SELKIRK REX KITTENS – MY DIARY OF A NEW YEAR!

 

SIRE: Lisa Peterson’s Trueblu Anns Owainglyndwr, 79S 17

 

DAM: Anne & Brian Gregory’s Mianja Rhapsodyinblue, 16

 

On New Year's Day morning, my beautiful "Buboo" (Mianja Rhapsodyinblue), 16, gave birth to 4 blue-cream kittens from Lisa Peterson's handsome cream Selkirk Rex, "Arthur" (Trueblu Anns Owainglyndwr).

 

Shorthaired Selkirks are more difficult to determine than the longhaired with their obvious waves and curls, but, I had been told, "When you split the sack you will see curly whiskers and some waves around the tail if they are curly". Excellent advice if Buboo would allow me to do anything like splitting the sack, but no, I am just there to watch, SHE is giving birth, SHE is the Mother, and SHE sorts her kittens out thank you very much!!!!!!!!!

I would not attempt to interfere with this, Buboo is a brilliant mother, so, I had to be content with looking at the kittens after their faces had been washed thoroughly and mum was busy thinking about the next delivery......... The first was born at 10.56am; the second at 11.13am; the third at 11.40am............. I examined their little faces and couldn't see any whiskers at all!!! I phoned Brian from my mobile (he was working on his computer in the next room!) and asked him to bring in a magnifying glass - hopeless - I could NOT SEE ANY WHISKERS ! So, were my kittens whiskerless ??? Was this some new sinister mutation ????? What could I do??

 

 

 

 

 

I phoned Lisa and asked loads of questions, but I was feeling useless, she must have thought I was very stupid!! Yes, there were some waves around the tail, but that can happen when the coats are damp and a bit long (the coats were longer than my usual British Blues). Yes, the coats felt more textured perhaps than a British coat, (was that my wishful thinking??), but, try as I might, I simply could not see any whiskers curly or straight!!!!

 

 

 

 

Then, at 12.17pm, a fourth kitten was born, blue-cream, and there, before my eyes..... I COULD SEE WHISKERS ....... little, fine, straight whiskers, just like new-born kitten's whiskers normally look..... straight and blue and clearly visible!!! The coat felt different too, longer than usual, but sleeker..... This was a straight haired variant kitten !!! I could see a definite difference from the other three in the nest... I examined the other 3 faces and could just about see some fine whiskers curling up and round like a moustache, I felt really excited, Buboo had curly kittens !!!!!

Of course, the batteries on the digital camera were flat, they had to be charged, but, each time I checked, I could still go to the box and immediately pick out the "different" kitten.

 

 

 

 

SO, I hope we have 3 curlies, 1 straight but 4 lovely little females, and Mother is very proud of them (as are Brian and I). Many thanks to Arthur (and to Lisa) - this is such an exciting start to the New Year!

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