2006-06-11 10:36:20 · 9 answers · asked by Elena T 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
The last three litters I have raised in a bathtub in my spare bathroom,I would lay down a clean sheet folded up to where it cover the bottom of the tub, this would leave momma and kittens plenty of room .
I would leave food and water in one end of the tub and the litter box outside next to the tub.
I put momma cat on kitten food because it is more nourishing for her while nursing kittens, I found that the kittens after three weeks old would sample the kitten food but still nurse. they did this through 4 and 5 weeks. after that they would eat kitten food with no trouble but still nursed off momma.
They are 11 weeks old now and eat regular hills science diet but still go back to momma a couple times a day for milk.
2006-06-11 13:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a Cat who has had a couple of litters. The kittens will breast feed for about 5-7 weeks, keeping the mom well fed will help. The kittens can start to be weaned when their teeth are in about 6 weeks, they can have some kitty chow. Put them up to a bowl filled with kitten food, next to mommas bowl, they'll catch on. Kittens need kitten food, different than cat food. Enjoy them, they are a blast to watch.
2006-06-11 17:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by Donna G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before anyone jumps on me for taking kittens home too early, my 6 year old cats were found on the side of the road abandoned at about 2 weeks old and turned over to my vet. She gave them to me when she felt I could deal with them.
Anyway, here's my experience with three week old kittens and food. They were both eating IAMS moist food when I took them home. Because I was living alone and working too much, I left some dry food out for them after a week or so. The little boy started eating it right away. The little girl would wait for me to get home and meow at me like I was letting her starve or something.
I had the kittens in their own room...the door came off, so I had it sideways across the doorway. They were pretty much trapped in there until they were big enough to jump over the door. (My 16 year old cat was 10 at the time and had just lost his 9 year old companion kitty...it was good for them to be seperate from him for the first couple of weeks) I just put the food in the room for them...moist food and water at first and then I added dry food to their mix.
The vet did make sure they were both eating the moist food before she gave them to me. She was bottle feeding the little girl for a few days. They grew into very healthy cats, but I would recomend keeping them with their mother for at least 6 weeks. Most people recommend 8, but most of them are fine at 6.
2006-06-11 19:45:54 · answer #3 · answered by Gabby_Gabby_Purrsalot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can probably start feeding them around 4 to 5 wks old on soft food and then move up to hard food. Give them some around every 3 or 4 hours and just let the mom finish feeding also until she gets ready to ween them.
2006-06-11 17:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by puffalump200385 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you bought these cats or have you bred them? If there is a mother, then the cats should ween themselves. However, If you simply just own the five kittens, i would get advice from your local vet. It is important that you do this as the cats will at some stage need to eat solid food. I advise you arrange a vets appointment immediatly.
2006-06-11 19:37:47 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
three to four weeks old you should start introducing solid food. Make sure it is a food balanced for kittens and put water on the food in order to soften the food and make it easier for them to eat and digest. Little by little reduce the amount of water till the food is completely dry. This process happens over several weeks. The key is to make it as easy on their digestive system as possible.
2006-06-11 18:06:54 · answer #6 · answered by wsucougal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when u start seen them eating there moms food them wait for 4 to 5 weeks after it and if want to how long to wait to gave them away don't do it at 6 weeks that's to early at 8 to 9 weeks will be a good time and dont make them eat on their own they will when they r ready cuz my cat had kittens too i cant remeber when they did start eating on their own but they did it on their own
2006-06-17 02:14:25 · answer #7 · answered by Krystal Raymond & Samantha M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should start feeding them hard food a couple of weeks after they open their eyes. just put a cup full of hard food on a little plate or in a bowl and u can add some water to it (to make it softer) if u want.
2006-06-11 17:43:47 · answer #8 · answered by shasta 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you see if they will eat a little and if it eats it than try a little more but the cats have to be a least 3 weeks old
2006-06-11 17:41:57 · answer #9 · answered by Jorge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋