Weaning kittens

Secret1234

Hi my kittens are now 4 1/2 weeks old, i've tried reading up on the internet what to do about weaning but there are so many different opinions i'm confused!!

Has anybody done this before and can give me any advice? Mummy cat is still quite happy feeding them but she's getting tired bless her.

Also what food shall i use? I can't afford anything too extravagant

Thanking you x x

patchwork_cat

Hi
If mum is happy to continue feeding they will. They will start to wean naturally. Give mum a moist food or watered biscuits and they will go and investigate. You could try rubbing a bit on their top lip or dipping their muzzles gently in the gravy. They will do it themselves by copying mum if they can get to the food. Give them a kitten food, you can buy both biscuits and tinned for kittens at supermarket or better would be Royal Canin babycat.

kr15snw

With our kittens (well my brothers) we just put some fish down for the first few days, with some kitten food. Then we started taking the fish away and gave them the kitten food. Mum kept feeding them (less each time) until they were re homed. I think mums will continue to feed until they cant. My brother kept one of the kittens and he tried to feed until she had the snip, then shed go nuts if he went near her. He doesnt try anymore

Secret1234

One of them loved tuna mixed with cat milk, the other 2 weren't so keen. they're not interested in mummys food just yet. I'll just leave it up to mother nature then, i hope its soon cos mummy cats nipples are so so swollen, sore and bald poor thing! She's so protective of them i can't see it happening to soon though!

The RSPCA are helping with food and stuff too cos she was a pregnant stray, and are helping with getting her neutered, very impressed with their friendly, helpful attitude


Thanks guys

patchwork_cat

Hi
Yes her nipples will never be the same!! She will soon bat them off her when she has had enough.Just carry on leaving the food out, they will probably lick it from around her mouth,too

kr15snw

Try giving them kitten food (the pouches that whiskers / felix do are the ones we used). This is alot smaller and is full of nutrients. Our vet reccomended that we gave this to mum aswell, to help boost her up.

Secret1234

Lol i've had every member of the family sending off for whiskas and felix kitten packs I'll see how they go over the long weekend, i have plenty more time to spend with them, yay!

Spendi

My little baby girl recently had kittens and at about 4 1/2 weeks i started putting down royal canin weaning milk and royal canin babycat, within a few days they were happy munching away. if feeding a dry food make sure there is plenty of fresh water available, as weaning milk is still quite thick and you dont want bunged up kittens !

Just wanted to add, Royal canin is a little more expensive than standard food ( felix whiskas etc ) but it lasts longer, and my mommy cat has tummy problems and cant be fed normal food hence the royal canin

gettingitsorted

Hi guys im after a bit of advice regarding my kitten ,its 8 weeks old and will not eat kitten food (even whiskers) or the kitten biscuits any ideas what may be worth trying ?

lil_me

gettingitsorted wrote: »

Hi guys im after a bit of advice regarding my kitten ,its 8 weeks old and will not eat kitten food (even whiskers) or the kitten biscuits any ideas what may be worth trying ?

What will it eat?

My vet was honest with me when we had a kitten who refused every kitten food there was, this is what she said to me

'Years ago there was no such thing as kitten food, they just ate adult food and they were fine, if that's all it'll eat then better than nothing'

Same happened with my puppy, she refused every puppy food and stole the older dogs food, became pointless buying it for the older dog to eat it.