Mural's TinyPaints

Mural is a friendly, polydactyl dilute torbie with a missing tooth and fluffy tail with a small kink at the end, who was a part of a cat colony in southwestern Connecticut. She was taken to Dr Katz to be spayed in mid-July, but instead she was determined to be pregnant! She stayed at AristoKatz until Kitten Academy took her in on July 31st. While her kittens showed up on ultrasound, they were not visible on x-ray, so it was expected that she still had a few weeks until birth. She also had some upper respiratory infection symptoms.

Mural settled in the annex, and because of her friendly disposition, even met with some of the faculty and explored outside of the annex. She visited Dr Katz again on August 13th for a checkup and x-ray. This time about 5-7 kittens were visible, and expected to be born in the next couple weeks. However, for the rest of the month Mural remained pregnant, and continued to relax and occasionally hang out with the faculty. During this time, Mr A installed a cat flap door between the walls of the annex and second annex.

on September 1st, Rue and her Ruses moved into the second annex, where Mural could see them through the new cat flap, however the flap remained locked for the time being. Just a couple days later, on September 3rd, Mural finally gave birth to her 6 kittens! Birth order was Splotch, Trace, Etch, Doodle, Squiggle, and Scrawl. All kittens were born very healthy, and were nursing well!

Mural's kittens were very big and healthy, and she was comfortable leaving them alone sometimes. So just a few days after Mural gave birth, Mr A started the process of introducing the two momcat neighbors to each other, by feeding them both treats at the cat flap door. Mural also continued to be allowed out with the faculty, and after a few weeks of meeting through the door, also started to meet Rue in the same room. Rue was a little defensive at first, but after a few met-ups between the momcats, began to make friends with her.

Meanwhile the TinyPaint kittens continued to grow very well and be healthy, and began to learn to walk and play! Mural also loved to play and talk, she meowed often, and started her trend of chewing and flattening all of her mouse toys! By the end of September, Rue and Mural were comfortable enough that Mr A left the cat flap between the rooms open, and the kittens of each class were introduced to each other! At first Rue's kittens visited Mural's kittens in their room more, because they were better at climbing through the door, but soon the TinyPaints began to use the door too to go between the rooms. On October 1st, both groups were moved into the main room together! Rue also started to "mother" Mural's kittens, and soon Mural did the same for Rue's.

Mural and the TinyPaints went to the vet on October 6th, where Mural was tested for GI issues because she was throwing up some, and having some trouble gaining weight. The tests showed Mural actually had pancreatitis. She received cerenia for nausea, and because the kittens were already eating solid food well, a "Secret Agent" suitical suit was put on her to prevent nursing, so she could retain more of her calories. She went back to the vet on the 11th, for more testing that confirmed her diagnosis. On the 18th, all of the TinyPaints and Ruses went to the vet for a usual checkup and the TinyPaints got their 6-week vaccines. To tell them apart easier, the TinyPaints all got collars before the visit that day.

Mural's spay was first scheduled for October 18th, however it was postponed so she could gain more weight and recover from her pancreatitis. It was noticed Scrawl was limping a little, and Splotch had some unusual breathing, so both went to Dr Katz (along with Rue) on November 3rd. Both conditions were determined to be nothing serious, and Splotch got some probiotics. Splotch went back to the vet on the 11th, along with Mural, for another checkup and to get bloodwork done for both.

All of the TinyPaints got adopters on in mid-November! Etch, Doodle, Squiggle and Scrawl were scheduled for graduation spay/neuter surgery on November 30th, however Scrawl had some anomalies in her bloodwork so her spay was rescheduled. The same day, Mural and Splotch got another check-up. Mural's check-up turned out completely fine, and she was cleared for her spay! Scrawl was also cleared for spay at the next appointment, which was December 7th along with Splotch and Trace.

Doodle was the first to go home on December 3rd, to the same adopter who adopted Artie from Bebop's Weebops, and Tailor from the TinyPants! Squiggle and Scrawl were the next to go home as a pair on December 10th, and Etch and Trace went home as a pair the next week on the 19th. Mural's spay was scheduled for the 21st, however this time Dr Katz was ill and had to reschedule. Splotch's adoption was scheduled for the 22nd, but that was also postponed, to continue treatment for Splotch's URI symptoms. Splotch got another checkup on the 27th. Mural finally got her spay on January 5th, and went home to her adopter on the 15th.

While Splotch recovered from her URI in the next month, she also started to have some bad poops. She stayed in the house with the faculty, and also Bumble. Unfortunately, Splotch's adopter had to back out. So Splotch stayed at KA for a little while longer, and it was determined a change in food would help her poops. She got a new adopter and was picked up on February 20th!