i have three...4 week old Persian kittens,PLEASE help!?

Question

OK...before you all read me the RIOT ACT about how i should have FIXED my cat...she was being mistreated...so when she came to me,i thought of her as a gift!!!!had NO idea she was PREGNANT!!!sooooooo now i ask...how old do the kitty's have to be before i introduce them to wet food??? how about water? the MOM still feeds them...i just think they need more! thanx L

Answer 1

Well meaning, but inexperienced people can provide false information. The kittens can begin to eat on their own at about three to four weeks. This should be canned food or special kitten formula dry food moistened with water...NO MILK. Milk is not for the babies or the mother, it will give them all diarrhea. The kittens can dehydrate and die quickly from diarrhea at this age, and the mother needs all the liquid she can retain to produce enough milk. If you think they need more liquid than their mother is giving them, you can buy KMR at a pet supply store. It is a special formula meant to replace or supplement mother's milk.

They do tend to "complain" a lot when they are very small. This doesn't mean they are hungry. They are orienting to each other and their mother. They have to climb over one another to get to their nipple, and just when they are nice and comfy, Mom decides to wash them and wakes them up. Meowing kittens mean they are healthy. Do not worry, as long as they appear lively enough to complain and find their place at Mom's table.

During the first few weeks, they get a lot of immunities from their mother's milk. So, until they are three to four weeks old, it is best if they get it all from Mom, unless she stops nursing them. It is best to feed the Mom a kitten formula cat food both dry and wet while she is nursing. The kitten types of food contain extra nutrition that she will need to properly maintain herself and feed her kittens. Don't expect Mom to stay with them 24/7. She will begin leaving them to sleep a bit in between feedings. This is the way it is supposed to be. Gives the kids a chance to eat more at one feeding and gives Mom a much needed break. Give her lots of extra love when she comes out.

I've fostered countless abandoned kittens and pregnant mothers until their kittens are old enough for them all to go to new homes. If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me. You can do that by clicking on my name by my reply.

Answer 2

They could start about now if they want to - but I shouldn't force them. As Mom is still feeding them, you've no real worries at the moment.

I'd start feeding Mom in front of them & put down a little plate for them, sort of steer them towards it & see if they are interested. I always think that they watch their Mom & copy her.

When they do start taking little mouthfuls, you might find that you have to remove Mom from the room else she'll eat all the food before they get a chance to!

The first litter I ever had weaned themselves ... they just followed their Mum to the food bowl & tucked in ... it was wonderful however, I must admit that the second litter seemed to prefer suckling to eating real food & the process took a little longer.

This website gives really sensible advice - even though there is an annoying pop-up:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/weaning-kittens/page1.aspx

Good luck with the kittens!

Answer 3

you may also must positioned the kitten on a prime fiber nutrition, that is quite often advocated for cats with irritable bowel syndrome or different belly issues that factors diarrhea, Being 8 weeks ancient the kitten will have to be out of the dependancy of momma cat cleansing up after her. A vet appointment most often could no longer be a foul inspiration, she might get an intensive bodily and feature her stool checked for worms or parasites, this will also be the concern. Has the kittens nutrition converted from wherein you you purchased it , difference in diets can rationale diarrhea.

Answer 4

The best possible answer to the wet food problem has already been given, so I'll just open my big mouth and say that I'm sure that no one here could say anything bad about you; you saved the kitty, and gave her a home!

As to the kittens, think of them as a bonus.

I wish *I* had kittens in the house; my cats are all adults, and have stopped being amazed at their own tails, or jumping sideways, trying to make themselves look fearsome.

Answer 5

Its OK to ask that question. You can start to introduce kitten chow moistened with a little warm milk. Not too much milk though because it gives them diarrhea. It sounds like your cat is doing great at being a mom. Just keep them in a warm bed and feed the momma cat well, because she is eating for four of them. Remember to soften their food with water or milk, because they can't chew regular food yet. When their eyes open then it's time to introduce the new food, but they will continue to drink milk from their mother cat till there ready to be weaned and given away......Good Luck........

Answer 6

Introduction to watered down wet food can start soon I would say 5 or 6 weeks. not too much but give them the option. Don't feed them "Straight" wet food but water it down to a thin paste. If you start them on water make sure it is in a shallow dish so that none of the kittens drown. They will be on their way!

Answer 7

You should start you kittens on wet food when they are about 4 weeks old. Don't let them have their mothers milk. Also introduce them to bowls of milk. Then, switch to water about a week later when the cats are looking at you. Let them taste it. Then you leave them on water and give them hard food mixed with water.A little while later, make it plain hard food.
~*Alyssa*~