Kittens at Five Weeks

I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. In one more week, the kittens will be the minimum age for giving away, and it seems like they just arrived! I haven't had as much time as I've wanted to hold them, pet them, and help turn them into wonderful lap cats ("breaking their spirits", as mom would say). Mostly because during the day, "Sly the Kitten Destroyer" is awake, and I try to keep him far away from them. Sly is seriously abusive towards cats. He whacks them, pulls their fur, yanks their tails, and throws things at them. For real. It's one thing when he beats on our adult male cat, who at least sometimes stick up for himself. But he could do serious damage to the kittens.

Here's a picture of him trying to do just that...

He's tugging on its ears!

The kitties are very adventurous, running around our bedroom all the time (they still haven't ventured out of that room much, even though the door's always open). They are supposed to have started eating solid foods two weeks ago, but as far as we can tell, they still haven't even tried a bite!! It's all Iive's fault, because she's such an indulgent mother. She still nurses them as much as they like.

Aren't they getting too big for that, Iive?

So, of course, there's no incentive to try real food. I worry that we won't be able to give them new homes at this rate! We've been contemplating the idea of separating them from their mommy for a day, making them desperate enough to eat solids. But it would be tough to subject all three of them to that.