When should i feed solid food

Fancy's Mom · 03-13-2007, 03:39 PM

Ok my cat had kittens about Feb 16..So they are almost 4 weeks old im guessing...We tried to keep her and the male seperated but guess he got her when we werent looking...We are going to nueter him as soon as we get some money up....So ok they are 2 days i guess shy of 4 weeks old..When should you start introducing solid foods to them...they have some teeth cause they been biting on my fingers...Its been so long since ive been around baby kittens that im dumb about them now...I will be keeping one as a barn/outside cat....She only had two kittens by the way, a male(keeping) and a female...

pasomystic · 03-13-2007, 03:51 PM

Kittens can be started on milk or water-soaked kitten food between 4 and 5 weeks--stimulate appetite by putting a bit in their mouths--and give them a small flat pan with soaked food the consistency of oatmeal to start. Mom will start getting fed up with nursing sharp teeth in the next few weeks and help the transistion, lol.

Fancy's Mom · 03-13-2007, 04:06 PM

Thanks...The whole time they were born she didnt stay with them much..even if they cried..this is her first and LAST litter....
ive mainly been there momma...lol....ok i will try that in a couple days...They will be about 4 weeks old in like 2-3 days.

farmergal · 03-13-2007, 08:25 PM

Take a cover from a jar and wash it well. Preferably not from a pickle jar. Kittens this age are unsteady on their feet and tend to be front heavy falling into a dish of milk. I like to use a cover because its flat, shallow and cheap. You can use kitten milk replacer or a home made concoction using canned milk and egg yolk. Be sure to wash the cover between feedings and feed every 4 hrs or 4 times a day. A schedule I use is 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm. Keep in mind cats are nibblers not gobblers like puppies. A tsp at a time at first helps to prevent them from sputtering. Allow them to drink as much as they want. If mom is still nursing they may not need much.

Around 5 wks of age you can start to add canned cat food to the diet (store left overs in frig and serve at room temp.) or presoaked dry food. (do not hold over any uneaten food.) When the kittens are six weeks old you can start to offer dry food but not their sole diet. Also have fresh water available at all times in addition to their milk.

Now is also a good time to start litter box training if you haven't started it yet.

I'd love to see pics.

Fancy's Mom · 03-14-2007, 03:08 PM

I soaked some cat food in some milk/water.....I smushed it up and they licked and bite my finger + food..LOL...they seemed to really like it...I will get some kitten food (probably soft food) and let them start trying that....

It was so cute watching them figure it out how to lick it off my fingers...
I will be keeping the male..He has the ok im here, im just gonna look around attitude , and the female has her mothers attitude...fiesty and obnoxious....

Male kitten
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...glady/male.jpg

female kitten(walking toward me)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ady/female.jpg

mom and dad as kittens
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...dadkiitens.jpg

farmergal · 03-14-2007, 05:55 PM

Well I can see where they get there good looks.

I remember tiny but I didn't remember how tiny those babies can be

Thanks for sharing the pics.
I'm glad to hear they are doing well.

Fancy's Mom · 03-14-2007, 11:06 PM

yes its been a loonnggg time since i had any baby animals around me...
I forgot how they grew up and what age they started eating but its coming back to me.....They are so adorable and are starting to romp around the bedroom....
I hate to dump the male outside after he has been born in the house but thats the only way i can keep him....errr i may just give him away too....but he is so darn cute and has a good calm attitude about him..

03-13-2007, 03:39 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	When should i feed solid food Ok my cat had kittens about Feb 16..So they are almost 4 weeks old im guessing...We tried to keep her and the male seperated but guess he got her when we werent looking...We are going to nueter him as soon as we get some money up....So ok they are 2 days i guess shy of 4 weeks old..When should you start introducing solid foods to them...they have some teeth cause they been biting on my fingers...Its been so long since ive been around baby kittens that im dumb about them now...I will be keeping one as a barn/outside cat....She only had two kittens by the way, a male(keeping) and a female... __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

03-13-2007, 03:51 PM
pasomystic Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,531	Kittens can be started on milk or water-soaked kitten food between 4 and 5 weeks--stimulate appetite by putting a bit in their mouths--and give them a small flat pan with soaked food the consistency of oatmeal to start. Mom will start getting fed up with nursing sharp teeth in the next few weeks and help the transistion, lol. __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.

03-13-2007, 04:06 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	Thanks...The whole time they were born she didnt stay with them much..even if they cried..this is her first and LAST litter.... ive mainly been there momma...lol....ok i will try that in a couple days...They will be about 4 weeks old in like 2-3 days. __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

03-13-2007, 08:25 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	Take a cover from a jar and wash it well. Preferably not from a pickle jar. Kittens this age are unsteady on their feet and tend to be front heavy falling into a dish of milk. I like to use a cover because its flat, shallow and cheap. You can use kitten milk replacer or a home made concoction using canned milk and egg yolk. Be sure to wash the cover between feedings and feed every 4 hrs or 4 times a day. A schedule I use is 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm. Keep in mind cats are nibblers not gobblers like puppies. A tsp at a time at first helps to prevent them from sputtering. Allow them to drink as much as they want. If mom is still nursing they may not need much. Around 5 wks of age you can start to add canned cat food to the diet (store left overs in frig and serve at room temp.) or presoaked dry food. (do not hold over any uneaten food.) When the kittens are six weeks old you can start to offer dry food but not their sole diet. Also have fresh water available at all times in addition to their milk. Now is also a good time to start litter box training if you haven't started it yet. I'd love to see pics. __________________

03-14-2007, 03:08 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	I soaked some cat food in some milk/water.....I smushed it up and they licked and bite my finger + food..LOL...they seemed to really like it...I will get some kitten food (probably soft food) and let them start trying that.... It was so cute watching them figure it out how to lick it off my fingers... I will be keeping the male..He has the ok im here, im just gonna look around attitude , and the female has her mothers attitude...fiesty and obnoxious.... Male kitten http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...glady/male.jpg female kitten(walking toward me) http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ady/female.jpg mom and dad as kittens http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...dadkiitens.jpg __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!

03-14-2007, 05:55 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	Well I can see where they get there good looks. I remember tiny but I didn't remember how tiny those babies can be Thanks for sharing the pics. I'm glad to hear they are doing well. __________________

03-14-2007, 11:06 PM
Fancy's Mom Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 1,466	yes its been a loonnggg time since i had any baby animals around me... I forgot how they grew up and what age they started eating but its coming back to me.....They are so adorable and are starting to romp around the bedroom.... I hate to dump the male outside after he has been born in the house but thats the only way i can keep him....errr i may just give him away too....but he is so darn cute and has a good calm attitude about him.. __________________ My horse is a reflection of me, wanna know me, talk to my horse!