We have a big surprise for you... Meet Miss Abigail and her Angels!

This young beauty is Miss Abigail. Sonia and Monica found her, pregnant, on their farm, about a month ago. We've been keeping the surprise until, you guessed it, Abigail gave birth.

Abigail is a very tiny, young lady - probably not more than a year old. She was so big with babies that a month ago we thought she was a week or so away from delivery. Ummmm... we were wrong! Guess why!

Sonia and Monica are sisters, by the way. Their properties, and that of their parents, adjoin. Unfortunately, dumping of unwanted animals in the countryside continues... Monica related that Miss Abigail is very well socialized and very likely had a home at one time. Since you, our gentle readers, can do simple math, you'll realize that Sonia & Monica have found three pregnant kitties in three months. How sad that so many people have so little regard for their pets!

Luckily, Sonia, Monica and Hannah, Monica's daughter, have very big hearts! Just so you know, they spay/neuter every animal that finds its way onto their farm. Females who are already pregnant, of course, are spayed after rearing their litters. Hannah, has volunteered to be the foster mom for this young family and she's going to send pictures and reports to us! Now take a deep breath and meet Abigail's children!

If you guessed this pic was taken right after they were born, you'd be soooo right! Monica reports, "Well, yesterday (7/22) was a big day. Abigail, the cat that Hannah is fostering, became the proud mother of six kittens...yes I did say six!!!! They all seem to be healthy and all are very similar in color. I think we are going to have a difficult time telling them apart for a while."

Hannah is fostering Abigail in her room and had made up several cozy spots for Abby to choose from for birthing. Abigail, however, had other ideas. She chose the teeniest little spot, between two bookcases, right on the hardwood floor to start giving birth. Labor commenced a bit before 9 am on Wednesday. Fortunately, Aunt Sonia was just leaving for the Institute when Hannah wisely called her to assist in the midwifery duties. Sonia has a bit of experience in this department. As the babies were born and cleaned, they were gently transferred to a warm, dry box.

Abigail giving birth. Aunt Sonia does midwife duty, Hannah gently transfers the babies and Monica serves as photojournalist!

Abigail gave birth to 3 kittens and then it was several hours before she gave birth to number four. At that point Miss Abigail was so tired she didn't even sever the umbilical cord and looked like she was going to fall asleep. After a bit of time had passed and she still looked exhausted, the midwife trio began to worry that something might be wrong. They prepared the little family for a run to the vet. They were almost out of the house, when along came number five and, by 3 pm, number six. Miss Abigail perked up and finished her birthing ministrations. All she needed was a little rest!

The next post is pics of the newborns... no narration needed!! :-)