how do i make kittens eat dry food

vmf

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kittens are almost 2 month old but they refuse to eat dry food.
they eat cold cuts like turkey or roast beef and they eat cheese, they drink milk, they drink water and they eat cat treats but they refuse to eat regular cat food.
do i just starve them until they start eating it?
 

stormy

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Have you tried canned kitten food?
Different brands of kitten dry food?

Lunchmeat is really not good for cats. Too many additives and sodium.
Cows milk isn't good either, they are still young, try giving them cat milk or KMR would be a good supplement if they aren't eating well.
 

tourmaline

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I agree with Stormy. Plus they are not getting the essential nutrients that they should such as taurine etc. It may be the smell of the cold cuts they are attracted to so a stinky wet kitten food may do the job.
 

arlyn

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I'd say you have your work cut out for you.
By giving the kittens all of this 'kitty junkfood', you've essentially spoiled them to it. Like feeding a kid chips and candy.

Try getting a good quality wet kitten food and warming it slightly.
 

yosemite

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A wet food diet is better than a dry food diet so try to find a quality wet food (no by-products) for these babies. I only give about 1/2 - 1/3 cup dry food a day for both cats to share and mainly just so they have something to nibble on while we are away during the day. Deli ham is particularly bad for kitties. I was feeding Bijou some and he would beg for more but when I found out it was not good for him I stopped giving it to him.

As the other poster said - cow's milk is not good for kitties and can cause diarrhea.
 
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vmf

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i dont give them cow milk, only kmr milk or water, tried few different types of dry food as well as wet food.the mother cat starts eating it and kittens run to her, sniff the food but never eat. and then she starts feeding them.
 

sharky

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try different brands ... 8 weeks is a bit young to be away from mom cat... the kmr can be mixed with canned food ... I WOULD definately stay away from lunch meats ... if you feel they need dry you need to moisten it
 

stormy

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Originally Posted by vmf

i dont give them cow milk, only kmr milk or water, tried few different types of dry food as well as wet food.the mother cat starts eating it and kittens run to her, sniff the food but never eat. and then she starts feeding them.
Oh, that explains it! They like mama's milk too much!
Once they are weaned their eating should improve.
 

missymotus

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Try adding kmr to wet food to make it quite runny, then put it on a saucer with a low rim.
Missys kittens would walk through it and lick off their paws at first put soon got the idea.
 

semiferal

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Stop giving them the treats, "people food", and KMR. Give them just canned and dry kitten food and let them continue to nurse. As long as they're nursing they will get their basic nutrition, but Mom won't let them keep nursing forever. They will eat when they get hungry enough, as long as they are healthy.
 
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