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The images below depict the life cycle of the flitten.
Click on images to enlarge
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| Flitten Eggs |
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| Flitten Caterpillar |
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| Flitten Pupae |
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| Flittens Hatching |
Flittens have an insect-like
life cycle. They have an egg stage; flitten eggs can be identified by their ear-like bumps on top and the tail-like stalks
with which they hang from branches. Flitten caterpillars eat heartily on any available vegetation. Footprint-like holes
in leaves are evidence of the presence of flitten caterpillars. Flitten pupae are very fuzzy and are often mistaken
for hairballs. Hatchings are very humorous. All newly hatched flittens have green wings to protect them from predators. As
the flittens mature, their wings take on the varied and bright colors of their individual species.
Nothing is known about the life cycle of
minis, only that they came aboard Captain Katt's ship the Flying Tiger when she was attacked by pirates off Ceylon. The
minis had learned many dastardly behaviors from the pirates and have kept up their mischief making ways at Mewingham
Manor.
Flitten Models
The flittens and minis of Mewingham
Manor were based on our animals. We have always opened our home up to stray cats and smaller animals (such as spiney Egyptian
mice and hedgehogs) that were not doing well in pet stores and needed a good home. These are the stories of the animals who
shared our home during the time Mewingham Manor was created. We kept all 4 of the kittens who served as flitten models.
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| "I thought those kittens would never grow up-pass the catnip!" |
Bitsy came to us as a pregnant stray, cast out by her previous
owner. It took her a long time to trust humans again, but she is now a very loving cat. Her contribution to the making of Mewingham Manor was giving birth to and raising three wonderful kittens (Spot, Tinker and Ziggy). We promised her that
once the kittens were grown she could retire to a life of lazy days and
sunny window sills. We kept that promise.
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| Modeling Days |
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| Spot Today |
Spot (don't call him Spotty!) not only worked hard
posing for the artwork used in Mewingham Manor, but
his antics inspired much of the text. Because his mother, Bitsy,
spent all of the money the kittens earned as models on catnip, Spot is resigned to working for a living. He will continue to do what he knows best - working as an artist's model. Spot has
recently been trying his "hand" at writing and has been known to pen the
occasional newsletter about the goings on at Von Stetina Artworks.
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| Glory Days |
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| Adulthood |
Tinker spends all of her time thinking back on the
glorious days when she worked as a flitten model. She kept the look of a
young kitten longer than her siblings, and was able to work past the usual 8 week age limit for flitten models. She still
fancies that she doesn't look a day over 6 months, but she is really a 4 year old cat. Tinker has not made peace
with the fact that grown cats can not pose as flittens.
We ply her with cat toys to try and pull her out of what appears
to be profound depression.
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| "Child" Model |
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| Ziggy |
Although Ziggy posed for more of the drawings
and paintings in Mewingham Manor than any other kitten,
he does not plan to continue modeling. Instead, he intends to pursue a career in the pest control industry.
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| Striking a Pose |
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| Scout |
Scout was found wandering under the cars
in a busy parking lot; he joined our family when he was about 5 weeks old. He never
saw the same glamour in modeling that Tinker did, even though he had the coveted job of posing
for the cover of Mewingham Manor. Scout stayed well grounded and modeling was never more than
something fun to do between naps.
We lost our beloved Scout 3/10/2005.
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| "Uncle" Sherman |
Sherman's opinion of kittens in general is expressed
in this series of photos. Sherman showed up on our back porch 14 years ago, and he has lived long enough so that not much phases him.
He did a brief stint as a model, posing for the drawing of the long-suffering house cat Mr. Grimes who is bedeviled by minis
in Mewingham Manor.
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| "Adjusting? I'd put everyone but Sherman up for adoption tomorrow!" |
Purly is our rough, tough biker chick kitty. She showed up at the door 9 years ago. Although she hasn't
been thrilled about sharing her home with the newer arrivals, she seems to be adjusting well.
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| Chirpus- 5 weeks old |
Chirpus was a spiney Egyptian mouse. His mother died when he was born and we fed him with a medicine
dropper. He was very mischievous, and when we'd take him out of his cage to play, his favorite game was hiding small shiny
objects in Bruce's boots. Everything from bottle caps to wrist watches went into those boots. Chirpus was a wonderful
little friend and the inspiration for the minis in Mewingham Manor.
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