A kit is any queen's dream, the tiny fluffy balls of life leaning against your warm pelt, even I'm jealous! But Starclan doesn't give us life so easily, first, queens must bare through the pain that is kitting, and without a medicine cat, only Starclan knows how our very distant ancestorial queens survived.
I know, it's weird, we just entered the medicine den to a painful scream, as a queen settled into a moss nest, but I already knew what was happening, kits are one the way, my dear apprentice. So, now what? Well, first things first I'm going to need you to grab some juniper berries, this way the queen will be able to breath with ease, even during the stressful process that is kitting. Next, fetch me some thyme, this will help relax her, which is very important during one of the most anxiety-inducing situations any cat can go through! How about a stick next? It will be nice for her to be able to gnaw on it when ever she goes through stress. While you get those ready, I will calm her with my voice, and instruct her if she is a new queen.
Okay, we're all prepared, our herbs are ready, we have a good supply of sticks, and most importantly the queen is calm, now what? Well, now we have to actually go through the process. The most important thing to do in this step is feel where the kits are, you can do this by gently feeling around the queen's stomach for a sensation of moving. Is the kit insight? Well, usually it will be able to come out easily, but with bigger kits, they might get stuck, we must watch how the kit is moving and either push or pull it out accordingly. Thankfully, this queen seems to have small and gentle kits that slide out easily.
Finally, the kits are out, so now we must respond accordingly. We must give the queen borage in order to increase the amount of milk she has. And we must instruct her to lick the kits the opposite way, or do it ourselves if she's too tired, everyday we will check on her kit for the next halfmoon, making sure that they are breathing healthfully, eating and drinking at normal levels and that they haven't caught any illnesses.
Needed Herbs:
Preparation
Juniper Berries ● This is to insure the queen can breath properly
Thyme ● Thyme will help the queen stay calm.
Sticks ● These will help the queen relieve stress by gnawing on them.
Giving Birth
Make sure to replenish sticks and/or give queen another smaller dose of thyme
Caring for kits
Borage ● After eating this, the queen's milk production should increase.
Other herbs for kits:
Heather Down ● Helps kit digestion by lining the stomach
Peathingy Flower Petals ● Used to clear nose and throat, effective on kits
Iris Petals ● Soothes sore throat in kits