Peak Kitten

Is there a time when kittens can get no cuter? Let me introduce the gang at six weeks... from the left, Celeste, with her long hair, then (back row) Pacyfik, then (front row) Arcturus, then in the foreground Scrapper, and to the right, Czestuś the ginger tom.

Their personalities are developing nicely. Scrapper's is the best defined (najbardziej wyrazisty) – wherever there's a fight going on, Scrapper is involved. Pugnacious, and, as you can see, a curious kitten. Czestuś is a bit of a mummy's boy, laid back and interested in taking naps. He is friendly and looks at me a lot, often giving me slow blinks. Celeste is the explorer, out in front when it comes to pushing the geographical frontiers. The first kitten out of the birthing box, out of my bedroom, and in the last week, first out of the house and into the garden. She has long hair (a recessive gene), and like all of her siblings except Czestuś, has a short kinked tail (another recessive gene). Pacyfik ('Pacific') is so called because he was the only kitten not to squeak loudly in protest when lifted out of the birthing box to be weighed. And his near-twin, Arcturus, who has the most white in colouration, which is the only way that I can distinguish him from Pacyfik.

Wenusia continues to be the dutiful mother. Now they are starting to venture outside into my garden, she monitors them, aware of each one's position and momentum. Wenusia is skin and bone despite eating the best part of two large tins of cat food a day (plus dry cat food, plus milk plus Greek-style yogurt. And mice – Wenusia brought home two freshly killed mice and proceeded to eat them on the kitchen floor, leaving not a trace). This month I've spent almost as much on feeding Wenusia as I have on feeding myself! She is still feeding her young several times a day, so she absolutely deserves it. Not only feeding, but also grooming them, licking their fur. She loves them all.

Below: Arcturus and Pacyfik. Or is it Pacyfik and Arcturus? Arcturus has a white belly and a broader white stripe on his back.

Below: Czestuś doing what he does best – sleeping, contentedly.

Their favourite toy at the moment is the white ball that comes in a tin of Guinness Draught Flow stout. It contains the nitrogen dioxide that gives the beer a smooth, creamy head; the ball is firm and has a rim all round it, giving it a slight unpredictability to its motion. An excellent kitten toy – hours of fun – that comes with free beer (8.99 zł for 440ml). As I write, Scrapper and Arcturus are fighting, Czestuś and Celeste are drinking mummy's milk and Pacyfik is chasing the ball.

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