Donna Jo and Scamper
My first experience with kittens came with our cat "Buffy." Buffy got herself in the family way. I must say that we were excited about it! As she progressed, she no longer roamed at night (which led to her pregnancy in the first place). When it was bed time, she was making herself comfortable in the house. Grandmother was living with us, and Buffy decided that she liked sleeping on Grandmother's bed--Buffy would curl up in the crook of Grandmother's legs and sleep there all night.
Grandmother starting getting concerned that Buffy would have her kittens right in the bed with her. She'd scold me, "Donna Jo! That cat is going to have those kittens in my bed. You better do something!" So, I did. My brother and I set up a nice box with soft rags in it in my dad's closet (with his permission). We'd try to put Buffy in her box, and she'd stay--but not for long. Every night, Buffy would end up back in Grandmother's bed. We tried everything to make that box attractive for Buffy. But, she'd have none of it. I was convinced, however, that Buffy would use that nice, soft, dark, quiet space when it came time to have her babies.
I was fast asleep and dreaming. Dreaming of a baby crying and crying and crying. Then, in the midst of my dream, I heard Grandmother's voice, "Donna Jo! Get up! That cat has done had its kittens in my bed!" I looked over, and there was Buffy, lying in the crook of Grandmother's legs, and she had a couple of wet, mewling kittens with her. Grandmother carefully got out of her bed and just stood there, muttering , "I done tole you that that cat would do this. I done tole 'em all and nobody ever listens. Cat done have her kittens right in my bed. Dumb cat done had her kittens."
By this time, Buffy was done with her kittens, and I starting screaming, "She's eating one! She's eating one!" I had never seen an animal give birth, and I didn't know she was eating the afterbirth. Granted, I was worried she was eating her kitten, but I didn't go over and try to take it away from her. Next thing we know, Daddy comes stomping into the bedroom. The miracle of birth didn't seem to be much of a miracle to him. "Donna Jo! Billy! Billy, get in here and help Donna Jo clean up this mess. You've let that cat have its kittens in the bed!"
My brother came in, took one look at the bloodied, wet kittens and Buffy eating something bloody, and he turned pale. "BILLY, help clean up this mess!" Billy leaves the room, but he comes back, walking in with his hands up and gloved in Grandmother's dish-washing gloves.
Daddy took one look and burst out laughing. "Here comes the Doc!"
Buffy gave us three new kittens. I witnessed the miracle of birth. Grandmother was right about the cat, and she never let us forget that. Most importantly, my brother Billy gained a new nick-name. Daddy called him "Doc" ever after. And he is Uncle Doc to his niece and nephews. All because Buffy chose to have her family in Grandmother's bed.
