they are in something that they are comfortable with, I find that it does help.

Wednesday 8th March
I have just looked in the box ( G has left, no surprises there!!) and seen a little yellow wee patch on the bedding, so when I have finished this, I must go and cut it out, and put a clean one down. Really good this bedding cover, no washing!!!

When I have finished on the pc, I am going to let them wake up, or encourage them to wake up, and let them move up into part of the bathroom for the rest of the day, or at least, until early evening. The flooring in there is perfect for litter training, and I have disinfected the floor down early this morning, so it is all ready and waiting for them. They will have more room to run around, as it is becoming increasingly impossible to sit in the box now!!!! I am also hoping that by now moving them, it will also be easier to feed them with much more room. So I will let you know tomorrow how that goes. The plan is, that when they are being good with the litter trays in there, I can let them move onto the landing and then down the stairs etc. This means that I can start to tidy up my hallway a little!!! Those of you who have visited me recently will understand the need to do this!

My little Lilac girl and Gollum seem to have the hang of eating now. Little Chocolate girl, ( why do I always pick the difficult eaters!!!!!) whom I may now choose as the one to keep, is very reluctant!!! But she has heaps of energy. My Caramel Tabby girl, who I think is really pretty, was eating chicken yesterday, so that was hopeful.

They are just so gorgeously cuddly at the moment!!! The photos that I have taken of them were of them in the box, just as they were waking. Hopefully tomorrow I can post pictures of them running around upstairs.

Tuesday 7th March
G seems to show less interest in feeding her kittens as the days go by, and asks more and more to go out with the older ones. But as the litter training is currently going so well, I don't want to let the little ones out just yet, just a few more days!!! It means that when the little ones are awake, I tend to have to be in the box with them, so it is very time consuming, and the result that very little gets done in the house at the moment. But I am hoping that in a week or so, the little ones will be much more independent, and then my time will free up a little bit. Although when I am sat in with the little ones, and they are all cuddled up on my lap, you feel that you could stay there with them for ages!! I had a photo taken of them cuddled up in my lap.

2 of them have got the hang of eating out of the plate, the others really have not got a clue. My large Chocolate girl, eats lots of my finger, and the Caramel Tabby girl, and the small Choc girl, reluctantly lick my finger, but look at me as if I am trying to poison them!!!!

I weighed them last night, and Gollum was only 10g away from the large Choc girl, but that is because he eats and eats and eats!!!! These were their weights last night, Large Choc girl, 536g, Gollum 526g, Lilac Girl 480g, Caramel Tabby girl 470g, Small Choc girl 466g.

The strategy with the litter training, really does seem to be working quite well. I have not had an accident in their bedding yet today, although that is tempting fate!!!!

G has at last settled with the kittens, apart from the small chocolate girl, who is insisting on playing and being out of the box. If she is put back in, she squeals and squeals!!!

Monday 6th February
When the little ones are awake now, they are becoming quite hard work. They want OUT of the box, but I want them to stay in for the time being, while I am showing them how to use the litter tray. What I don't want is for them to go out into the hallway, and start toileting everywhere, incase this starts the older ones off being naughty and boycotting the litter trays. I am very pleased to say, that so far, I can recount at least 4 instances of kitties using my little tray. My method with these, I am thinking is quite clever, and I am feeling quite chuffed with myself. When they get to the age where large wee puddles are seen on the bedding, I put down pampers bed liners. They are great, as they are quite soft, but absorb any wee, like baby nappies. When I saw a large yellow puddle yesterday, I cut out the piece, and lay in on top of the thin layer of cat litter in the little tray. My large Chocolate girl, then went and weed on top of it, I was so excited!!! today I have seen 2 kittens using the same area, so I am really pleased with this.

I am thinking that maybe tomorrow, I will convert half of the bathroom, to them, so they can have a much better run around, with a couple of their little litter trays, and a nice scratching post. It is just becoming too difficult trying to contain them in here!!!

They are lovely ( you should hear the noise coming from the hallway......G has gone out there with the big ones, as her babies are asleep now...when I have written this, I will have to go and sort out the wreckage!!!) little things at the moment. When they are awake, they scream and scream for me to come, or anyone else around, and sit with them in the box. If they wake up, and neither I nor their mum is there, they will call and call until someone comes running!! The photos that I took last night, are of them playing in the box,I tried to take them so that you can see how active they are now!!

Saturday 4th March
Galadriel seems to be being more restless at the moment, and as I type , I am wondering if she is calling??? She just seems to be that much more demanding, and not settling with her babies so well.

Young Gollum is sat on my lap, he does not seem to want to be in the box with the other kittens, he seems to prefer human company!!! he is lying on my lap, having a tummy rub!!!

A couple of the others have just about managed to climb out of the box now. When they are fully awake, they bounce around all over the place, so I might let them have a wander out in the hall way tomorrow, just let the older ones settle with their vaccines first.

They are all becoming quite social now , and seem to like their cuddles, they are very cute. They have not quite got the hang of eating other food yet. Gollum will eat the biscuits, and a few of the others will reluctantly lick the milk when it is on my finger, but they are not as keen as Lil's litter was. We will get there, it all takes time, patience, and perseverance!!!

Galadriel has been in the room with me all the morning. I have been catching up on some sleep, as it has been a busy week this week, and I really was very tired. The little ones, have been very quiet this morning, and I have made point of not using my voice, as I know that will bring them running.

I had lots of cuddles yesterday, little Gollum, is amazingly cuddly and friendly, and the little girl, who is much paler than the rest, she was really cuddly too. They are all getting much more active, and I know how much them want to get out of the box. I really want to keep them in there for a bit longer yet though. I want to let Lil's kittens recover from their vaccinations, and then maybe I can give them some little runs out in the hallway. The litter trays are all established out there, so I am hoping this will make it easier for them to learn how to use them, well, I can hope!!!!

I am very fond of these babies, they really are very cuddly and very cute!

Thursday 2nd March
Well, I weighed her babies again last night, and my darling, not so little boy, now weighs 412g!!! He is tucking the food away, and had a tummy like a little barrel last night!!

I have been offering them some milky mixture, Gollum comes running up, laps away, and growls as he eats, it is so funny to watch. A couple of the other kittens will lick off my fingers, and the other 2, are horrified at the whole prospect!!! Gollum also likes to munch the tiny Royal Canin babycat biscuits. I think he is determined to over take the large girl, and if he carries on like this, he will certainly do that.

They are very much more active now, much more cuddly, and they play fight together now. They are starting to look to escape out of the box, but for the moment I still have them captive. I want to wait until Lil's kittens have had their vaccines tomorrow, as I will separate them for a day or 2, then I will let them have an explore into the hallway. Then the joys of litter training!!!! As I explained in Lily's diary, I am off to the hairdressers now, so this is only a short write up today, so I will leave you to look at the photos for today.

Wednesday 1st March
Ahhhh, my little babies, not so little anymore, these are today's weights, taken just now,
338g, 394g, 398g, 394g, 456g!!!! So we can see who is the big girl in the litter!!! she is also the darkest in colour and also the loudest!!

My little, well not quite to little, Gollum, is such a honey. I came in this morning to tell Tim to get off the pc as it was time for school, little Gollum hears my voice, and comes running, squealing, to get to me, demanding to be picked up. I had such a lovely cuddle, I could have stayed there all morning with him. I think he has to stay!! There is another little girl, who is becoming quite a cuddler also. She looks very pale, and I suspect that she may in fact turn out to be Lilac, she is very sweet, and just now, I had a cuddle with both she and Gollum together, I shall have to think of a sweet Elven girls name for her.

Out of the other 3 kittens, one girl is looking as if she may be caramel tabby, like her mother, and the other 2 girls are quite a bit darker. I am not sure yet if they will turn out to be a dark caramel in colour, or chocolate. I am feeling less optimistic at the moment of having my chocolate tabby. Little Gollum is too light.

As I sign off, G is sat in the outer bit of the box, and there is an exchange of noises going between her and her kittens. She makes a low sort of grumbling noise, and they squeak back at her. I would love to know what she is telling them, but it sounds as if they are answering her back, I hope they are being polite!!!!

Tuesday 28th February
Galadriel is in with her kittens as I type, and they are blissfully quiet, in stark contrast to the hooligans in the hallway......if I was honest, G would rather be running around with them, or sitting somewhere safe, watching the mayhem. I am just thinking that this time next week, there will be 11 of them let loose in the hall area!!!! The thought of all that energy, all that fur, all that naughtiness, concentrated in one area, is quite scary!!!! But I am sure that it will also be pretty amusing. The larger ones will be able to leap over the barriers, keeping the wee ones in, so fingers crossed, it should work out.

The little ones were very active last night. The dear little boy, that I have become attached to, and really may keep, we will see, especially if he turns choc tabby, I have named Gollum. My boys told me that I was wicked because Gollum was not nice, but I told him that he did have a very kind part of him, he had just been corrupted by the ring, and that besides, my little Gollum is a lovely Gollum!!!

I have offered them a little milky treat. Little Gollum likes to lap it up, but he growls while he does it, which makes me laugh. One of the other girls has had a little, but the other 3 look on in horror, as if I am trying to poison them, lol, this makes me laugh. There is lots of laughter when you have these little ones around ( and lots of washing, when your machine works, and lots and lots and lots of litter tray cleaning!!! You should see the state of my bin by the time it is time for the bin men to come!!!).

I took the photos last night, while they were waddling around their box. G tried to move one last night again, she really does not like it when they wander around squeaking!!! And can you believe, that Lil tried to 'make off' with a sausage, right under my nose, last night!!!! Little monkey.

Monday 27th February
Ahh, poor Galadriel. Her babies have suddenly come to life. They 'run' around their box now, squeaking their little heads off. Poor G. looks on in alarm, just as Lil did when her babies started to move. The bad news is, G has learnt also how to move them. In the middle of trying to find Lil's missing 2 last night, I came in here, to find only 4 sausages, and no G. She then emerged from under the chest of drawers, looking very pleased with herself. So I had to squeeze my arm underneath it to extract the sausage and place it back into the box.

This morning, the little ones were being very active again, and I had to persuade G that she did not want to take them out of the box. So I am going to have to watch her carefully now. Lil's babies have their vaccinations on Wednesday, so I don't want to let these into the hallway, until a few days after the vaccinations. The plan is to move part of this box into the hallway, so that the little ones can run around the toys down here. I will have to play it by ear and see how they go, on a day by day basis. I have just taken a photo of each sausage individually. Hopefully they will come out ok.

They little boy in this litter has completely won my heart, I am not sure that I am going to be able to part with him, he sits and lets me cuddle him for ages.........

Sunday 26th February
I had a very sleepless night last night. Firstly, I stayed up with the children, to watch top 100 no ones, we got hooked on it, and didn't realise the time. So it was 2am before I even got into bed.

Expecting 'Galadriel' to settle down with the kittens, I snuggled down into bed. I was woken quite soon after, 'G' was being very noisy. She then kept moving the little sausages out of the box. This was not good news, i couldn't understand why she was doing this, and why she would not let me sleep. Time after time she woke me up, time after time I put a little one back in the box.

Just after 9am, I was woken up, and all became clear. I realised what I had done. I had shut G upstairs, in with Lily's kittens, and Lily down here with G's kittens.............................you can imagine what a twit I felt, and still do. Anyone who has visited, will appreciate, that they do look very much alike, and at 2 in the morning, I can kind of appreciate how I did it. G must have thought she was in Heaven, having the big kittens all to herself, and poor Lil, must have wondered what on earth I was doing, shutting her in the room like that with me and the babies. So this morning I feel suitable embarrassed.

G is now in the box with her kittens, and that is where she is now going to stay. Golly I feel tired though. I am very relieved that it was in fact not she who was moving kittens, that would have been really bad news.

Last night, the sausages really seemed to spring to life. They were wandering all over the box, they were having cuddles and being so much more sociable. It really was almost as if someone had waved a magic wand, and they were suddenly transformed. I will go and check them over properly once they have finished feeding from G, to check there are no ill affects from a night with Lily!!!