I have an 8 week , hand-raised kitten that will not wean from the bottle. Ive tried everything Ive found online to mixing formula with soft food, baby food meat, soaked kitten food..the list goes on. She will not drink formula from a dish, she knows its there and Ive let her go all day but she just cries at my feet, looking at me like" Momma feed me already!" Ive also tried formula mixed with soft food in a bottle. She will drink ANYTHING from a bottle so I know its not what shes eating it all about she wants me to do the work. How long can I let her go hungry? I figured if shes hungry enough she will eat, but she is losing weight because I keep trying and she isnt giving in to it! Ive tried all day and that doesnt work..Im out of ideas, help!
2006-06-25 14:01:49 · 8 answers · asked by The Kings 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
Ive tried tuna, many times :(
2006-06-25 14:07:15 · update #1
Yes Ive tried to push her nose in, that makes her cry and squirm from me..she will even sniff it but it like shes afraid of messing up her purdy face! what a little priss, lol
2006-06-25 14:09:20 · update #2
Yes I did this today, she sucked it from my finger and I inched it closer. I admit this was the closest she has gotten to actually drinking from the saucer. But as the dish got closer she started crying and climbing me. Should I try to let her go hungry longer?
2006-06-25 14:11:50 · update #3
In response to the last answer, I DIDNT TAKE the kitten from its mother. She was abandoned as a runt. And she is eating...Im thinking you didnt even read the question, lol
2006-06-26 10:55:33 · update #4
Keep in mind that most kittens are just weaning from their mom at 8 weeks old and maybe she's just not quite ready. But here are my ideas... Make a paste of formula and soft food - really mushy but not soupy. Cut a bottle nipple so the hole is big enough for the food to go through. (Don't cut it too big - you don't want her to choke.) If she will start eating the mush from the baby bottle, she may recognize the smell/food and start eating out of a bowl.
You could also try rubbing a little mush on her mouth and front paws. When she cleans herself, she will eat the mush. It may give her enough of a taste for it to get her started eating. Of course, if she decides not to clean it up, then you may be stuck giving her a bath.
A kitten can dehydrate and become ill rather quickly because they are so small, so I would suggest you continue to be sure she gets something a few times a day and consult a vet if she continues to refuse food. If you can't afford a vet, check with the Humane Society or some similar animal organization.
2006-06-25 14:23:24 · answer #1 · answered by curiouschick18 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What your doing sounds right but you have to keep at it. I wouldn't just let her go hungry tho. I would bottle feed her a little less over a few weeks. Say half as much only a few times a day, keeping them spread out cause otherwise completely cutting her off the bottle will make her whinney and then she wont be comforted until she finally gets a bottle. Try and figure out which time of day are the most important too her. Like when you wean a baby the last bottle you take away is the right before bed bottle cause otherwise nights would be miserable.
Good Luck.
2006-06-25 14:33:13 · answer #2 · answered by gnomes31 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I did with my old cat (he was 9 wks when I got him and almost starved cause he wouldn't wean and they locked the mother away from it) was get some wet food, and mix it with milk and just leave it near by the kitten at all times, at night before I went to bed, if he hadn't eaten, I'd take a little spoon, and hand feed him some. Took about a week of doing this, but he eventually got it. By the time we parted ways, he went from being the runt of the litter, to a heafty 15 lb beast, LOL (and no, it wasn't all fat).
2006-06-25 14:51:44 · answer #3 · answered by nena102800 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u need to go get advice from a vet. if she aint drinkin/eatin then she is going to starve.... it can happen really quick in that age... so get help. U need to do it the right way and a vet can help. just call one on the phone...they will be happy to help u out....
somebodyelse got the same problem with a couple weeks old kitten. I dont understand how people can take away kittens from their mom in such a young age anyways. If u love pets u should know better then that and if not then ask a vet for help.
2006-06-25 17:53:31 · answer #4 · answered by snoopy19_812004 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My wife and I did this with a small litter of 4. We took a bowl of milk, held the kitties in our laps close to the bowl. We used our fingers and dipped a finger into the bowl of milk and put it in the kittens mouths. They sucked the fingers and slowly we kept moving the bowl closer and and even dunked their mouths into the bowl where their faces and whiskers got milky wet. so with the combination of our fingers and that putting their mouths forcefully into the bowl they started drinking from it. Hope this helps.
2006-06-25 14:08:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you pushed her face right into the bowl yet? It sounds cruel, but generaly it works.
2006-06-25 14:06:35 · answer #6 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, tuna!!!
2006-06-25 14:06:54 · answer #7 · answered by cosmosclara 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TUNA !!!!!!!!!
2006-06-25 14:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by pitterpatter47 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋