Selecting Our Family

Born Joined the family Home Martouf 6th March 2004 21st March 18th June 2004 Khepra 19th March 2004 21st March 2004 18th June 2004 Astarte 19th March 2004 9th April 2004 18th June 2004 Omar 19th April 2004 15th May 2004 16th July 2004 Malika 19th April 2004 2nd August 2004 6th August 2004
The photo is of the tick off chart we used to track how far away each arrival was. With Malika being such a surprise addition only a few ticks for her (photo to follow)

On 21st March we arranged to visit a local breeder just to see if a Bengal kitten was really for us - well you never know. We were welcomed into the home and taken into the kitchen where we came face to face with our first real live close up bengals. We spent ages playing with the kittens and talking to the current owners, who as events later turned out were to become great friends. One kitten seemed to take a particular fancy to G's laces - a trend we were to come to recognise in them all. Mind you rather them than me (Sue) given I know what G's feet can be like.

Martouf at 2 weeks.

We knew there were some kittens around but I guess we were being checked out as much as we were checking out the bengals. After what seemed like ages we were asked - "Would you like to see the kittens ?" and the rest is history. (see visit 21st March).

Khepra at just 2 days

We were away in the US on business at the beginning of April - Skamp had been to the vet just a few days earlier for his booster and seemed to be OK. He had a little runny tummy but the vet didn't seem to think anything was too amiss. He was booked into a local boarding cattery and we left for North Carolina on the Saturday morning. Monday morning we got a call from the cattery to explain that Skamp was very ill and had been taken to the vet. He died just the next day.

Trying to keep in touch with the 2 little kittens back home to help keep us in reasonable spirits we noticed that one of Khepras sister was still available. A couple of emails later and Astarte had brought our family back to 3 cats. We had met her at our first visit in March not realising at the time she was to be part of our family. On our next visit in April we were officially introduced to her aged 4 weeks.(see visit 17th April)

Astarte at 4 weeks

What was spooky is that given their names, it looks like Skamp is going to be looking after them after all.....S Khepra Astarte Martouf P .

It must be a US thing. Sue was away in Philadelphia on business and saw a photo of Omar on the web page. He's a brown marble and we fell in love with him as soon as we saw the photo as his back markings looked so much like Skamp. G said no - but then again he had said no to Skamp too .....

Omar at 3 weeks

So it was no surprise when visting Martouf, Khepra and Astarte on the 15th May that Omar joined the family. (see visit 15th May) So where does Omar fit in with Skamp looking after them - I guess it's Omar SKhepraAstarteMartoufP - look what you made us do ....

Malika at 1 week

With the passing of Martouf who had been with us for such a short time yet loved mega lots, we were offered Omar's sister Malika to bring our family back to 4 kittens. It didn't take much for us to say yes please and thank you so much. Malika is now home. She's a lovely snow marble _and_ is on the active register :-)

Malika at 7 weeks

Then very sadly, Khepra died just 4 weeks after we lost Martouf. Skamp is now looking after both Martouf and Khepra in a way we just didn't envisage would happen so soon. They are all at Dignity Pet Crematorium.