What Have I Done?!

Oh boy, y'all are going to think I'm crazy, but... A friend had some extra barn cats, and Caleb said that after losing 4 of our 6 cats in a matter of months we could actually use a few more, and the boys would probably enjoy some kittens.  I said, "if we're getting kittens for the boys to enjoy, shouldn't we get the mama with newborns, that would be way more fun!"  What was I thinking?!  So, we did.  As we unloaded them at the house, we discovered there were a total of 8(!) kittens, rather than the 7 our friend had mentioned when Caleb got them, and then to top it off, as we opened the cage, the mama bolted, never to be seen again (that was Thursday).  So...I am dropper-feeding 8 kittens!  Cuz I needed something to fill my days of endless boredom :). 

They really are sweet, though. We're not sure how old they are, but my guess (after some online research) is between 4 and 5 weeks.  They are trotting around already - still tumbling over left and right, but they certainly attempt running and jumping! - and have both upper and lower molars, ouch!  They are getting pretty good at "bottle feeding" too, I'm using a needle-less syringe with a fairly long tip, and most of them actually suck on it pretty well.  The ones that don't are pretty good about lapping it rapidly as I slowly drip it into their mouths, and one often just drinks his out of a tiny dish.  They're often interested in wet cat food, too (some of them maniacally, they need a full bath after!), and as soon as I can get them onto dishes of milk, and moistened cat food, we're home-free!  

We've finally gotten them all named (Smoke, Charcoal, Slate, Midnight, Dusk, Velcro, Onyx, Granite - then Malachi wanted to name one Lucky Day, so we changed Granite to Lucky Day, Dusk to Dusky Bottoms, and Onyx to Ned Niederlander - fellow Three Amigos fans will understand!).  Our existing two cats, Mopsy and Cottontail, are not pleased with the additions, although they still have much more antipathy for each other - ah, brotherly love!  I've put some pictures in the Family gallery, enjoy!  I'll probably have some more in a few more days...