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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This post has been viewed 36,086 times.
Like most mammals, kittens begin life by sucking their mother’s milk. The transition from breast milk to a new food is called weaning. If your cat gives birth to kittens or if you adopt an orphaned kitten, you need to know what to give the kittens it needs and what to do to help the kitten through this important stage.
Steps
Preparing to wean kittens
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Determine when to wean kittens. Weaning begins when the cat is about four weeks old. For most kittens, this process usually ends when they are eight to ten weeks old. Once the kitten has opened its eyes, is able to concentrate, and is walking steadily, you can begin the process. [1] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- At about 10-14 days old, the kitten’s eyes and ears begin to open. By about 2-3 weeks, they begin to be able to stand and walk unsteadily, develop muscles, and learn to walk. During this time, they still absorb nutrients from their mother’s milk. Once the mother cat sees her kittens walking steadily, they will begin the natural weaning process.
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Buy essential nutrients. When you first wean a kitten, you should purchase a milk substitute. This product is formulated to mimic the nutritional value and taste of mother cat’s milk. You also need to make sure to buy high-quality products so that the kitten gets used to it gradually. You can read the packaging to see if the ingredients contain meat. This means that the product has a high percentage of protein, which is necessary for the growing kitten to be in good health. [2] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Cow’s milk should not be given to kittens. This is not an appropriate substitute, because the kitten’s stomach cannot digest it and there is a risk of diarrhea. [3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
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Buy shallow food and water bowls. You can also use ceramic or plastic bowls. Kittens need to easily reach the bottom of the bowl. They will drink milk substitute nutrients and eat food much more easily if they have easy access to food. [4] X Source of Reproduction in Dogs and Cats. Christiansen, Publisher: Bailliere-Tindal
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Do not suddenly separate the kitten from the mother cat. Kittens, like children, learn by observing. They will observe how the mother cat eats, uses the litter box, and plays. It will then mimic this behavior. If you have both mother and kittens in the house, you should keep them together for as long as possible – or at least until after 10 weeks. They will naturally separate from their mother over time.
- You can separate the kittens every day for a few hours when they are four weeks old. They still need to be provided with their own litter tray and food/water supply. Eventually, kittens will become more independent and willing to be away from their mothers. [5] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Don’t worry too much when the kitten is orphaned. They have a strong survival instinct. Kittens will find a way to eat on their own, even without the mother cat around. Most orphaned kitten owners wean and switch to solid foods earlier than usual, when the cat is four weeks old or older. At this point, the cat’s stomach has developed to the point where it can digest solid foods. They just need to be taught how to eat solid food. [6] X Source of Hand Feeding a Kitten. Bloomfield. Publisher: Able Publishing
Weaning cats
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Introduce the kitten to milk replacer. At first, the kitten will need to eat 4-5 meals a day. Each meal includes 1/3 cup of milk replacer and kitten food. [7] X Research Source Kittens will sleep through the night without eating or drinking, but if they purr then you should feed them before going to bed. [8] X Research Sources
- If the newborn cat is separated from its mother, you need to simulate their suckling instinct with a dropper. Pour the milk replacer into the tube and then lift the kittens, put a few drops of milk in their mouths. Alternatively, you can dip your finger in the milk and then let the kitten lick the milk on your hand. [9] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
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Let the kitten practice eating in a bowl. This can be a difficult process for them. If kittens are used to suckling mother’s milk, for them the food bowl is something quite odd. You just need to instruct the kitten to locate the milk. Dip your finger in the bowl and show it to the kitten. It will recognize the taste and want to explore more.
- Do not press the cat’s head into the bowl. If you do, they can inhale the milk and affect their lungs. [10] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to Source If kittens are initially uncomfortable, you should return to bottle feeding or breastfeeding. However, with each feeding, you should expose the kitten to the milk bowl first to encourage them to drink the milk in the bowl.
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Feed the kitten solid food. After the kittens are used to eating in a bowl, you can give them a porridge mixture. To make the mixture, you need to mix high-quality kitten food with a milk substitute. The texture of the mixture should be similar to oatmeal. Many people use a blender to mix cat food with a milk substitute. [11] X Research Source
- You can introduce kittens to porridge and other watery foods when the cat is about 5-6 weeks old. [12] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
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Switch to solid food after 8 to 10 weeks. After you stop giving your kitten porridge, you should give them soaked cat food. When switching to kitten food, you need to provide an additional bowl of clean water for them.
- To complete the transition, you should pour less and less water into the kitten food until they get used to the original food texture. You should always place a bowl of clean water next to your cat’s food tray. [13] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Kittens need to be fed four times a day until they are six months old. At this point, you can reduce it to two meals a day. [14] X Research Source
- Consult your veterinarian about feeding methods. Some doctors recommend “free-feeding” instead of scheduled feedings. Proponents of this method claim that it can satisfy even fastidious cats — or those who don’t eat on a pre-existing schedule. In general, if this makes the cat feel happier, it can be applied. If your cat is overweight, you should consider scheduled feedings to limit the amount of food they consume each day. [15] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
Advice
- When the kittens first get used to the food in the bowl, they may jump in and play with their food. You need to be patient and use a soft cloth to clean the cat’s fur. The kitten will eventually realize the purpose of the food bowl.
Things you need
- Milk replacement nutrients for kittens
- High quality dry kitten food
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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This post has been viewed 36,086 times.
Like most mammals, kittens begin life by sucking their mother’s milk. The transition from breast milk to a new food is called weaning. If your cat gives birth to kittens or if you adopt an orphaned kitten, you need to know what to give the kittens it needs and what to do to help the kitten through this important stage.
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