When w/mom stop nursing her kittens???

lunachic6997 · Jan 8, 2006

Hi all,

I have two precious kittens, 4 1/2 wks now. Everything I've read says that kittens this age should start getting introduced to kitten food and the mom would begin to wean them.

A couple of days ago, I thought the mom was beginning to wean them since she wasn't feeding them as often. I tried to introduce some food...one kitten ate 1/2 of it from a small bowl, the other ate only from my finger, mom finished the rest. Since then, the mom has been feeding them on her normal schedule. I've tried to put more food down, but mom keeps on eating it (she has plenty of food in a separate area of the hse which she eats and sometimes doesn't finish). No matter how much or often I put food down for the kittens, mom finishes it.

I've tried to introduce the litter box to them, but they think it's another play area. Last night, mom & the kittens climbed into our bed. I was awaken by a large wet spot!! One or both of the kittens had an accident. Since I don't want this to continue, how do I get them to go in their litter box??

Since the kittens were born, mom has always taken care of them...feeds, cleans, grooms...she even has help from the daddy, but she has never picked them up!! Aren't moms suppossed to pick up their kittens and even litter box train them??

Any advice who be helpful!!

Thanks much

tnr1 · Jan 8, 2006

Originally Posted by lunachic6997

Hi all,

I have two precious kittens, 4 1/2 wks now. Everything I've read says that kittens this age should start getting introduced to kitten food and the mom would begin to wean them.

A couple of days ago, I thought the mom was beginning to wean them since she wasn't feeding them as often. I tried to introduce some food...one kitten ate 1/2 of it from a small bowl, the other ate only from my finger, mom finished the rest. Since then, the mom has been feeding them on her normal schedule. I've tried to put more food down, but mom keeps on eating it (she has plenty of food in a separate area of the hse which she eats and sometimes doesn't finish). No matter how much or often I put food down for the kittens, mom finishes it.

I've tried to introduce the litter box to them, but they think it's another play area. Last night, mom & the kittens climbed into our bed. I was awaken by a large wet spot!! One or both of the kittens had an accident. Since I don't want this to continue, how do I get them to go in their litter box??

Since the kittens were born, mom has always taken care of them...feeds, cleans, grooms...she even has help from the daddy, but she has never picked them up!! Aren't moms suppossed to pick up their kittens and even litter box train them??

Any advice who be helpful!!

Thanks much

These kittens are still too young to grasp all the aspects of eating solid food and using the litterbox. If you are worried about accidents...then I would keep mom and kittens in a single room (ie: a bathroom) where it will be easier to clean up their accidents. The kittens will get the grasp of food and litterbox as they observe mom eating and using the litterbox (which is why I recommend keeping all of that in a single room). You may even want to provide both wet and dry food in seperate bowls so that the kittens can try the wet while mom is eating the dry and vise versa. I used the tops of xerox boxes (that I got from work) to use as little litterboxes. Also....I don't know if you are using clumping litter for mom...but it is not recommended for young kittens as they can develop issues when they digest it. I used Feline Pine with my foster mom and kittens.

Has the dad been neutered yet? I wouldn't allow dad cat anywhere near the mom cat until he has been neutered and she has been spayed.

Katie

lunachic6997 · Jan 8, 2006

Yes dad was neutered b/f the babies were born. Mom & babies are only in our bedroom & connecting bathroom.

Is it unusual for her not to pick up her kittens?? How w/they learn to use the litter box if she isn't picking them up??

tnr1 · Jan 8, 2006

Originally Posted by lunachic6997

Yes dad was neutered b/f the babies were born. Mom & babies are only in our bedroom & connecting bathroom.

Is it unusual for her not to pick up her kittens?? How w/they learn to use the litter box if she isn't picking them up??

If she feels they are in danger, she will pick them up.... but I don't think picking up the kittens to show them how to use the litterbox is part of her concerns. That is why I recommend keeping them in a single room where the litterbox is easily accessible. Also...most litterboxes are too tall for baby kittens...which is why I recommend using either small aluminum baking pans or xerox box tops. Also..they WILL have accidents while they learn that the litterbox is the appropriate place to do their business. Patience is the key.

BTW...thanks for neutering the dad.

Katie

lunachic6997 · Jan 8, 2006

Originally Posted by TNR1

If she feels they are in danger, she will pick them up.... but I don't think picking up the kittens to show them how to use the litterbox is part of her concerns. That is why I recommend keeping them in a single room where the litterbox is easily accessible. Also...most litterboxes are too tall for baby kittens...which is why I recommend using either small aluminum baking pans or xerox box tops. Also..they WILL have accidents while they learn that the litterbox is the appropriate place to do their business. Patience is the key.

BTW...thanks for neutering the dad.

Katie

Thanks Katie...I did get the smallest one I could find thinking that if it's ok for them to scale our bed and get out of their laundry basket, the litterbox wouldn't be a problem. I've already changed it to a baking pan.

Although I've never had this problem...I've heard so many horror stories about cats NOT going in their litter boxes that I didn't know if it started as kittens or dirty boxes. I was just surprised yesterday b/c mom & dad have been so good cleaning the babies.

Should I hold off on the kitten food for now?? The kittens are growing and seem to be just fine.

Thanks,
Tina

tnr1 · Jan 8, 2006

Originally Posted by lunachic6997

Thanks Katie...I did get the smallest one I could find thinking that if it's ok for them to scale our bed and get out of their laundry basket, the litterbox wouldn't be a problem. I've already changed it to a baking pan.

Although I've never had this problem...I've heard so many horror stories about cats NOT going in their litter boxes that I didn't know if it started as kittens or dirty boxes. I was just surprised yesterday b/c mom & dad have been so good cleaning the babies.

Should I hold off on the kitten food for now?? The kittens are growing and seem to be just fine.

Thanks,
Tina

Hey Tina....cats not going in litterboxes can have several reasons...both medical and behavioral. I don't think that it is at all connected to the learning process that your little ones are going through. But you may want to add a few more litterboxers to the mix to give them more options. Just like a toddler who is grasping the toilet for the first time, kittens simply need time to learn to use the litterbox regularly. I would still leave out kitten food....what they don't eat, mom will.

Katie

goldenkitty45 · Jan 9, 2006

Depends on the mother - some will wean early, some later - I start kittens on solid foods at 5 weeks and if they still nurse, doesn't matter. When mom gets tired of it, she will let the kittens know.

Try feeding the kits on a paper plate - I add warm water to canned food and make it soupy and then kinda push the kitten's face into the food (not the nose) and they lick it off. Might take several times to do this over several days but usually all kits are eating off the plate within 3-4 days - I don't care if mom eats the food with them.

And if the kits are with mom, they will copy her litter box habits - never had a problem of the kits not learning to use it when all together. I also confine the mother and kits to the bathroom until they learn what the litter box is for.

megmar6853 · Jan 17, 2006

Kittens need to nurse until they are 8 weeks old maybe longer. Let mom decide when they are ready to stop nursing. At four weeks I usually begin to feed my kittens Royal Canin Baby Cat 34. If they do not want to eat it solid add some water to it and it becomes soft, but DO NOT stop the kittens from nuring from mom. If they still reject Baby Cat 34 then get some high quality canned food and offer it to them. Do not get any food that says that the meats are by products.
In terms of the litter box, my females teach their kittens to use the litter box between 4 and 6 weeks old. Do not get clumping litter because they will try to eat it. Most Tidy Cat products are clumping litters.
Good luck with your little ones.

lunachic6997 · Jan 17, 2006

Thanks everyone for your advice!

The kittens are eating now and love it, although mom is still feeding them. Both mom & kits are confined to our bathroom, but w/run around our bedroom about an hour a day. One kit is completely litter boxed trained

while the other is still having a few accidents...but he was always a little slower then his brother

Thanks again

beckiboo · Jan 18, 2006

Also remember that the Momma is eating for the entire family, except for the little bit the kittens are beginning to eat. So if she eats everything you put out for her and the kittens, just give her more. It takes a lot of energy to produce enough milk for an entire active growing litter of kittens!

Glad they are learning about the litterbox!

julieh · Jan 27, 2006

Just thought I'd add that some cats don't want to stop nursing. When Tiger was 4 months old, I was fostering a momma cat who was nursing her kits and Tiger would get right in there with the babies. She "adopted" Tiger and would wash him and lay down so he could feed from her. He was almost as big as she was - he weighed about 6 lbs at the time... pigglet...

If she were still here, I'm sure he'd still be nursing !

The momma will make them stop once she's had enough by not laying down for them. Of course, then they try and nurse standing up !

Have fun with the kits !
Julie

When w/mom stop nursing her kittens???

lunachic6997

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tnr1

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megmar6853

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beckiboo

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