They're 6 weeks old now, need more adivce.

I swear without you guys, especially gayef, I couldn't have done it this far LOL Thanks again, so here goes.
The kittens are doing great!!! Here are my questions..
1-When can I bathe the kittens, the wet cloth isn't cutting it anymore. They are crusty and nasty.
2-They are eating canned food like it's their last meal....they love it....when can i introduce dry food.
3-Can they spend overnight periods with my nutered adult males yet? They are still confined, but I'd love to have them out with the whole family.
4-Any other 6th week things I should be doing?

LOL, Amen to Gayef saving our lives. Mine are 4 weeks...and one kitten will eat dry food, while the other 4 wont eat anything but mom...LOL, do you have any advise to share with us?

Originally Posted by Kat_Boy

I swear without you guys, especially gayef, I couldn't have done it this far LOL Thanks again, so here goes.
The kittens are doing great!!! Here are my questions..
1-When can I bathe the kittens, the wet cloth isn't cutting it anymore. They are crusty and nasty.
2-They are eating canned food like it's their last meal....they love it....when can i introduce dry food.
3-Can they spend overnight periods with my nutered adult males yet? They are still confined, but I'd love to have them out with the whole family.
4-Any other 6th week things I should be doing?

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1. You sure can bath the kittens now Matt. We bath them anytime from about six weeks old.

2. We introduce dry food before canned food, because they do much better off dry food. So introuducing it now would be fine.

3. Not sure about this. I wouldn't leave six week old kittens with any older cat apart from their mother.

Hope this helps,

Sam

Bathing kittens: Comb them out gently first. Avoid getting water in their faces, or their ears. Expect them to fight the bath, so be prepared with using just a little bit of warm water in a basin. Make sure the room is warm.If it is a bathroom run the heater while bathing them. Take some dry towels and put them in the dryer on medium or low, and start them cycling. Take the shampoo (make sure it is safe shampoo) and dilute it with water- Johnson baby tearless shampoo is good. Rinse the kitten off well, only do one kitten at a time. Wrap up the kitty in the warmed towel, and sit down while you snuggle it against your chest- make sure you have the top opened a bit so the kitten can breathe. Rub the kitten dry, then get another warmed towel and wrap the kitten again this time sit there till the shivering subsides.

Matt, I don't like bathing kittens ... but that doesn't mean you can't do it if you feel it is completely necessary. I do like Hissy's idea of trying to comb them out a little first - try to get as much of the mess off of them that way first and see if the warm wet washcloth isn't still a good approach afterwards. If not, then Hissy has given you excellent advice about how to go about it.

I don't like dry food for growing kittens either, but again, your mileage may vary. I think that a good, high-quality kitten formula canned food is all they need along with fresh, clean water available at all times. I feed 4 to 6 times per day until they reach about 12 weeks. If you feel they aren't getting enough to eat, then you can supplement them with the dry food, but I don't like it as a staple, only as a weight-gaining aid.

As for other 6-week ideas ... TOYS, lots of TOYS! The more interactive with you, the better.

I bathed them in my bathroom sink, I used Paul Mitchell's baby don't cry shampoo...lol
Would you beleive that none of them fought with me, and actually purred while they sat in the water looking around???? LOL...I was shocked. They even let me use a blow dryer to dry them up good and fast. They look so cute now! Thanks guys

Originally Posted by Kat_Boy

I bathed them in my bathroom sink, I used Paul Mitchell's baby don't cry shampoo...lol
Would you beleive that none of them fought with me, and actually purred while they sat in the water looking around???? LOL...I was shocked. They even let me use a blow dryer to dry them up good and fast. They look so cute now! Thanks guys

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I have had to give my little guy a bath a couple of times. (skin problems, vets suggestion) and I saw on a websight to use a blow dryer if it does not scare them. My little guy loves baths now too and he loves the hair dryer. The warnings I got was don't use it on thier face or ears and don't hold it in one spot for long or it could burn him.

Yup, all the young kittens I have bathed purr their way through it as well! Glad they look and smell good now! How about some pics?

sounds adorable!!!

Everyone does things a little different. I don't usually bathe the kittens unless they get into something awful.If this is the case, make sure and use a shampoo made for kittens, towel dry and blow dry.
Our kittens always get dry food, they start to eat about 4 weeks, so introducing it now is just fine. Most people feed their cats dry food, so I like them to be eating it regularly when they go to their new homes at 3 months. If they show no interest in dry food, you can gradually mix it into the wet food. I happen to like Royal Canin Baby Cat. The kibbles are tiny, and it seems easiest for them.
I would not let the kittens play with any other cats until 2 to 3 weeks after their first vaccine. The earliest they should get their first feline distemper vaccine is 6 weeks, most wait and start them at 8 weeks. They should also be dewormed along with their first vaccine.