5 - 6 weeks:

Martina's kittens have learned the fine art of blackmail. Snowflake, our golden/border collie cross, knows she isn't allowed to growl or bark at kittens, no matter how annoying they might become. She grumbles a bit and mutters under her breath, but she's really pretty tolerant of them.

Martina's crew have figured this out; they wait until her food gets put down and then swarm the dish. They all try to finish the wet dollops before she can get any of it. If she whimpers or tries to push her nose in between them, they hiss at her, and Martina comes running from wherever she is in the house and beats Snowflake up for them. They finish up the food while she's doing it.

Now I have to guard poor Snowflake while she eats. They used to keep away when I started, but now they try to sneak past me to grab some food before I can stop them. I have to swat them away with the broom. It's not as if they don't have their own wet food to eat.

Elena and Anna have started the same routine with Snowflake's bed. If they want it and she won't move, they cry piteously as if they've been stabbed in the heart. Martina comes running and Snowflake gets up and gives them the bed before she can get there. I swear Elena looked at her the other day and said, "Don't make me call my mom...."

The boys are perfectly willing to share the bed with Snowflake, but the girls want it all to themselves. Little brats.