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How to get a kitten to actually eat solid foods

post #1 of 8
7/11/10 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
I have a kitten who is over 5 weeks. I've had him almost his entire life. The vets office called me and told me they had a baby kitten that needed nursed so I took him in. He will eat softened kitten food only if i put it in a bottle. I tried putting kitten milk in a bowl and sometimes he will suckle it up, but he gets it EVERYWHERE and mostly all over his face. He see's my other cats eat and he doesn't seem to care.. I've tried opening his mouth and showing him to eat, but nothing I try seems to work. He just suckles at his food. He should be eating on his own by now, and I even called the vet they said just keep feeding him. But I can't do this. I haven't gotten a full nights sleep in 5 weeks, because he wants fed every 4-5 hours. I am starting to get really stressed out, and I would appriciate anyone's help on this. I don't know what else to do! THANKS!
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post #2 of 8
7/11/10 at 3:48pm
Thread Starter 
sorry he is 6 1/2 weeks old today
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post #3 of 8
7/11/10 at 8:21pm
Well, goodness, at that age he should be eating canned food and even kibble with no trouble. Keep offering him canned food mixed with the kitten milk, and cut back on his bottle feedings. Once he gets a bit hungry he'll be more motivated to eat the solid food. He'll make a mess at first but that's the only way he'll learn. Keep a bowl of dry kitten food available as well. He might just play with the kibbles at first but he might nibble on one and decide he likes it.
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post #4 of 8
7/11/10 at 11:07pm
Some kittens just take awhile to catch on. At 6 weeks, this little one should still be with mom and she is the one who would wean him off her milk and on to solid food. Start him off with baby food, chicken or turkey. Put the food in the microwave for just a few seconds to warm it up and awaken the flavor. Take the kitty and place a dot of food on his chin. Put the rest of the warmed baby food in the jar lid for the baby food. Once he licks it off his chin, put a small amount on your finger, open his mouth gently and put the food on the roof of his mouth- then offer him the jar lid. he should eat and not get it all over himself.
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post #5 of 8
7/15/10 at 9:15am
i have had the same exact problem with my bottle babies and then i realized that they are use to having their food come from a bottle at shoulder height. They don't understand that they have to look down for their food. If you put some wet food on a small plate, take a small amount of food and put in the kittens mouth and once he starts to swallow/lick pick the plate up and put it right in front of his nose. Once he starts to lick the food, slowly lower the plate to the ground. You may have to do this numerous times but sooner or later he will get the hang of it. Thank god my last 2 bottle babies weaned themselves at 4 & 5 weeks old, they made life sooo easy on me. I also had 3 bottle babies that would not give up the bottle until 8 weeks old, uggg! Good Luck!
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post #6 of 8
7/15/10 at 12:28pm
I would not worry. I usually started canned food for my Rex kittens at 5 or 6 weeks old and mixed it with KMR and warm water and made a thick soup. I serve on a shallow plate and lined the kittens up.

At first I would put a little on my fingers and let them lick it off or push a bit in their mouths to get them used to it - but it still took them about a week to really get the hang of it.

And YES its messy - they needed to be wiped off after eating as food was all over them (face, chin and feet).

Don't feed out of the bottle any more - just put it on a plate.
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post #7 of 8
7/15/10 at 6:05pm
Luna has just this past week began to eat solid food and wean from the bottle.
You know how old she is?
EIGHT WEEKS!

I totally understand the tired nights and stress.
It is hard but it goes by quick.."This too shall soon pass "
I have two human kids so I knew what I was getting into and understand the sacrifices I was going to have to make with this orphaned kitten.
I am glad I made it and hung in there because of course the end result is such a sweet sweet lovable kitty!
We have no other cats, so I know you said you have cats, but just wanted to say it can happen without another cat to teach them.
I have used tuna but see from reading that is not the best, so I went to boiled hamburger.
Added a little of that to her Taste of the Wild Canned food (we tried EVO pate but she really wasn't diggin it as much as the ToW)
We are now waiting for her to get that she can snakc on her Orijen hard kibble all day but she just does not get it!
aaahhh!
Kittens!
to you for weaning to come soon
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post #8 of 8
7/23/10 at 1:22pm
I'm having the same issues with mine, but they have their mom to nurse off of. I am not worried yet, but I wish they'd at least try. Mom cat is wanting to spend more time away from them, and I have had a canned food mash available for the past week. I mix a small amount of KMR with warm water and canned food, and the mom has been eating this for over a week. The kittens have no interest at all.

They are just about 6 weeks old, and yes I know they are getting enough nutrition from nursing, but I'd like them to start the process of trying solid food. I have tried putting a dab on their mouths and they lick it off, but they walk away from the food dish each time. I have tried three different kinds of canned food, trying a super-premium food last night with still no luck.

I guess they'll get it as their Mom spends more time away and they begin to get hungrier. They are both using their low box of litter with no issues. As usual, the most stressful part of kitten raising...
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