When To Wean Kittens Off Bottle

If you have been to my blog then you have seen my latest topic about newborn kittens.

When to wean kittens off bottle. If you are taking care of an orphaned or abandoned newborn feline you may be wondering how to wean a bottle fed kitten feeding the right formula and appropriate number of times a day is vital for newborn kittens but there comes a time when the kitten needs to eat independently. If your kitten is bottle fed the weaning process starts at 4 5 5 5 weeks of age and happens much more quickly than under a mother s care. There is a right and a wrong way to do it. How to wean kittens off of a bottle.

Remember that you should never wean an unhealthy kitten. Therefore the logical next step in kitten care in how to wean kittens off of the bottle and onto kitten food. If the weaning process is not done correctly it can cause health and emotional problems for the cat. Use your best judgement and follow the kitten s lead to determine the appropriate age to wean.

Properly weaning a kitten is not difficult. Prepare to continue bottle feeding kittens that have been bottle fed but always offer the bowl first. When they start biting and chewing on the bottle they re ready says benson. I have written post about caring for two through eight week old kittens and how to bottle feed kittens.

If you are weaning a bottle fed kitten dip the nipple of the bottle or syringe eye dropper in the formula instead of using your finger. You can switch a kitten from kitten milk replacer to solid food over the course of about a week. To teach your kittens how to lap from a bowl place some kitten replacement formula in a shallow feeding bowl. At this point you can start to introduce kitten food.

Do not use cow s milk as this will cause stomach upset and diarrhea in some kittens. Continued how do i wean a kitten off of mother s milk or bottle feeding. Make sure that the bowl is shallow enough for the kittens to reach. Smear the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it off.

How to wean kittens. Serve kitten milk replacer in a shallow bowl. As the kitten begins to grow questions about how to wean a bottle fed kitten will arise. To begin weaning a kitten mix the kitten food with formula so they recognize the taste.

Dip your fingertip or the syringe or bottle the kitten is used to nursing from into the liquid let the kitten lick it then guide him by moving your finger down into the bowl. Dip your finger into the formula and offer it to the kitten to lick it off. However some kittens may need a bit more time on the bottle due to health issues or differences in weight or size. Fill the kittens food bowl with kitten milk replacement.