Baby Magnus got here into the world a full seven days after his tragic siblings, whom mom cat Sylvia had been pregnant with on the identical time.
The case is regarded as an uncommon instance of ‘superfecundation’ – the place a single litter of kittens will be fathered by multiple tom.
Although the phenomenon itself is not unusual in felines, it’s uncommon for such a big time hole to happen between half-sibling kittens being born.
And it’s the first case skilled by kitty foster carer Leeann Williamson, who’s now taking care of Magnus and Sylvia on behalf of Sheffield cat charity Cat-Ching.
“Superfecundation is not something I have come across in my time fostering,” stated Leeann, who began volunteering with Cat-Ching three years in the past. “But basically a litter of kittens can have more than one dad!
“Superfecundation occurs when multiple males mate with a female during her optimum time of conception.
“This is actually a relatively common phenomenon but, despite having different fathers, the kittens would normally all be born at around the same time – just minutes apart in some cases. Not with Sylvia’s babies though!”
Cat-Ching vet Alan Beatty from Beech House Vets in High Green agreed the massive hole between Sylvia’s kittens being born was uncommon.
“Yes, it is very rare, but it does occur,” he stated. ”I’ve seen three examples within the final two years in cats together with Sylvia.”
Black and white cat Sylvia is believed to be round 18 months old, and got here to Cat-Ching after being relinquished to a vet the place one of many charity’s foster carers works.
Sylvia had already given start to 2 untimely kittens, and the newborns, named Angus and Fergus by the charity, had been struggling to feed.
Despite greatest efforts, with kitten formulation and feeds from their mum, the little boys died aged three days and 5 days old.
But two days later, and every week after Angus and Fergus had been born, Leeann woke to search out that Sylvia – a second-time mum whose first litter had additionally been untimely, and had additionally all died – had given start to a different kitten in the course of the night time.
And this time her ‘rainbow child’ – the time period given to a wholesome child born following an toddler loss – was a lot larger than his siblings, and combating match.
“Sylvia is a great mum and is managing to feed and care for Magnus by herself,” stated Leeann, who has her personal adopted cat, Carrots. “He’s putting on weight and growing well.”
Cat-Ching is a small, registered charity, based in 2018 by Jasmine Roger and Lauren James-Thompson, with the purpose of lowering the overpopulation of cats in Sheffield. It at the moment has 143 cats in its care.
Leeann stated: “It’s supposed to be coming to the end of kitten season now, which is our busiest period, but it doesn’t feel like it’s slowing down.
“It has been a huge financial strain on the charity. We spend around £12,000 every month on essentials such as vet care, food and cat litter, and our adoption fees cover only around 40 per cent of these costs. Our brilliant fundraising team and supporters cover the rest.
“In January last year we launched our free neutering scheme for owned cats whose owners are unable to afford the cost themselves. We’ve neutered almost 500 cats since then.
“We have also recently launched a free microchipping scheme in preparation for new legislation which will make it mandatory from June 2024 for all pet cats to be microchipped.”
To donate to assist with Sylvia and Magnus’ care, or any of the opposite 141 cats at Cat-Ching, go to the charity’s website for particulars.
