The Fifth Element Kennel

02/15/2025

Nandi just went into heat. She only cycles once a year and I wasn't sure if I was going to breed her on her next heat, nor sure when that would be but since Gracie didn't take, it actually works well to try for a litter from her now.

She will be paired to Malcolm.
Both are DNA and CHIC tested/passing.
We are expecting mostly smooth coats but long is possible. Possible colors are black, sable, blue, chocolate and lilac. Should be mostly solid colors and Merle possible. Nandi's Merle length is most likely M/m 268 via parentage, test through UC Davis.
ECOI is expected to be around 6%.
Let's hope this one takes!

02/14/2025

Happy 3rd birthday to our Luna and Mick Valentine's litter!

02/13/2025

Well, that's very disappointing. Gracie had an ultrasound today and no puppies were seen, so it looks like we missed on this pairing.

02/08/2025

02/08/2025

Little gremlin at puppy class. He wants to play with all of the other puppies there.

02/07/2025

We've got 2 upcoming litters and updates on those.

First litter is Laney and Quill, she is approx 37 days along and just had a confirmation ultrasound. Definitely pregnant, at least 4 were seen, possibly a 5th. Ultrasound is not very accurate for count but those 4 were extremely clear!

Next up is Gracie and Olly, this will be Gracie's last litter and I am hoping to keep a girl(s) from it. She should be roughly 27 days along and has an appointment on the 12th for ultrasound confirmation. Fingers and toes extra crossed for that one!

There is a wait list for both litters, mostly girls, as always and a few boys. There should hopefully be a few more openings possibly available, especially if Gracie is pregnant and has a decent sized litter.

For the Laney and Quill pairing, we are looking at all smooth coats, colors possible are black, blue, sable and blue sable. Markings possible are Irish white, high white pied and Merle. Laney's Merle length (and therefore, most likely her offspring's) is M/m 272 via UC Davis.

For the Gracie and Olly litter if confirmed, we will be expecting mostly smooth coats but long is possible. It generally takes until 4 weeks before I can tell coat length for sure. Colors possible are black, blue, chocolate. All will be high white pied and tan pointed. Merle is possible.
Olly's Merle length is most likely M/m 268 via parentage, test through UC Davis.

02/05/2025

It's a sleepy morning! We love our heat mat after playing.

02/05/2025

It's taken me a few days to be able to write/share this update.

Just as I was thinking that we might be past the final hurdles for Bunn, she stopped being able to hold formula down around 2 am last Saturday. I was up with her all night and she was taking pedialite. Despite that, she passed quietly in my arms around 6 am Saturday morning.

Zoe said good bye to her and after some confusion, seemed to understand.

Thankfully Keurig and Suri are absolutely thriving and starting to show more personality. Zoe is being a fabulous mother to them.
Keurig has been reserved and Suri is staying here.
They have started transitioning to the front room pen and joining the household more.

01/31/2025

New pictures of Bunn. Weight is doing great, she's currently 195 grams or a little under 7 Oz. She has been fighting a double eye infection for a few days, weird one for me, since I've never had a puppy get that but it's extremely common in kittens, so at least I knew what to do. Still needs treatment for the next few days but they are looking so much better this evening!

01/31/2025

Bunn weighed 192 grams empty this morning! Very happy with her progress there.

01/31/2025

It didn't take Bender and Fry long to figure out that Raven is the best seat in the house!

Fry is still hoping for a 🏡 of his very own.

01/31/2025

Keurig is getting so grown up!

01/28/2025

Bunn is up to 165 grams, steady upward progress so far.

01/27/2025

We've got eyes on Breville, who has been renamed Suri. I wasn't going to keep any from this litter but... Yeah, that didn't stick.

01/27/2025

Bunn is interesting. Partly because she isn't so fat, she's actually farther along than her siblings in holding her head up and getting her feet under herself (which I don't always appreciate while trying to feed her!) so she is both more advanced and way tinier than them. It's confusing to my brain, lol. She's maintained about 154 grams today, which is progress. I just wish it was a little bit more progress.

01/26/2025

Oh Emily 😻😻

01/25/2025

Bunn this morning. Got 1 eye almost open. Still guarded but she's back up to 141 grams empty, the highest she's been since whatever made her lose weight. We've still got 6 more grams to go to get back to her previous high weight.
I won't breathe easy until we get a few days of consistent gains past her previous highest weight.

She seems to have mostly given up trying to nurse from Zoe, so she is entirely formula fed or nearly so now. Zoe is still bathing her and otherwise mothering her though.