3x 6 week old kittens

Hi,

Looking for a bit of advice. My cat has had 3 babies who are now 6 weeks old. I introduced them to some wet food a few days ago and they love it but obviously still going back to mum occasionally. Unfortunately mum cat has taken ill and is on antibiotics which obviously will effect the kittens when getting milk. At the vet, the vet said to try and wean them completely onto now in hope they don't get too much antibiotic in their systems and mum is also running out of milk now. When I asked her how much to give she said that they would eat what they wanted... Only the 2 females will move away even if there is still food left but little boy will eat and eat and even try and finish off his sisters food!! His tummy was SOLID yesterday! At the moment I am giving them about 3 meals a day and about 1/3 pouch each but I have also seen on the internet that should be about a tablespoon each time (4-5 meals). Can anyone let me know what is best and also would it be ok to introduce them to dry food at their age or is it likely to be too hard for them just now?

Another quick questions... Dad cat lives with us too (has since been neutered) and just over the past couple of days he will go to the kittens and lick them but then pin them down and bite them, then going back to licking them. Is this ok? I presume he is just playing but he looks ike he is being too rough :/

Thanks in advance for any advice... Any advice on litter training would be amazing too seeing as mum cat has left that to me! (She was taken away from her mum at 4 weeks and considering this she is a fantastic mum...  Just so far has never managed to pick up her babies correctly!)

x

Dads behavior is an essentially friendly, dominance thing. It doesnt looks nice, but is not so bad as it looks.   Probably good he does it.  If he feels sure they accept him as alpha, he will probably even help them some, being an adult example for them.   So, observe, but relax.

Re  dry food, you can begin with it.   Royal Canin is renown for its Baby dry food.   But observe, wet food is really better, so dont abandon it.

I mean, its good the kitten can eat both wet and dry.  You never know what their furever homes will give them.   Dry is also convenient to let our on nights, or when you arent home.

But have the wet as the base, and also recommend it to their new owners when the time comes.

Its true, they eat as much as they want.  If they get enough the only good way to know is to weight them.  But if you are used to them, you can get some idea by holding them in your hands...    If the gain or if they lose weight...

If they lose, you must perhaps even forcefeed them... At least for a couple of days.

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Good luck!