The October sun is shining very warmly, there is a male in
a balcony in Milan, lying there, enjoying fully of his life.
When I go there to stroke the cat, he swings over his back and starts to purr, butts my
hand. It was my first meeting with Tender. It was love at first sight.
From the first
moment I was sure I would like to have this charmer to have kittens with some one of my
females! So, I asked, more or less carefully, from the owner of Tender, Francesco, what he
thought about my dream. The answer was, at once, yes! Vau! We only had to plan how to make
it. There is however some distance between Milan and Helsinki.
We decided that
Tender would come to Finland, but not before than in the beginning of
next year. At that time also my youngest female, Taika, would be almost 1 year old. And
this fiancé I had planned especially to Taika and also to Talita.
The first
visit
To Finland
Last
January Tender and Francesco came to rainy, chilly Helsinki; Francesco for a weekend and Tender for an indefinite
time. No one could know beforehand if Taika and Talita would be interested of Tender; at
once, soon or never?! Especially because Taika even hasn’t had any heats yet!
Tender was here
just like he is at home, confiding, like a gentleman. He wasn’t at all worried of all
the smells and sounds of many other cats but began to feel at home immediately. He was
rolling on his back, purred and every day wanted to be on my lap, very close to me, like
it is his way to do. Tender has a strong sound of his voice though! He wasn’t marking
so much and when he did, he did it to the papers on the floor. All kind of papers are
fine for him, but I used those ones which are a bit soft in the other and plastic in the
other side. To save the floor... Practical and clean!
Then nothing else
than some exciting days, to wait if something will happen here. Soon it started…
Talita
ja Tender
Tender had
been with us a week, when Talita started her certain miaow and pee (often to the unwanted
places, like to my bed!). For sure she will have a heat now! Tender’s calls and
scents were working with Talita. So, she got to his studio and at once he was ready, as
always. I thought that this goes so fine and easy. But… I looked for a while how they tried, in reality
it looked quite impossible… though both cats were not first-timers. Tender is not so
very long cat and he even bit Talita from the top of her head, not from her neck. And
Talita, she can be so long when she wants to, her rump neither so much up from the floor.
Could this work, or is this hopeless…?! I tried to help Tender a little, but only got
a very clear glance from him, I can handle this myself… Nothing else to do than to
let them be together and try.
The next night was
very noisy, a lot of strong sounds from the room of the lovers! It was Tender who gave
orders to Talita. He screamed so much and such a different voice, something I hadn’t
ever heard before any male to do. Could have been worried, if I wouldn’t have been
warned beforehand. There was no sound from Talita…
The cats were
together longer time than couples here usually. Because
I couldn’t be at all sure if they had been lucky or not. When Talita didn’t have
so strong heat anymore, and Tender wasn’t at all interested in her anymore, Talita
got back to her mom. The best Talita knows!
It was very
uncertain really, if there will be any kittens this time.
Taika ja
Tender
When Tender
had been here about 2 weeks, Taika started her first heat ever! Already beforehand Taika
had made friends with her handsome, affectionate fiancé, and had madly fall in love with
him! Taika was just made for Tender, or Tender for Taika, it took a few seconds and they
had mated. Some times more and then Tender couldn’t have been less interested
anymore. So usual to Tender, Francesco told me. The next day, even Taika did her best to
be even more charming and fascinating, if possible, Tender only sat in his climbing tree,
looked birds, insects flying past the window. He only glanced at Taika, as to tell: There
will be some babies, don’t worry my Darling. Taika couldn’t do anything but be
satisfied with it. But Tender she didn’t give up! The next weeks Taika stayed
together with the man of her life.
The other girls
When Tender
came here, Mandi had about 6 weeks old kittens. But Mandi thought she wants some more and
started to sneak also behind Tender’s door to sniff all those lovely, absolutely
overpowering scents. The same day Taika’s heat was over, Mandi started hers.
It’s my turn now, she thought, for sure! Oh no what screaming, pleading glances, when
Mandi was rolling behind Tender’s door and tried to get me to understand to open the
door. Hard to try to explain to her, that you just can’t go there… Before Tender
left, Mandi had even another heat, which she stopped the next day Tender was gone. So much
also Mandi would have liked to get babies with the Charmer…
Gilda wasn’t
interested almost at all of Tender. It was clear why not, she was waiting for the kittens
already. However, also Gilda went sometimes behind Tender’s door, with her huge
stomach.
Back
In the end
of February I took the Charmer back to his home. To great sorrow especially to Taika and
me! Tender is really equal to his name, so very lovable, tender, charming male. When
Tender first time met my cats, he didn’t hiss, not once, to any of them. Just greeted
them by licking once, twice their head… if they thought it is fine to get to so close
relationships so soon!
When we left with
Tender, I was sure, Taika was pregnant, she had all the signs. At least real love-babies
were on their way! Talita, I still wasn’t sure about her… though it was already
about 4 weeks from the possible mating. But when I got back home again after a few days, I
was sure also Talita will have her kittens! Tender’s orders and piece of advices had
been effective!
The little ones
Then
nothing else than to wait again, this time the results. Talita’s stomach didn’t
grow so much, maybe 2-3 kittens? Taika’s stomach was, some times before the delivery,
like a huge football, symmetric one. I thought there might be 4 kittens, someone warned
even of 6. Can’t be so many! Especially, when Gilda had produced a quintet! We would
be drowned by kittens here!
In the beginning
of April Talita got 2 male kittens and Taika 2 male and 2 female kittens; big, vital,
healthy kittens all of them. Now we had, altogether, 11 kittens! Gilda’s Quintet and
6 little Tenderini! There was so many smaller and bigger blue cats, but everything went
just fine! Gilda, Taika and Mandi took care of all 9 kittens together, upside down. When
there were, especially at the same room, all 9 kittens, Gilda, Mandi, Taika and even
Luukas running with them, there was really speed and full there. But we had fun, and for
me, there were quite a lot of houseworks…
Also Talita’s
huge ‘Chocolate-boys’ played with other kittens, but Talita and Kapris were not
at all interested in to join them. Even to Bella there must have been a bit too many
lively kittens and much speed, because she rather went high to the climbing tree or
slipped into some place to hide from the little ones.
Next time
(almost) everything can be so different
Tender comes
again
When
Gilda’s kittens, in June, had happily moved to their new homes, it was planned Tender
would come again to another visit. When it would be a bit more peaceful here. No more than
6 kittens anymore…
So, I travelled to
Milan again and came back with Tender under my
arm. At Francesco’s I was more than happy to see also Sapphi’s (FIN*Zarin Sheer
Sapphire) kittens; 3 sweet, beautiful kittens, and as brave and social as all
Francesco’s cats!
We came home very
late on Wednesday evening. I didn’t let anyone to meet Tender the same evening,
because I thought he could have been a bit tired of the trip. But it can’t be too
difficult to quess, who was furiously scratching, maybe tried to get a hole to the door to
get through!, the door of Tender early the next morning?! Of course Taika. The
reunion was joyful! Taika was so very
happy when a bit calmer Tender licked gentle again her forehead and cheeks.
Taika may have
told to the kittens too, that papà Tenderino is back?! Because soon Taika rushed again to
daddy Teddy all the kittens toddling behind her. Tender greeted them very friendly, as
usual, one by one. And the kittens stayed to the room to play.
Waiting
All little
Tenderini moved, one after another, to their new homes. All but little, stubborn, busy,
princess Diva, who stayed here with us.
In fact the
wedding to Mandi and Tender I had planned this time. Or maybe Gilda’s or Taika’s
and Tender’s, if my plan wouldn’t suit for Mandi. I was very sure though it
wouldn’t take a long time at all, when Mandi will have a heat. Mandi got her first
heat, when she was 5 months and also after that her hormonal behaviour has been extremely
strong… But no, Mandi took only care of Diva. Nice and easy this just big and
independent enough child, Mandi maybe thought. About Tenderino she could care less, rather
the opposite, Tender could go home!
Gilda wanted more
familiar with Tender this time. When they met first time, Tender screamed again with joy
to see a new catwoman. Gilda glanced, only once, at Tender, with her huge eyes, miaowed
with very quiet voice, like she always tells the things. And it was clear to Tender, it is
not the right time now… Mainly Gilda went there to check if there would be some
better food in Teddy’s cups than to the others were served downstairs. Gilda
likes food a bit too much…
Talita wasn’t at all interested in Tender. Fine.
But Taika! Taika got the second, third… heat of her
life. It wasn’t even allowed to her to get more babies yet, no adult class excellent
from a show. Taika didn’t know that, for sure wouldn’t have cared either! But I
did a little…
I couldn’t
leave Taika with Tender for a long time, at least if I wasn’t there too… But
luckily little Diva is very found of her father and spent a lot time with papà. Diva
thought papà had the best food, the most comfortable toilet, the most interesting toys
– and papà himself - her best friend!
Poor Tender was
this time much more restless than the first time he was here, also he had less to do. He
made his best that the females would have been more interested in him, in certain
way…. He still peed to the papers, but also beside them, the papers were not enough
for him anymore. He screamed and screamed, I thought poor cat will soon be hoarse. He made
his best.
At the shows
In the
beginning of August I took Gilda, Taika, Tender and Diva to SUROK’s shows. On
Saturday Gilda got her certificate in class 3, Tender in class 5, also became GIC.
Diva’r results were Ex 1, BIV and NOM. But the most, for sure!, the father and the
daughter enjoyed to be at the same cage all day at the show, close by each other. Look how
sweet, the mother takes care of her child, I heard people to say with admiration. No, it
is the father who takes care of his child! So sweet!
On Sunday Taika
got her first CAC, and was also BIV and NOM. And now, also Taika had the permission to
have another litter… After some time we will see, if we would get some more sweet
Tenderini, later in autumn…
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