Oh bless her paws - must've been a vry strange experience for her as a first time mum, but the pictures show a very settled lady by alla ccounts! And aren't her babies gorgeous???? 
No wonder you're a very proud Grandma. Well done to all of you - it was more than you originally signed up for, but you can be justifiably proud that you've given this girl and her kittens every chance, and a great start for their future. 
I know what you mean. In your shoes, if I were re-homing those little beauties, the process would be like an interrogation session than a gentle process of enquiry 
You're so right - honestly the look on her face when she woke me up, I swear she was trying to say 'Mummy what is HAPPENING to me?!' Poor little thing, she did so well.
Some mixed news so I thought I'd update you all and ask for any further advice...
Apporx 8 hours after they'd all been born Mika moved all the babies right to the middle of under our bed. I was a bit concerned I won't be able to keep a close eye on them, but I understand she feels the need to keep them somewhere safe so of course I've left her to it, I have to trust her. Anyway, at midnight, so around 12 hours after the births, she jumped up on the bed with kitten number 1 in her mouth, not by its scruff. She plopped it on my lap and started trying to attack it. She was biting it really hard and kind of throwing it around, I waited as long as I could, even tried a firm 'NO' a few times, but in the end I just had to intervene because she was going to seriously damage it. Her eyes were wild, it was like she thought it was prey. I picked kitty up and tried to get Mika to calm down, she lay on her side briefly so I tried to allow kitty to latch on and she went mental again, trying to attack it. I had to make the difficult decision to take it away from her completely. Thankfully my friend was over and once she took this kitty out of the room Mika went back under the bed to the other three and sat down to feed them again, she relaxed straight away.
So, cue a whole lot of researching and running around gathering household supplies and making up formula. I am now hand rearing this little kitty, and all the other 3 are doing well (from what I can see under the bed!) with mummy Mika. I've spoken to the vet and made sure I'm doing everything right for kitty. Its possible that something is wrong with it, but so far it is very strong and as she originally abandoned this one when she first gave birth to it I wonder whether she just doesn't want this one. It also found it hard to latch on to Mika to feed, so perhaps it is the runt and Mika just feels she can't cope with it.
Kitty is now ensconced in a fleece lined pet carrier with a cuddly toy Koala (!) an old squash bottle of warm water for a heat source and a blanket wrapped around the outside of the carrier to stop drafts and keep warmth in. He/She wakes up regularly and mews, thats when I toilet her by gently stimulating anal area, then feed formula from the kitten bottle, then burp, toilet again and then cuddle and soothe to sleep before popping back in the carrier. Fingers crossed so far this seems to be working well - although I am exhausted and sleep deprived haha! Been doing this for 2 and a half days now with no major problems thank goodness. The vet said in a couple of weeks time I might be able to try reintroducing kitty again to Mika, but not to do it too soon in case she then abandons all of them.
The good news though is that one of my closest friends now wants two of the babies not just one, so there is a happy safe home for 2 of the 4 already yay! Have told her I want to keep them with mum for a minimum of 10 weeks before they go to their new home. If little rejected Kitty survives i can't see me being able to part company after being so close for the next few weeks... not sure what my other half will think of this plan!!
I've looked up how to sex kittens, but I honestly can't tell with little kitty - is it too soon do you think? Or am I just not very good at working it out?!
Thanks again for all the lovely messages everyone
x
