The kitcat/kitten intro is going pretty smoothly and I'm having an obscene amount of fun.

[Siwsan]

I'm slowly increasing the amount of time the kittens are out of the playpen. They boys still stay in the hallway, but Gryff approached me when I was holding one of the kittens, did a quick sniff, and then retreated. Madoc stayed 'breadloafed' in the hallway. Bronwyn seems determined to make a connection because she keeps racing towards the boys.

Their personalities are definitely starting to form. Little Dewi is proving to be quite the lap cat and while he's snuggling, the other three get up to kitten business, as usual.

[niyad]

1. Sigh of contentment here. What a sweet sight. Watching these little ones grow from

teeeny little things into these darling beings is such joy. Thank you for bringing us along.

[Siwsan]

2. I really have to watch my step, around them

They are getting so fast!

And it looks like they are all going to be pretty fluffy.

[2naSalit]

3. A pondering...

I have always been interested in animal behavior and I have some ideas about the attraction and interest between Madoc and the kittens.

Since the kittens and Madoc have at least one parent in common, they may recognize that by scent. It could be why the one keeps heading for the boys, it may also explain Madoc's interest and Gryff's disinterest.

Animals have not lost their ability to recognize each other by scent and cats will do this within generations of relatives, dogs do it and most other mammals as well. Being so young and probably wondering where their mom is, the scent of someone from the family line would be a natural draw.

I suspect Madoc will take to them more quickly because of the tie but that may make it easier for Gryff to accept them too. Plus, they were taken in the same way so they may be recognizing the process too since it wasn't all that long ago. They remember more than we give them credit for.

[Siwsan]

4. I have actually pondered the same thing

Gryff has started snuggling with the stuffed toy that the vet techs had given him, when he was found. It's almost like he's telling me that he's still a kitten, too! Well, for 2 more months, anyway. For a while he was extremely clingy but that's letting up.

Madoc has been business as usual, for the most part. He's just always been a bit of a scamp.

I give both boys lots of scritches during and after kitten time, just to reassure them that everything is OK. The moment I have at least one of the kittens and one of the boys on my lap, at the same time, will be so satisfying.

[Phoenix61]

6. Gryff is probably feeling a little anxious with all the new

activity going on. Returning to a comforting behavior, snuggling his kittenhood toy, when he felt more secure is similar to an older child sucking their thumb in a new situation.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. There's no business like kitten business ! nt