When and How wean kittens

vanderlone

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
Los Angeles, CA
How do I transition kittens from nursing? I know I should do it around 8 weeks, but any details on how to do it would be appreciated. Thanks.
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
Basically just leave the kitten food you are feeding the mother in with the her and around 5 weeks or so she will start to show them how to eat. Please don't wait until 8 weeks. Mother should have access to the food all the time. So just put it in with her and keep it full and you shouldn't have to worry about a thing.

They need to stay with her until 10 weeks or 12 preferably. At some point they are going to need their vaccinations and the mother can be spayed around 8 weeks or as soon as the babies are fully weaned. Remember she can get pregnant again almost right after giving birth so keep her inside and away from intact males.
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by vanderlone

How do I transition kittens from nursing? I know I should do it around 8 weeks, but any details on how to do it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Vanderlone....the best thing to do is to make sure that mom is eating in the same room as where the kittens are. My foster kittens got really curious and started eating mom's wet kitten food around 5 weeks of age. They were completely weaned by 9 weeks of age.

Katie
 

tortiebaby

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
1,006
Purraise
3
Location
Illinois, USA
I have a 5 month old kitty that still tries to nurse from her mama. It's really annoying because whenever the mama is about dry I'll catch the kitty trying to nurse again. I hope you don't end up with this problem. It seems harsh, but after a while, don't let them nurse. If you see them nurseing, take them away from the mama. Otherwise she will never get to dry up.
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by TortieBaby

I have a 5 month old kitty that still tries to nurse from her mama. It's really annoying because whenever the mama is about dry I'll catch the kitty trying to nurse again. I hope you don't end up with this problem. It seems harsh, but after a while, don't let them nurse. If you see them nurseing, take them away from the mama. Otherwise she will never get to dry up.
You may want to provide your kitten with a snugglekitty:

http://www.lovemypet.com.au/mall/cat_kittenaids.asp

Katie
 

tortiebaby

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
1,006
Purraise
3
Location
Illinois, USA
The kittens live outside now. The mama got pregnant again and the babies died inside of her, she had surgery last Saturday and has been inside ever since. During her pregnancy she would beat up her first kitten. It was "tough love" and I guess she was telling them they need to quite nursing. Anyways, we asked them to fix her during the surgery so she will not have to go through that again, thank goodness! She loves her kittens again now, but I don't think I'll have to worry about them nursing anymore.
 

jen

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
8,501
Purraise
3,009
Location
Hudson, OH
I thihnk she means they are outdoor cats. I just hope all those babies are spayed or neutered now. Especially if they are 5 months old.
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by TortieBaby

The kittens live outside now. The mama got pregnant again and the babies died inside of her, she had surgery last Saturday and has been inside ever since. During her pregnancy she would beat up her first kitten. It was "tough love" and I guess she was telling them they need to quite nursing. Anyways, we asked them to fix her during the surgery so she will not have to go through that again, thank goodness! She loves her kittens again now, but I don't think I'll have to worry about them nursing anymore.
Tortiebaby...are the kittens fixed?? If not....at 5 months of age, they can become pregnant. If you cannot take care of these kittens...perhaps you can find them new homes. Most important will be for these kittens to be spayed/neutered so they cannot have kittens of their own.

Katie
 

xxpunkkittenxx

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
132
Purraise
1
Location
Hiding
That is right! even at a young age, males are capable of doing this, and females should be going into heat shortly! This would be very beneficial to the health of all of your cats!
 

tortiebaby

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
1,006
Purraise
3
Location
Illinois, USA
Don't worry. We live in the mountains. There are no male cats for probably 100 miles, plus we have 6 foot fence around the house. The kittens usually stay on the proch where I keep an eye on them. Also, I have 2 adult cats that live outdoors with them, one being an intact male who will guard his territory(and girls) with his life. He had been showing slight interest in them lately, but thankfully they have still been beating him up if he gets close. My hubby and I were talking the other day and decided that with his next paycheck we will get either the male or both females fixed, no buts about it.
 

tnr1

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
7,980
Purraise
13
Location
Northern Virginia
Originally Posted by TortieBaby

Don't worry. We live in the mountains. There are no male cats for probably 100 miles, plus we have 6 foot fence around the house. The kittens usually stay on the proch where I keep an eye on them. Also, I have 2 adult cats that live outdoors with them, one being an intact male who will guard his territory(and girls) with his life. He had been showing slight interest in them lately, but thankfully they have still been beating him up if he gets close. My hubby and I were talking the other day and decided that with his next paycheck we will get either the male or both females fixed, no buts about it.
Ok...but you do realize that males can still get a female cat pregnant for up to a month after his neuter. I have heard similiar stories from people who swore up/down/left/right that no cat could get to their intact cats...but a six foot fence is not going to deter a male and whether you "know" there are no cats are not...an intact female tends to draw intact males to them. My vote..get the females fixed first...then your male.

Katie
 

tortiebaby

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
1,006
Purraise
3
Location
Illinois, USA
I'm taking them to the humane society today. My hubby and I are moving and can't bring all of our animals with us so we are just keeping our "first" cats. the male and 2 females. One female is fixed, they other is strictly inside and not allowed near the male, which is an outdoor cat.
 
Top