what do you think

I was looking for information on what I should feed my kittens when their momma starts to wean them, and I came across this website. I'm just wondering what you all think about this.
http://www.petcaretips.net/weaning_kitten.html

I VERY strongly do NOT agree with this! This could be said for dogs, but not for cats, IMO.

Kittens who are separated from their mother when older than seven
or eight weeks will have a harder time accepting the new family,
as they have become accustomed to their mother and siblings.

When I started my kittens on hard food, they sort of led the way for me. There were a couple getting into mom's kitten chow, so I mixed several plates of canned food and kitten chow for them to consume. (I had 8 kittens, so I went through about 9 cans of cat food a day, yikes!) I had some still nursing at 10 or 12 weeks - even one at 5 months old! IMO kittens should not go to homes anytime before 10 weeks!!!

Oh no no no no NO! Kittens need that extra time with Momma to learn the finer points of cat behavior! It is at 6 to 8 weeks and beyond that she will show them how to be loving, social, confident and trusting cats. Additionally, most kittens are only starting the first series of kitten vaccines at 6 or 7 weeks old - to move them away from their normal environment just as we cause the immune system to respond to the vaccines stresses an already overworking immune system and increases the chances of the kittens becoming ill once in the new environment.

Kittens need to stay with their mother if at all possible until they are no less than 10 to 12 weeks old, depending on individual kittens and the level of maturity, socialization and vaccine status.

I start the kittens on a mixture of soft canned kitten food for about a week - to get them used to eating solids. They like it soupy - its messy but they get the hang of it faster.

Then I start adding a little of the Iams kitten dry to the wet and gradually put more dry and less wet till they are eating the dry. For several weeks I still will add some warm water to the dry food and then just put dry for them to eat.

Never had a problem with kittens not eating doing it this way.

Also my rex kittens NEVER went to their new homes till 4 months old. And the mixed breed barn cats were around 10 - 12 weeks old. After weaning starts (at about 5 weeks) the kittens need to be with brother/sister to play and learn. They should also be exposed to dogs and other cats and any other animals you may have while you have them. Our lab babysat many litters and played with them in the house. She still chases them outside tho - under the cars to protect them...lol

Weaning is a natural process. It is not taking a kitten away before it is ready! Just make moist food available to your babies, either canned food or moisten the dry kitten food. Kitten food is good for the Mom, too, because she needs the extra calories. Some kittens are eating solid foods by 6 or 7 weeks, others just won't touch it! But as they grow, they all eventually eat the solid food and quit nursing. (Except Kluchetta's crazy baby-5 months ? That is one patient Momma! LOL!)

I foster kittens, and they always stay with their Mom for 8-10 weeks, and even if Mom leaves to be spayed and adopted out, the babies stay together! And if we end up with only one kitten, even if it is over 12 weeks, we do our best to put it in another foster home so it has other kittens to play with.

You can have people "pre-adopt" your kittens at 8 weeks, but let them know they will be little monsters unless they can stay with Mom for a few more weeks. Even if they are not purebred cats, often we suggest you charge enough to cover their initial shots and a little extra to go towards spaying the Mom cat.

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

... But as they grow, they all eventually eat the solid food and quit nursing. (Except Kluchetta's crazy baby-5 months

? That is one patient Momma! LOL!)...

Click to expand...

I should probably explain, that was the kitten we kept from our litter of 8. Elsa did get a bit weary of it eventually, but I think she knew he was special. It was our little Smudge and he died of FIP at about 6 months. I think she knew somehow, because she was always very patient, and washed him and took care of him up until the end. I'm sure that non-FIP kittens nurse too, so don't be too worried if your kitty nurses on and on, LOL!