Ive been hand rearing 5 baby kittens for 2 weeks now mum was taken to the vet due to ill health and it was because she was exhausted (now i no why)!! they have just turned 4 weeks and i have tried introducing solids 2 are very keen the other 3 are having none of it they prefer the bottle but if i put it on my finger they seem to want, they wont even lap out of a bowel yet.. also ive been stimulating them like mum would but when are they ready for the litter tray some have pooped in it but not weed in it. this is my first tme and rearing so all help greatly apreciated x
2007-10-24 19:35:24 · 9 answers · asked by CHARLENE T 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
It sounds like you are doing fine. Don't worry about the others not being ready yet. Some just take longer than others. Keep doing what you are doing. Also you might want to try baby food, chicken or turkey (with rice is fine), it's gentler on their tummies. Also if possible avoid fish at first. Fish is harder to digest. Keep up the good work!
If you have any questions feel free to drop me an email. I have hand raised many kittens in my day! Best wishes!
2007-10-24 19:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by Sniggle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you're doing great. Congratulations! As has been suggested, try some baby food, a chicken meat on(no veggies) is pretty irresistible to kittens or mix some formula in with the food to make a mushy gruel. Kittens learn from watching each other so make sure the 3 who aren't very keen on the canned food are watching when the other ones are eating it. Keep feeding them the bottle but they will be getting stronger and hungrier and wet food will get more interesting to them. When you put it out put it on a plate rather than a bowl. When you leave water in a bowl just put enough to cover the bottom of the bowl. This will get them drinking faster because they won't get scared if they put their faces in it and it goes in their noses.
2007-10-24 19:53:56 · answer #2 · answered by Windy City Kitty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your kittens should be weaned onto solid food around 5-6 weeks of age, up until this age they will still need the nutrients from milk to help them grow strong, Cimicat is a good form of powdered milk which is specially designed for kittens it has all the supplements that they need, have you tried rubbing a damp Cotton bud around there bottom areas to make them wee? The mum would normally lick them in that area to stimulate that action, Good Luck.
2007-10-24 21:36:40 · answer #3 · answered by aimee r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've raise many orphaned kittens and getting them to real food is a smart idea. Go to the grocery store and buy Gerbers baby lamb and/or Gerbers baby chicken. (Baby food section) They will gobble the stuff down like crazy. I usually put it on my finger and put it in their mouths then kinda lead them to a saucer with my finger. It is a horrible mess the first week or so, but then they get the hang of it. You will want to add just a touch (a few drops) of water to it to make it thinner in the beginning, before they drink water.
2007-10-24 19:40:36 · answer #4 · answered by CB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely understand, we just finished raising 6 kittens!
Your babies should be old enough to start eating foods, try mixing the solid food with milk and poke their noses in it and
make a litter box and keep it near them, they will use it
good luck with your babies
2007-10-24 19:44:07 · answer #5 · answered by Loollea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have done a great job! Don't worry, some develop slower than others. They will start eating when it is time. I'd say in 1 week they will all be eating soft canned food. As for peeing, you should still stimulate them, pooping happens earlier than peeing. I used to stimulate them for wee-wee and when they managed to pee on their own, I'd put them in the litterbox, to let them know this is where we pee. You will find out when they pee on their own, once you find pee in the litterbox and they don't pee when you rub them, because they have already peed!
2007-10-24 20:01:16 · answer #6 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All sounds normal...4 weeks is a bit early for solids so some not liking it is normal. Sounds like you are doing a really good job. Best wishes.
2007-10-24 19:39:12 · answer #7 · answered by heart o' gold 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try 2% milk warmed a little and mixed with sugar to get them to drink from a bowl, as for solids two weeks is pretty young for solids - the mom will often take solids away from them at this age because they want it but their little tummies can't handle it! good luck!
2007-10-25 15:02:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also think it's great that in many cases I'm using people's serious, even *life threatening* problems as a vehicle for this
2007-10-24 19:37:51 · answer #9 · answered by Carlos P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋