The Kittens

The arrival of  the first litter of Zinbaco Bengals kittens is now hopefully just around the corner.

The BIG NEWS is that both Tabs and Tinks have gone into their 3rd call - at just 10 months old!! and have been with their selected stud for mating. So still very early days as we don't know yet if the mating has been successful. First to go into call was Tabs so we took her down to Swindon (Chataya Bengals) to be mated with Platinum Plus (Plat). When we arrived home, not to be outdone Tinks was showing signs. True enough 2 days later we were back at Swindon this time with Tinks to be mated with Salladhor (Sarn)

First face to face contact was not all that encouraging but we hoped their instincts will soon take over. Given this is their first mating we are not even sure if they will take.  

Molly Tabit (Tabs) to Platinum Plus (Plat)	HipHop Mintaka (Tinks) to Salladhor (Sarn)

Both girls are home (29th October). By all accounts there was a mating between Tabs and Plat so we are very hopeful that this was successful so will watch for signs.  Tinks is still so young and the travel to meet Sarn would appear to have brought her out of call and we're not sure a mating actually took place. Still we will also keep a close eye on her to see what comes.

If Tabs and Plat were successful then we shall have to ask Santa to make more room on his sleigh as the new kittens are due on Christmas Day ....

Well Tabs certainly has us guessing.  For a while it did look like she was pregnant, her weight was increasing, she had a noticeable bump and the nipples were pinking.  Then after 5 weeks all of a sudden she lost weight and no real bump so we are no longer sure and believe the kittens may have been absorbed.  She has now started putting on weight again and the nipples have not really unpinked, not sure how long this should take.  There is a slight bump in her tummy but  that could just be her last dinner.  We shall wait and see - maybe one special kitten has remained for us to all love.