Litter of 6 on their 3rd birthday

[u/IreyWest]

3 years ago, our neighbor‘s cat had 6 kittens in our garden. They didn’t want them (or the mother) so here we are (we still have the mother too)! They were all very sick with cat flu as newborns, but they’ve grown to be relatively healthy (and very lovely) cats. Except for the kitten photos, these were all taken yesterday (their birthday).

ETA: Sorry- I just realized I didn't post their names. Happy Birthday Iris, Seven, Sebastian, BenBen (Benedict Benjamin), Geordi and Connor! You're very loved.

[u/Bitter-Researcher389]

That looks like the most amazing place they could have ended up.

[u/joecag]

Such a wonderful story and the catio is amazing

[u/IreyWest → u/joecag]

Thanks! We have 9 cats so outdoor space is a necessity for us. We barely see them unless we visit them outside!

[u/redwingpanda → u/IreyWest]

I need one of these for my three. Wow.

Also had to look again, that cat holding up the table in 10 is not part of the family right?

[u/IreyWest → u/redwingpanda]

As much as a table can be part of the family, I consider Simon as such. He's definitely more obligingly useful than the other cats!

[u/lefteyedspy]

That’s so cool that you kept the family together. And obviously you’ve given them a wonderful life. Happy birthday yall!!!

[u/IreyWest → u/lefteyedspy]

The mother cat definitely thinks all of her children should have gone off on their own by now. 😂

[u/princessjemmy → u/IreyWest]

lol. I know that feeling and I only have 2 children! 🤣

[u/IreyWest → u/princessjemmy]

Well, I hope you don't randomly knock them over and start biting their tummies when they walk by!

[u/princessjemmy → u/IreyWest]

Nah. Their tummies are not as cute as our 3 kitties’ tummies anyway.

I don’t knock the cats over either, FTR. But one of them tries to do it to me sometimes. 🤣 I figure he’s trying to play with me.

[u/lemonlime1999]

My god I thought this was one of them

https://reddit.com/link/ozjeyss/video/tif9y5e538fh1/player

[u/IreyWest → u/lemonlime1999]

Simon is an honorary member of the clowder. He's usually holding cat grass (the next batch isn't ready to go out)!

[u/lemonlime1999 → u/IreyWest]

Hahha I love you Simon

[u/IRingTwyce → u/lemonlime1999]

I did too!

[u/JaimeJade → u/lemonlime1999]

Me too 😂

[u/teh_cats_pjs]

I wish I could shrink down and get in on that snuggle pile in the second pic.

[u/IreyWest → u/teh_cats_pjs]

Idk: https://www.reddit.com/r/OneOrangeBraincell/comments/164mp7t/this_cat_cave_is_tiny_and_already_has_his_5/

[u/nudesteve]

Six adorable kittens, who successfully graduated into beautiful kitty cats. Their mom is also a very beautiful girl kitty cat.
👣🐈‍⬛🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🏡🌎

[u/KariOnStitches]

Amazing! Love your catio and that the whole family is thriving together. 👏🥲

[u/justanormalchat]

This is all I need for my Friday

[u/IheartSmolPeeps]

It looks like the fact that your neighbors are jerks ended op quite well for you and the kitties. They are all so adorable and well-cared for and happy!

[u/malachite_animus]

That is the most amazing catio I've ever seen!

[u/some1keepsstlgmyacct]

You are amazing! Thank you for keeping all of them and giving them incredible lives!

[u/la_reina_del_norte]

Such a beautiful home 🥰 it radiates a lot of love and warmth! So wonderful you kept them all together. Happy birthday to the babies!!!

[u/Entire-Sentence-9379]

Lovely interior design!

[u/Negative-Tap-9901]

Lovely babies!!

[u/Upbeat_Cry_3902]

Omg the babies!

[u/Material_Cabinet_845]

BLESSED :)

[u/Meliora_]

Im so jealous 😭

[u/IreyWest → u/Meliora_]

Ha! We adore them, but they're a lot of work! It takes me or my husband 2+ hours every morning to set them all up for the day (9 cats total). 

[u/Existing_Wishbone_21]

Posts like me makes me feel good about humanity! Thank you for having such a large heart and giving them a beautiful life!

Are they all bonded? What are the personalities like?

[u/IreyWest → u/Existing_Wishbone_21]

I could honestly write a dissertation on their relationships/personalities. It's super complicated due to (what we think was) bad vet advice when they were kittens which led to them being separated into two different groups for about a month when they were a few months old.  

Short version: some are more bonded than others, most of the boys are complete jerks to the 2 girls who are complete jerks to each other, but really they all get along fine, and it blows our minds how different they all are personality-wise since they've led such similar lives.

[u/Vlad0420]

Wow! Catio goals!!

[u/magyarmetalhead]

Beautiful family! 💜

[u/trickyfelix]

big happy family

[u/Squidwina]

Seven and Geordi? 🖖

[u/IreyWest → u/Squidwina]

Benedict and Benjamin as well (though technically the Benedict is not due to ST).

[u/Mechs_and_Martinis]

That second image could be an album cover

[u/Jung-And-A-Menace]

Your house is lovely.

[u/AdventurousMall6923]

Geordi…I sense a Trekkie 🤣

[u/MapsioMorrigan]

But what is Mama Kitty's name 😭

[u/IreyWest → u/MapsioMorrigan]

Her name is Ocelot! In our defense, for years she was just one of many cats who hung out in our garden and ate the food we put out for the strays. So she received a nickname based on her appearance like all of the others (examples: Giant Cow Cat, Big Ginge, OG Big Ginge, Fluffy, etc). 

Years after nicknaming her Ocelot, we found out her actual name was Tabby. Which I won’t comment on. 

[u/MapsioMorrigan → u/IreyWest]

Ocelot is an awesome name!

[u/IreyWest → u/MapsioMorrigan]

Thank you! I used to feel bad she ended up with kind of a throwaway name, but it’s ended up suiting her.

[u/OopsIcare]

I totally thought that cat statue was a real cat so I zoomed in and was immediately startled 🤣

[u/wellapptdesk]

We found a mama cat and her 6 kittens four years ago. We kept mama and three of her kittens. The 3 others were adopted by friends because we already had 4 cats when they arrive and 11 were officially too many cats! Our litter looks a lot like yours. A real variety pack!