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Introducing food to kittens

post #1 of 4
10/21/08 at 6:59am
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We have four kittens, and they're about a month old now. We know it's time to start introducing dry and/or wet food, but we honestly don't know how. Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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post #2 of 4
10/21/08 at 8:53am
I start them off with a good quality canned kitten food. Make it kinda soupy (not too thin) and add in KMR milk replacer. Then only work with a teaspoon or two of the mixture (depending on the # of kittens). Put it on a paper plate and take each kitten one at a time. Put a tiny amount of the mixture on your finger and gently push it into their mouth a little - not too far, but enough for them to start licking and hopefully swallow.

You may need to do this several times. Then put the kitten by the plate and do the same thing....finger first gradually to the edge of the plate. If the kitten catches on, they will start eating.

I try about 3 times a day for the first couple of days. Within a week they all should be eating on their own. They WILL get quite messy, so feed on a washable surface and the kittens may need to be cleaned off after eating for a time or two.

Once they are eating the canned food pretty good, then I add some dry crunches on top till they are used to some hard food too.
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post #3 of 4
10/21/08 at 9:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by casienjoy View Post
We have four kittens, and they're about a month old now. We know it's time to start introducing dry and/or wet food, but we honestly don't know how. Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I have always started kittens on food by getting a high quality kitten food ( wet or dry, but if dry make sure you moisten it completely with a kitten milk re-placer or water) I also add the kitten milk re-placer to soft to make a soupy mixture.I then let the kittens have at it! they WILL make a mess (it will be all over them) just watch to be sure they do not aspirate any (could result in pneumonia) also, be ready for their stool to change consistency (always a litter looser in the very beginning,due to their stomachs having to get used to it) watch out for bad diarrhea because kittens can get easily dehydrated.I would also consult with a vet just to be on the safe side.Good luck!
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post #4 of 4
10/21/08 at 10:02am
I was already feeding Goldy kitten food, so I just put an extra dish of the food close to the kittens' bed/basket once they started getting out on their own. I think they were about 3.5 weeks old. Momma cat ate most of it for the first week I think, but then the babies started eating it on their own. I never had to do anything special.

They wouldn't touch the wet food at first, even when I rubbed a little on their lips. Just backed away and went to find the source of real food (mom). When they were about 7 weeks old they suddenly started fighting for a place at mom's (or Shareena's or Miss Patchwillow's) dish. I had to find another large shallow pan so they could share the wet food. By that age they didn't have any problems getting the food and I've never had to clean up sloppy kitties or the floor.
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