Flashback Friday - Leia Part V

We did a series of flashbacks on the mom's first cat Leia near the end of last year, but the mom's lobotomy, brainectomy and the holidays interrupted them.  So here, FINALLY, is the last post about Leia. (The other parts are here:  Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV)

Leia in the snow wearing her Dolly Parton collar

(gold with rhinestones).

When the mom took Leia in, she was about half way through her pregnancy.  Her Gotcha Day was August 22 and the kittens' Birthday Day was September 20.  In the middle of that night the mom woke up to the sounds of a brand new kitten.

She went to Leia to pet and comfort her but was secretly worried about the the kittens being born healthy.  She tried to get up but Leia meowed pitifully when she did, so she stayed and petted her throughout the rest of her labor.  The mom had to close her eyes when the next kitten was born (she is SUCH a wuss!), but watched when the third kitten was born.  It was her first time witnessing a birth.  Eventually Leia had four sons.

From left to right:  Shadow, Figaro & Attila.

The fourth kitten looked similar to Shadow.

Leia was such a good mom. She took excellent care of her babies and she put up with all of their antics.  Leia hated her tail being touched, but she allowed the kittens to play with it as long as they liked.  Her expressive face told how much she hated this activity as she angrily flicked her tail about but she handled it with good grace and never denied her babies such a fun pastime.

A web photo, but it looks just like Leia.

One day the mom came home from work and she couldn't find the kittens (they were living in her bedroom).  Frantically, she looked everywhere over and over again.  No kittens.  She was desperate and knowing it made no sense, started to become afraid Leia had eaten them.

Finally she found them in a bookcase up on a high shelf.  She gave them a new nesting box (again) and moved the first kitten in it.  As she moved the second kitten, Leia carried the first one back to the bookcase shelf.  When the mom moved the third kitten to the box, Leia took the second to the bookcase.  And so on.  Realizing this could go on for a very long time, the mom moved 2 kittens at a time, and Leia gave up.

Leia & Attila

The kittens found a small space they fit in but Leia could not.  Poor Leia would call to them while they were in their "clubhouse" but they would ignore her and huddle in a kitten pile for a little nap.  There's enough kitten stories that we'll save them for another flashback.

A web photo of a Korat

They all look the same, 

except for slight differences.

Leia was a tolerate, loving mom who set a good example of what a mother should be.  Everyone should be so lucky to have such a great mom.  So long as her kittens needed her, they were her life.

 The mom found good homes for three of them and kept the one the other people didn't pick.  Naturally, Leia and Attila were close life long friends.  She never did wean him.  Luckily he lost interest but it was long after he was bigger than her.  It drove the mom nuts!  Even worst than kitties picking their toes in bed at night.

Whenever someone makes a negative comment about the type of mothers cats are, we know they couldn't be speaking from personal experience.  Cat moms are the best!  We've seen plenty of human moms who could learn a thing or two from a cat.

Everyone have a safe and enjoyable weekend!