Kitten won't drink water, only kitten milk

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iunaic

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I have a kitten who's about 7-8 weeks old. He eats Fancy Feast canned food with some Scientific Diet hard food mixed in. Sometimes i'll give him some kitten milk, but only because I'm worried he's not getting enough fluid. I leave water out, but he never drinks it. I understand that wet food usually provides enough fluid that a cat doesn't necessarily need to drink water, but I eventually want him to only be eating hard kitten food (before the end of the week). I really hate the canned stuff (it stinks) and I only have a couple cans left. 

Is there some way I can get him to start drinking water before he's eating only kitten food, or will I have to wait until after?
 
talkingpeanut

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He really needs the wet kitten food while he's growing, for the first year of his life or so. Dry kitten food just doesn't provide the same extent of nutrients. What kind of wet food are you feeding? Some are stinkier than others, but I'm sure you can find one that works.
 
Sarthur2

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Yes, he is very young and needs wet food 3-4 times daily for proper growth and nutrition right through his first year. He also needs kitten milk still for 12 weeks.

Is the dry food you are feeding him kitten chow? He needs access to that 24/7.

I find that young kittens are not interested in water until they are a few weeks older, but will drink it when ready.

Please don't rush him. He's still a baby with lots of growing to do! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 
howmany

howmany

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Hi I am pretty new on the site but have raised a number of kittens in the last few years; some of mine were taken from ferel mothers so they could be handled easier 4/5/8 weeks I really hate wet cat food too . I washed out a lot of large cans for recycling as a kid[emoji]128542[/emoji].I give wet three then 2 then once a day until they are about 12 weeks and have never used artifical cat milk ( neither has my vet suggested it) and I would of asummed it was just for kittens being hand raised from birth. I Do always leave quality kitten dry out 24 / 7 (the 4 week old already knew what kibbel was when he came to us?why I don't know? ) my now three years old who was four weeks is currently a 15 pound healthy cat with a need for grain free food, I am guessing from early weening but humans not breastfeed are at risk for IBS and colitis so why not cats formula won't help with that ; and I am laying on my bed with my just today neutered 8 month old a healthy glossy 9 pounds;
Like I said vets at my clinic were happy with my feeding plan.
Kitten pate is less stinky than fancy feast.
 
talkingpeanut

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howmany said:
Hi I am pretty new on the site but have raised a number of kittens in the last few years; some of mine were taken from ferel mothers so they could be handled easier 4/5/8 weeks I really hate wet cat food too . I washed out a lot of large cans for recycling as a kid[emoji]128542[/emoji].I give wet three then 2 then once a day until they are about 12 weeks and have never used artifical cat milk ( neither has my vet suggested it) and I would of asummed it was just for kittens being hand raised from birth. I Do always leave quality kitten dry out 24 / 7 (the 4 week old already knew what kibbel was when he came to us?why I don't know? ) my now three years old who was four weeks is currently a 15 pound healthy cat with a need for grain free food, I am guessing from early weening but humans not breastfeed are at risk for IBS and colitis so why not cats formula won't help with that ; and I am laying on my bed with my just today neutered 8 month old a healthy glossy 9 pounds;
Like I said vets at my clinic were happy with my feeding plan.
Kitten pate is less stinky than fancy feast.
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Some vets do agree with feeding dry, and some vets also still argue that it cleans teeth. Growing kittens really need the moisture and the nutrition density that wet food offers. I would actually argue that all cats should be fed wet food, but certainly at least until a year of age.

It's great that you leave kibble down all the time, but that should be in addition to wet food for kittens.
 
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howmany

howmany

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I might that those three and some of my other cats were/ are very fond of drinking from the ,well any tap.
 
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