I have recently adopted two kittens about 6 weeks old (That's what the lady I got them from said anyway). I'm still bottle feeding both of them the KMR formula but I am starting to feel like they are too old/big to be bottle feeding them. I have tried giving them wet food but they want nothing to do with it. I've also tried putting the formula into a small saucer so I could at least try to get them off the bottle but they both just end up chewing on the rim of the saucer like they would on the nipple of the bottle.. I don't want them to hurt their teeth so I went back to bottle feeding since that seems to be the only way to get them to eat !! Please help ! Any suggestions/information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you !
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Please help! Need some advice/suggestions for my kittens!
- Thread starter swilson56
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They are right at the age for weaning. Have you tried mixing the KMR with a wet pate kitten food to make a mush mixture. Put something on the floor and the food on a plate. they will be messing at first, walking through it and getting it all over their face. It takes time for the kittens to switch to wet food. If you are feeding dry, make sure the kibble is tiny, you can also mix this with some kmr to make it softer and easier to eat.
You could ask the lady to put them back with mom for a few more weeks until they are fully weaned.
You could ask the lady to put them back with mom for a few more weeks until they are fully weaned.
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Why were they given away so young? That's really early to be away from mom. Can you post some photos? Finding out how old they are is the first step here.
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The momma cat was refusing to feed them completely & so the lady was already bottle feeding them. Plus it was an accident that her cat had gotten pregnant in the first place so she really didn't want them & I have a feeling she didn't pay too much attention to them.. I was more than happy to take them & give them the proper care & a loving home (With me I mean).. They are very happy, playful & seem to be doing fine. Running, playing, eating(KMR formula) all the time, growing etc. But like I said they are still so attached to the bottle. I think it is because of the nipple maybe? The reason I think that is because when I'm laying down the girl kitten (Bella) will crawl up my chest to my shoulder, turn around & then tries going underneath my shirt & she starts freaking out & frantically searching for my nipple. Yes I will post pictures in just a few minutes. One sec...
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- #5
You can perhaps have some of the kitten food on your finger, and let the suckle it off your finger. So they will get a taste for the food...
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S swilson56 Here is an article with instructions how to post a picture.
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-add-an-image-to-your-forum-post
Start putting a little bit of meat baby food in their bottle. Just enough to put a meat taste in the milk. Then start mixing in more and more meat until it's more meat than milk. You might have to cut a larger hole in the nipple, if they haven't switched to a saucer by then. Keep offering food in a saucer, every day, before you give them their bottle. Also keep a little dry kibble out at all times. They need to get used to it before they'll feel safe enough to actually eat it, so lots of exposure, even if they aren't taking it yet.
Usually, with orphans, I let them have the bottle at least once a day until at least 10-12 weeks (or whenever they don't want it anymore). I feel like this helps keep them from having a suckling fixation later in life.
Usually, with orphans, I let them have the bottle at least once a day until at least 10-12 weeks (or whenever they don't want it anymore). I feel like this helps keep them from having a suckling fixation later in life.
I don't have any advice, just want to say welcome to TCS, & can't wait to see pictures! Bless you for taking in & caring for these sweet babies.
