My 8 week old kittens are REALLY big and are still nusing on the mama but we need to give away the mama soon. They eat some dry food, will my kittens be able to eat reglar when she's gone or will we need to get little bottles a nurse them with that?? Also, the Mama is very protictive of her kitties. Will she run away to get her cats and will we have a hard time geting her away from the kittens to give her away?? HELP ME!!
2006-07-27 07:05:48 · 21 answers · asked by Alexandria G 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Wait until they are weaned to take them away. I think you need to give it more time.
2006-07-27 07:07:43 · answer #1 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You definately should wait until they are weaned naturally. You can try giving them some kitten food with a little water mixed in to soften it. They may need a little help, but they catch on quick. Don't take mama away until they are not nursing anymore. They will get sick. You will know when its time because she will appear to have lost interest in them. If you must take her away, yes go to the pet store and get formula specifically for kittens, they should have a bottle suited for them too. Feed them hourly, and you should be fine. At 8 weeks, they are almost on their own anyway. Hopefully this helps. I just went through this a few months ago. Good luck!
2006-07-27 14:24:48 · answer #2 · answered by jagerchick80 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most kittens are given away when they are 6 weeks old. If they can eat some dry food then they are ready to wean. Some mother cats will nurse their kittens much longer, I had one that nursed hers for 5 years, but it is not necessary for their health. 8 weeks is a great age to wean, longer than most owners let them. They definitely do not need little bottles, but you might want to try adding a little water to the dry food, it can be pretty crunchy. Make sure you change any moistened food at least every 12 hours if not sooner as it will go bad quickly. If you are willing to keep the mom longer, she will naturally wean them when she is ready, and this would be best,but if you must get rid of her, they will be fine.
2006-07-27 14:17:51 · answer #3 · answered by ppqppq10 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may want to try adding a little canned food to the dry or breaking it up smaller in a food processor. Be sure that you do not use fish flavors as this can cause diarrhea in kittens but they should be eating on their own by eight weeks. Be sure and have mama spayed before you find a new home for her and find out when the kittens can be altered.
2006-08-03 00:52:55 · answer #4 · answered by pet matcher 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the mother should start to wean the kittens by now. you should try getting the kittens to eat more canned food. this is easier for them to chew and digest....i have 1 kitten left out of a litter of 4 that is 5 1/2 weeks old. he absolutely LOVES friskies canned cat food. it's for adults and kittens. i get the shredded or flaked...not the stuff that looks like pate. if they are just now 8 weeks old, they are just now old enough to give away. most mother cats don't run away to find their kittens, but if you're worried about it, you might keep an eye on her when you open the doors to your house. she can however go into heat again so that could be a problem.
2006-07-27 14:33:20 · answer #5 · answered by srevels2005 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even thought at that age kittens can eat normal food, you better wait one more month before you give mama away.
When they are 12 weeks mama sends them away by herself!
Now it will cause her a BIG stress - still have milk in her ****, miss her kittens + adjust to new envriroment. Is it really necessary to do it now???
2006-07-27 14:29:23 · answer #6 · answered by ttikki2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you wet the dry food?? The kitten won't have strong teeth to brake the dry food up, so put just a little warm water on the food to soften it! Wait to get rid of mom until the kittens are drinking less from her, or you will give your kittens issues! I know it sounds funny, but they need mom and her milk right now, at 8 weeks they should be ready to leave soon!
2006-07-27 14:11:02 · answer #7 · answered by Kelley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kittens are old enough for weening. They can eat Kitten Chow, or something similar. No the mother cat, most likely, won't run away to get her babies. No, you, most likely, won't have a hard time getting her away from her babies. However, she may act dysfunctional for a while in her new home, from the trauma of separation from her babies and separation of her only known, ?, home. With lots of love and attention from her new owners, she will turn out just fine.
2006-07-27 22:26:45 · answer #8 · answered by SHANNON G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kittens will nurse as long as the mom lets them. Momma will decide when they are done. To help them eat more solid food get some baby food-chicken is best as it's easy to digest. I have raised both puppies & kittens on meat baby food until their teeth are stronger. OR you can moisten kitten chow with warm water, but baby food is better. The smell is stronger.
2006-07-27 14:10:24 · answer #9 · answered by lovelee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I took my little one (Monster) from his Mom, an outdoor stray, at 5 weeks old, he ate soft food right away.
Are these indoor cats?
The mother cat might try to hide them.
But you are in a situation where mother cat should stay.
Take one away for a while and see how she reacts.
Try feeding now with soft food
Best of luck, Bob
2006-08-03 17:12:58 · answer #10 · answered by Binky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No after 5 wks the kittens should be able to eat on their own. Try feeding them the moist kitten food, it might be easier for them to ear rather then dry food.
2006-07-27 14:09:28 · answer #11 · answered by Summer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋