How To Wean Kittens

Weaning a kitten is the process of transitioning the kitten from mother’s milk to solid food. It’s an important part of the kitten’s development which needs to be done at the right time, and in the right way. Normally the mother cat, sometimes called the queen, will handle kitten weaning on her own. But when the mother has trouble producing milk, or when a litter of kittens is orphaned, we need to intervene. Here are some tips for smooth and successful kitten weaning.

When it’s at all possible, kittens should be exposed to some mother’s milk, especially within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. The first milk, or colostrum, contains antibodies that the kitten can only absorb during this time.

Mother cats produce milk for about 12 weeks, and kittens may try to nurse the entire time. During their first three weeks, kittens nurse (and nap) almost continuously. When their teeth come in, they may explore their mother’s food, imitating her by trying to eat it. By the kittens’ fourth or fifth week, mother cats encourage weaning by gradually cutting down nursing time for kittens with their sharp, growing teeth.

You can assist with weaning by offering a shallow dish of kitten milk replacement, available at pet supply stores. Kittens should never drink cow’s milk, which causes digestive upset and diarrhea. Dip your finger into the dish; let the kitten lick off the milk, and then guide it down to the bowl. A kitten may walk into its dish, cleaning the milk replacement from its paws as it figures out this new way of eating. This is a good thing. Never push a kitten’s nose into a dish; it could inhale the liquid and develop pneumonia or other lung problems.

Once kittens are accustomed to lapping from a bowl, combine the kitten milk replacement with a little canned food, mixed to a gruel-like consistency. When you are weaning a kitten onto solid food, it’s important to use a food formulated specifically for kittens. These formulas have the higher levels of calories, protein and calcium that growing kittens need. Serve this mush-meal at room temperature, three or four times a day. As kittens get used to eating it, gradually cut back the amount of milk replacement while increasing the food. Kittens will continue to supplement these meals with nursing, but as they get used to the taste, scent and texture of solid food, they will prefer it to mother’s milk. They should be eating regular food by eight to 10 weeks.

At this time, you also want to start handling the kittens so that they become accustomed to humans and to being petted.  This socializes the kittens so that they can be good house pets in the future.

Kittens love to be swaddled, just like human babies.

TIPS

Weaning should be done gradually. Instinctively, the mother cat will discourage nursing. She may walk away from her nesting box to take a nap away from her increasingly active family. Kittens eating solid food can be separated from their mothers for longer periods. If the mother cat is still producing milk and the kittens have stopped nursing, reducing her food and water intake can help the milk dry up.

Kittens that stay with their mothers for at least eight weeks, or better yet, 10 to 12 weeks, are more adjusted socially than those separated earlier. But they can start chewing solid food, in addition to nursing, once their teeth start coming in, usually by three weeks.

It is important to always offer a shallow dish of fresh water to kittens, as they can get dehydrated easily.

An orphaned or hand-fed kitten needs to be fed kitten milk replacement and not regular cow’s milk

Bottle-fed Babies

An orphaned or otherwise hand-fed kitten should always be given kitten milk replacement, not cow’s milk. Bottle-raised kittens can begin weaning a bit sooner than nursing kittens. At about three weeks, begin offering the kitten its milk replacement in a shallow dish, urging it to drink the same way you would show a nursing kitten. At first, keep a bottle ready if it rejects the bowl. As the kitten grows more comfortable taking meals from the dish, mix the milk replacement with a little canned kitten food. Gradually adjust the amount of milk replacement until the kitten is eating just food.

You should offer solid food fairly frequently throughout the day and even separate the kittens away from their mother for a few hours each day to help the weaning process along.

The older the kittens get, the longer they can stay away from the mother. Keep an eye out for any anxious behavior from the kittens or the mother. Once the kittens reach eight to twelve weeks of age they should be eating regular cat food and no longer nursing.

You should continue to handle the kittens to be sure that they are properly socialized and continue training them to properly use the litter box.

Kitten weaning is a natural process but they may just need a little help from you. The key: a little patience and a lot of love.