questions about kitties

should kittens have water at 4 weeks? Should i switch them over to real food by now? They are healthy so far thank GOD, i wanna make sure they are as healthy as can be

well you really don't switch them to real food. you leave the kitten food out at all times for the mother and she will eventually show them how to eat and they will imitate her. eventually she will push them away. I mean you should also show them wet food and try to get them to switch, but usually the mother does it and remember weaning usually takes awhile. Some kittens will still nurse until they are like 10 weeks or so.

Oh and there should always be water left out for the mother and the kittens will follow her to it.

Originally Posted by Catnappin

should kittens have water at 4 weeks? Should i switch them over to real food by now? They are healthy so far thank GOD, i wanna make sure they are as healthy as can be

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Actually 4 weeks is a bit young for weaning. If they are still with their mom....they will start to get curious and begin to eat her food and start drinking her water. As Jen has stated, you should be providing mom with kitten food and with water right now. Don't rush these little ones.

Katie

ok so i feed the mom kitten food? when i said real food i meant kitten chow

Originally Posted by Catnappin

ok so i feed the mom kitten food? when i said real food i meant kitten chow

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Kitten chow isn't a very good kitten food....there are better brands that don't cost a lot more. Look for a kitten food that has chicken, beef, salmon, tuna, lamb or turkey as the first ingrediant. Many brands use either a grain or meat-by-product which I consider to be "fillers". Yes...you should be feeding kitten food to mom and make sure you provide her food and water in the same room as where you have the kittens...otherwise they won't learn from mom. Same for the litterbox...mom's box should be in the room.

Katie

My kittens had access to water and food while with mom (nursing). I've had them sample water at 3 weeks old just cause it was there. And if mom is fed in the same area, the kittens will copy her.

But I don't start feeding them kitten food and shredded chicken till they are about 6 weeks old - cause they are really not interested in it.

Yes the mother should have been eating kitten food, not adult food from the second you found out she was pregnant. She should have access to her kitten food (not chow, you need a much higher quality food) at all times and eventually the kittens will see what she does and sample it and eventually the mother will help wean them off of her but pushing them away. They should be with her until 12 weeks and still may occationally nurse until then.

Be sure to keep them all inside, especially the mother so she doesn't get pregnant again, until she is spayed that is. She can be spayed now so best not to put it off to long. She can get pregnant again almost right after this litter was born. Also, in 4 weeks the kittens can be spayed and neutered too so you can get them all done at once.