when to offer food to newborns

Our 6 kittens are three weeks old. When should we offer wet food. We bought a milk substitute that we mix with water, and they lap it up. Of course they are still nursing, but I tried grinding up dry kitten food and mixed it with water and the milk substitute, they would'nt touch it. Also, when can the mother be spayed? How old should the kittens be before spaying her?

If the mother cat is still nursing those kittens, then you should not be introducing solid foods till around 5-6 weeks old. As long as they are getting enough from her, they will be fine.

You can spay mom when she's done nursing the kittens, but keep her inside the house and watch her. She can go back into season when nursing. If the kittens are about 3 weeks now, then schedule the spay when they are about 8 weeks old.

Also, please plan on keeping everyone together (mom and siblings) till a minimum of 10-12 weeks old - they need to learn more then just eating solid food and using a litter pan. They will be more adjusted to a new home and learn important social/behavior skills the longer they are with mom.

I always just left the dry kitten food out that you are feedin the momma cat. Since it is available to her at all times, eventually when she is ready, she will show them how to eat it. I never bothered with wet food/mush/mashing up dry food, etc... and no one ever had any problems.