|
 Photo by theogeo/Lindsey T @ flickr.com |
Yet, the usual time to start weaning kittens is around 4 to 6 weeks of age. But, one should be careful with weaning a kitten at too young of an age. Premature weaning has been associated with separation anxiety later in a cat’s life. So, let the kitten be the guide. And let them determine how fast or slow the weaning process should proceed.
Why Wean Kittens?
As stated earlier, most kittens do naturally make the transition to solid food. They may become interested in tasting mom cat’s food. Or kittens may want to take a bite of their owner’s food. But sometimes, weaning kittens must be initiated by outside forces and circumstances such as:
- Sick queen unable to produce milk
- Queen dies
- Queen rejects kittens in her litter
- Litter is too large for the queen to manage alone
- Human surrogate is tired of bottle feeding
Kitten Milk Replacer
Kitten milk replacer or formula is specially designed synthetic milk to substitute for cat milk. It comes in liquid or powdered form. The powdered form is mixed with water to drink. Kitten milk replacer is similar to cat milk in that it contains high amounts of protein and the correct ratio of carbohydrates and proteins needed for growing kittens. It also has a relatively high fat composition that supplies energy to growing and active kittens.
 Photo by Gypsy Fae Photography @ flickr.com |
Weaning Kittens Procedure
Time Frame: Over a 3 to 4 week period to transition to solids
- Obtain a small shallow bowl
- Add ¼ dry kitten food or chopped meat; and ¾ mom cat’s milk, kitten milk replacer, or formula in the bowl and mix. Should be the consistency of watery oatmeal, porridge, or thickened soup and warmed to room temperature.
- Over the next few weeks gradually reduce the amount of water to the ratio of meat or kitten food. Until the point where the food is near solid or completely solid.
- Allow your kittens to eat with their siblings, if possible, to socialize.
- Feed kittens about 3-6 times per day depending upon their nutritional needs and age.
Generally, the weaning process continues without problems. As by this age, a kitten should be able to eliminate on their own without needed stimulation to its genital area. Yet, overfeeding can be a problem with young kittens. Overfeeding can lead to issues with diarrhea.
Another issue with weaning kittens is that they are prone to constipation. Mom’s milk contains water as well as nutrients. Kittens eating solid or semi-solid food are at risk of constipation because solid food contains little water. Be sure to keep plenty of fresh water nearby your transitioning kittens to keep them well-hydrated.
Kittens in the process of weaning are also prone to getting infections. Mom cat’s antibodies that fight off infections are transmitted to her offspring via her milk supply. Kittens no longer nursing will miss out on those important antibodies and can be susceptible to developing infections until their bodies can produce antibodies. This is why kitten vaccination is crucial starting around 6 weeks of age.
During the weaning process, it’s also important to track and keep an eye on your kitten’s growth. Most kittens do fine transitioning to solid foods. Yet, others may not eat enough to supply their daily nutritional needs.
Return from Weaning Kittens to Feeding Kittens
Return from Weaning Kittens to All About Cute Kittens Homepage
