Nyama's drama.

I thought it would be a good idea to get Nyama spade professionally before she had her kittens. Like most seemingly simple tasks, this became quite an ordeal for me... and for Nyama I am sure. There is a veterninarian who occasionally brings guests to the ranch with his horses for horseback safaris. I met him last week and anxiously asked if I could send my cat with him when he returns to his farm near Moshi. He agreed to spay her even though I knew she was pregnant. By the way, normally, I would be very much against this but under the circumstances, I had to first of all keep in mind I am here for research, not to raise puppies and kittens. Secondly, sure I could find homes for kittens, but the animals are treated so poorly here that I didn't want to have to be worried about their welfare. And third, the puppies have provided me with enough tragedy for the whole of my seven month stay. I just wanted Nyama without being worried about her having kittens and galavanting around with disease ridden stray tomcats. On Tuesday the vet and his wife were leaving with the guests. Challenge number one was getting Nyama down to the camp where the vet was staying. I didn't have a box. I didn't have a harness or leash. However, I found a scrap of Masai shuka and fashioned a primitive harness/leash so that if she jumped from my arms at least she couldn't get away. Nyama didn't like my clever invention. At all. We made it about 100 meters from the house when she began howling and trying her darndest to get out of my arms. We took it slow and eventually made it to camp after an hour. I think it is about 3 km but really don't know for sure. Challenge number 2: find a box. There was one box in the tourist camp. Nyama quickly figured out how to use her claws as box-cutters and the box was no more. Challenge number 3: wait... for 4 hours... in an open hut without doors. At first, Nyama was afraid of leaving the hut which was fine with me but it didn't take long for her curiousity to take over. She started venturing out and after carrying her back several times, I decided to just watch where she went. She bolted to some long vegetation and I was ecstatic to discover she just really needed to poop. After this feat, she was completely content to sit in my lap and have my undivided attention. Finally, the car was ready to leave but we had to fashion a bucket in a bag as a makeshift cat carrier. I haven't heard the full story from the vet, but I am sure Nyama also grew tired of that scene.

Tuesday night they arrived home and on Wednesday morning, Nyama had 4 kittens in her cage with her. I guess the trip stressed her enough to pop them out. I did manage to find 2 very willing and capable owners and the vet will keep the other two. The downside is, now Nyama has to stay with the vet for awhile so that she can provide milk for her kittens before she can have surgery. So, alas. At the moment, the house is pet-less... except for a lingering Safari who seems to have it in her head that she is my dog... or my askari... as she sleeps on the porch and warns me of danger.