6 week old kitten won't eat real food

Hi all!  I found a small, abandoned kitten in my garage about 2 weeks ago, and have been bottle feeding her, and have added her as an addition in my home.  When I first found her, I did some research online to determine her age, and placed her at about 4-5 weeks old, as she had some teeth, eyes were open, ears up.  So I believe her to be roughly 6 or so weeks old now.  She eats formula via a bottle, several times per day.  She sleeps through the night, from about 9 pm until 6 am.  She uses the litter box, can run up and down the stairs (although she does trip every few stairs), and is very active.  My problem, is that she has zero interest in real food.  I bought some "Simply Nourish" Kitten food (hard and wet), and she's not even slightly interested.  I put formula in a dish for her, and she won't even go lap that up.  This morning I set out her dish, with water on one side, and a mix of formula and hard food in the other, and she walked over, drank some water, and then walked away.  So I know the little fart CAN lap it up, she just won't!  I know she will need to continue to drink formula until about 8 weeks, but it would be really nice to not be tied down to bottle feeding, because she gets very aggressive when she drinks out of it, plus it's just inconvenient to be tied to bottle feeding a kitten all morning, day, and night.  Any suggestions or thoughts are welcome!!  Included pictures, so you can tell me if you think I'm wrong about her age as well!

If the pics are from today, at least the second pic I dont think she is 6 weeks.  Sooner 5.

Anyways, its often difficult in the beginning to entice them.  Bottle babies tend to be a little later at this. They dont have momma nor littermates to take example from...

Minced meat is a classic to begin with - cow meat, NOT pigs.

Gerber baby food, the unflavored plain chicken or turkey variations is another favorite.

Have perhaps some on you fingers, and let her lick off...

The plate is shallow, right? so she easily can eat.  In the beginning she may even go through the food....

And yes, non clumping litter is a must.  Kittens may taste everything, and we dont want them to have clumping litter inside...

LipsyLou said:

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• lipsylou
• Nov 10, 2015

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• lipsylou
• Nov 10, 2015

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Thanks for your feedback.  She looks much younger in that second picture, because she tends to put her ears back when she eats.  

I have tried to food on my hands and putting to her mouth. I exchanged the brand of wet food today, for Royal Canin baby wet food that has Colostrum in it.  I will also stop and get some meat flavored baby food.

Make sure any human food has no onions or garlic! It is toxic to cats.

I would agree with Stefan - I don't think she is anywhere near 6 weeks. I would say 4-5 weeks, so it is not surprising she is not yet interested in solid food. Orphan kittens can sometimes be delayed in their development, as they have no-one to copy. I would just keep feeding her the formula - she is obviously thriving in your care, and offer her a little watered pureed food every few days, esprcially if she seems to be very hungry or is losing weight. Weigh her regualarly at this stage - it can be a key to knowing when she needs more food. Thank you for all you are doing for this little one.

You could try the formula poured over a little wet kitten food.  It looks horrid but the cats seem to like it.