For the first 2 weeks, kittens live on only their mother's milk. By the time she is 6 weeks old, she is ready to wean and start eating solid foods. The weaning process lasts about 2 to 4 weeks so the kitten is no longer suckling after 8 to 10 weeks. To start introducing your kitten to solid food, you'll need to wait for him to stop feeding, then serve some wet food in the same room as the cat so he'll want to eat it.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Weaning Kittens from Mother's Milk
Step 1. Don't wean too soon
Kittens need high-nutrient milk from their mother to get to their ideal body weight for the first two to three weeks from birth. Forcing the weaning process too quickly is very dangerous for the cat and can anger the mother. The kitten's eyes will open and he can begin to stand up straight before the natural weaning process occurs.
If the cat's eyes are still closed and the animal can't stand up straight, it's best not to wean it yet
Step 2. Let the mother cat begin the weaning process
Kittens will be weaned naturally: when they reach 3 or 4 weeks of age, the mother will begin to push the baby to suckle. At this point, the kitten will start looking for other food sources and you can start feeding solids.
If the cat lives in the wild, at 3 to 4 weeks of age she will begin to eat birds, squirrels, and other animals that her mother gave her
Step 3. Allow the kitten to suckle every once in a while
Weaning is not a sudden process. Even if the kitten begins to wean in the third or fourth week, it will still need its mother's milk for the next 4 weeks. During weeks 5, 6, and 7, the kitten will get closer to the mother and begin to take the initiative to nurse on her own instead of waiting for the mother to approach.
- It's important to let the kitten begin to distance itself from the mother during the weaning process. This will encourage him to look for food sources other than the mother's milk.
- Between the third and eighth week, give the kitten a safe area to explore around your house or apartment – while keeping an eye on it – to satisfy the cat's natural curiosity.
Method 2 of 3: Choosing a Type of Solid Food for Kittens
Step 1. Start by giving a milk substitute
If you're concerned that your kitten isn't ready for solids, you can give a milk substitute just in case – this product is specially made to provide the nutrition your kitten needs. Mix milk substitutes with canned cat food, as these products can give your cat an upset stomach when eaten alone. You should serve a milk substitute at the time of feeding the mother. So, if your kitten usually feeds every two hours, you should serve the cat feed and milk replacement at equal intervals.
- You can buy milk substitutes at most pet stores and these products can be sold cheaply at your local convenience store. If you choose to buy one online, you can order a milk substitute (commonly referred to as a “kitten milk replacement”) from online stores such as PetCo and PetSmart.
- Do not give cow's milk. Cow's milk is less nutritious for kittens, and can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.
Step 2. Provide a special wet feed for kittens
There are many cat feed manufacturers that produce wet feed specifically for kittens to provide the nutrients needed by cats between 3 and 10 weeks of age. Feed packaging usually includes instructions on when to replace the feed with adult cat food.
- Wet feed for kittens is usually sold in the “Animal Feeds” section of shopping malls. If you're looking for more options or are looking for a specific brand of feed, look for the product at a pet supply store.
- If this is your first time introducing solid food to your kitten, talk to your vet for advice on nutritional intake and recommended feed brands.
Step 3. Moisturize dry feed before giving it to kittens
This method is usually effective for kittens who are starting to switch from wet to dry feed. You can give wet feed starting from the third and fourth week; from the fifth and sixth week, you can start giving dry feed that is slightly moistened. When you want to give dry food to kittens, first moisten the feed with a little water or a milk substitute. This will make the feed easier to chew and swallow for kittens who are not used to eating solid food.
Even if you introduce your kitten to hard food before giving it soft wet food, it is very important to serve dry food that is made especially for kittens
Method 3 of 3: Giving Solid Food to Kittens
Step 1. Place the wet feed in a shallow bowl or plate
To introduce solid food to your kitten, take a pinch of soft wet feed (or milk substitute) and place it on a small plate. Make sure you use a shallow plate so the kitten can access the food easily. The meal should be served at room temperature, but you can store the excess in the refrigerator. Do not serve hot food so as not to injure the cat.
To make the cat more independent, place the food plate away from its mother. Place a plate of food (and a bowl of water) some distance from the toilet bowl, as cats don't like to eat near their toilet
Step 2. Give one tablespoon of food
Although the kitten's appetite will continue to increase and his body will get bigger after stopping suckling, at first he will eat relatively small amounts. Take a tablespoon of wet feed (per cat) and place it on a plate; kittens are too small to eat more food than this.
By serving small amounts of feed, you can prevent your cat's food from being wasted after feeding. Kittens will usually step on their food too, so you should be prepared to throw it away
Step 3. Feed the kitten several times a day
Unlike adult cats, kittens need to eat more often during the day because they usually suckle from their mother. Since kittens will eat solid food at different times, you will need to serve it several times. Give your kitten wet feed 4 to 5 times a day. For example, give one scoop of wet feed to each cat at 8 a.m., 11 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.
As your kitten gets big and past 10 weeks of age, you can start to gradually reduce feeding times. Reduce the number to 4 times, then 3 times. When your kitten is between 4 and 6 months old, you can feed it once in the morning and once in the afternoon
Step 4. Offer the kitten solid food with your fingertips
If the kitten is hesitant to approach or doesn't know how to eat the food, poke it with the tip of your finger (or with the tip of a clean spoon) and give it to the cat. After sniffing it, the cat will start eating. Don't be surprised if your cat eats only a small amount of wet food.
When offering wet food, be careful not to force it into the kitten's mouth. This can make him afraid of food and feed can enter his nose. Simply position the tip of your finger (which is already poking at the feed) about 5 to 8 cm from the cat's nose and allow him to approach
Step 5. Feed each cat individually
Due to their different traits, some kittens will appear more daring, while others may appear timid. To ensure that all kittens are successfully weaned, you can give each cat a solid diet individually. You can do this by picking up one kitten and bringing it to a plate of food or sticking your finger out with a small amount of food at each kitten.
If some cats seem shy about approaching food, try opening their mouths slowly and rubbing a small amount of food onto their tongues. This allows the cat to taste the food, thereby increasing his appetite
Tips
- Just like cats in general, kittens sometimes have different tastes. Each kitten may have a different taste or will want to eat just about anything. Don't worry if your kitten's appetite changes every day.
- Be patient. This can take a while.
