What is the best way to get kittens to eat normal food?
lexi asked:
My cat gave birth to 4 beautiful kittens, and one of them refuses to eat normal kitten food. The others are already eating it and they’re fine, but one of them just won’t eat it. She insists on eating from her mother. What would be the best way to get her off of her mother and onto normal kitten food?
I tried all of those, and she still finds a way to convince the mother cat to come back. The kittens are 6 weeks old.
The kitten that refuses to wean has developed the fastest so far…
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My cat gave birth to 4 beautiful kittens, and one of them refuses to eat normal kitten food. The others are already eating it and they’re fine, but one of them just won’t eat it. She insists on eating from her mother. What would be the best way to get her off of her mother and onto normal kitten food?
I tried all of those, and she still finds a way to convince the mother cat to come back. The kittens are 6 weeks old.
The kitten that refuses to wean has developed the fastest so far…
February 14th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
wean her off normal foood
February 18th, 2009 at 3:45 am
Take the hard kitten food and pour a little water on it. Let it sit out for a little bit then whenit’s moist give it to the kitten. She will eat it up. The reason she is not eating the real hard cat food is because she’s so used to the soft milk.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:07 am
You need to get it use to eating solids. You can buy very fine semolina, cook it in a pan with milk, let it cool and then feet it to the kitten with a spoon. Don’t give it a lot though! Let its stomach get use to it. If that doesn’t work check with a vet. But don’t worry like babies, kittens don’t develop at the same pace.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
If you try mixing some kitten milk with the cat food so it tastes of milk. Start with lots of milk and gradually reduce the amount in it. Do NOT use cows milk cats are lactase intolerant, so it gives them bad diarrhoea.
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 am
How old are the kittens?
Kittens are usually weaned off mother’s milk, around 6-8 weeks old.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Mix dry food with milk, let it moisten it, and give it to her. If necessary take her away from her mouther for a little while so she can only get the food and then as soon as she eats take her back to her mom.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
my cat did the same thing. when the others kittens were eating she would drink from her mother. after the mother is ready for the kitten to stop, she will push the kitten away from her intill she eats normal food. ( P.S have you tried giving the kitten wet food? if not do so! the kitten will then move on.)
February 28th, 2009 at 7:25 am
You need to take her mother away for good, they are old enough now. dont let the mom near them at all for 3 weeks, that way her milk will dry up. when the kitten gets hungry it will eat its food
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Try formula for cats, not regular milk from your own fridge, this is horrible for a cat’s digestion. Once the cat is used to this formula, start that cat onto wet food. I personally would then start the cat on dry food, its better for a cat’s teeth and also the digestive system. Hope you enjoy your new addition to the family!
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Since the kittens are only 6 weeks old, she’s still OK. If you are giving them dry kitten food only, you might try offering a little moist food, that might tempt the one kitten. Generally, kittens are weaned between 6-8 weeks- but each individual will wean at their own pace. Mama cat will let the kitten know when she’s done nursing.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:55 am
You need to buy Friskies canned kitten food (the soft kind) and add a little warm milk to give it a little looser consistency.
Then put a tiny bit on your finger and see if the kitten will lick it off. Once it does then just put its little face down to the plate (gently) so it will know to eat what is on the plate.
Oh yea and when feeding them at first do it on a flat plate it is easier for them to get at it.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hi i had the same problem with one of my kittens, my cat gave birth to four, three of them were eating kitten food at 4weeks old and one just wouldnt touch it. i tried loads of times to get her to eat but nothing, so i tried her on baby milk and within a few days she was munching on kitten food!
March 8th, 2009 at 8:53 am
It’s perfectly acceptable for the kitten to still be nursing from the mother at this point. In fact, until the mother pushes them away, it’s ok to let them nurse.
Do not force the kittens to eat solid foods, or seperate them from the mother, either. They’ll start eating kibble when they’re ready.
*edit - If the one that refuses to wean has developed the best so far, that ought to tell you something. They aren’t ready to wean yet.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Try give her a one to one attention, and take her away from her mum .
Then just put down differnt kitten food theres bound to be one she likes.
In a litter there is always a bold one and a clingy one thats syas with its mum for longer.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:38 am
I know its tempting, but don’t worry. I had exactly the same issue going (4, 3 eating solids, one not) and in the end he just started eating some nature’s menu kitten pouch, then cooked wihte fish (boiled with a touch of salt and a few drops of wheat germ oil).
He’ll come round by himself when ready.
DO NOT TAKE HER FROM THE MUM AS SAID ABOVE!!! Please!!!
It will only create behavioural problems. My tomcat had that done to him as a kitten (the lady who owned his mum would literally pluck him off her teat) and to this day he has bad kneading issues and needs constant reassuring and extra attention. I dont mind giving him that, but I cant imagine its very pleasant for him to be so worried all the time.
Don’t interfere unless it’s a life or death emergency, mum knows what she’s doing better than any one else. He’s just a late bloomer!
I’d like to add this: feeding Wiskas to a newly weaned kitten is tantamount to stuffing a mashed hot dog to a baby: read below re quality of food!