Lacey's kittens: five weeks old
(Been busy today but I'm finally getting to this weekly installment. See my journal for the entire series of posts and see how they have grown!)
This has been a big week for the kittens. At four weeks they began to learn to eat wet food from a dish and use the litter box. I started by feeding from a plastic spoon, then gradually led their faces down to the shallow dish with wet food in it. Now at five weeks they've got it down pretty well. Eating four small meals a day.
Litter box is coming along: sometimes they will go to it themselves, and sometimes I put them in to remind them. Mom is a good role model for what to do, but they pretty much go where they smell it's right to go. Forget shallow boxes though--mine like normal sized ones, maybe because they feel safer with the higher sides around them. They are good climbers and can get in and out okay.
We also had our first outing: I took them to the shelter for their first distemper shots. They were without their mom so were pretty scared, trembling in the unfamiliar surroundings. They relaxed when I held them though--so they know and trust me.
Mama cat went into heat on the day the kittens turned one month old! I'm told this is fairly common and the only thing to do is ignore it. She continues to be a good mom when in the kittens' room. When let out into the other rooms she will start to yowl. I hope it's over soon: supposed to last 7-10 days.
Playtime is getting very important. They are learning to climb, play with each other and with toys, and to bite Mama cat's tail. At four weeks they were walking, and now, at five weeks they are scampering.
Exploring!
Climbing!
Pottying!
Eating and washing themselves like the miniature cats they have become.
Still like to nurse and cuddle with Mama Lacey.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Thank u!
She stops when she is with the kittens and switches to "mom mode", feeds and washes them, sleeps with them. But if the door is closes she will sometimes rattle it until I open it and she comes out into the hallway and starts calling and rolling, etc.
A funny switch. I think they must instinctively NOT act like that when kittens are around, lest some male hurt their babies. Anyway, it gives us a break. Right now it is late and dark, the cat and kittens are shut in their room and all is quiet. During the day I have the door open with cardboard blocking so the kittens stay in and she can get away for a break. Hard to keep an adult cat in one room for so many weeks straight.
I amuse myself by saying to her, "oh no, no, no--we don't need any more kittens, Lacey. We have enough so don't be so silly!" She will probably be in to be spayed in about four weeks or so--hope she doesn't go into heat a second time before that! 
They are absolutely adorable. 
