Weaning Kittens From Bottle

The weaning process begins when kittens are around four weeks old.

Weaning kittens from bottle. This should be done no earlier than four weeks old and no later than 12 weeks and needs to be done slowly. Others may take longer without their mother to show them how to drink and eat from a bowl. Typically weaning a bottle fed kitten takes about two weeks. If your kitten is bottle fed the weaning process starts at 4 5 5 5 weeks of age and happens much more quickly than under a mother s care.

Here are few don ts when weaning a kitten. Here s what you need to know about weaning. If you are weaning a bottle fed kitten dip the nipple of the bottle or syringe eye dropper in the formula instead of using your finger. You can switch a kitten from kitten milk replacer to solid food over the course of about a week.

The entire process could take as little as a week or may even take a few weeks. Remember that you should never wean an unhealthy kitten. Repeat this until the kitten gets used to the taste. Dip your fingertip or the syringe or bottle the kitten is used to nursing from into the liquid let the kitten lick it then guide him by moving your finger down into the bowl.

Smear the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it off. The weaning process should be done gradually at a pace that is comfortable for the kitten. Always remember that each kitten is different and there is not an exact timetable for weaning. Monitor them so they don t lap too fast and never push their face into the bowl which could cause them to inhale the mixture and develop pneumonia.

Serve kitten milk replacer in a shallow bowl. Do not use cow s milk as this will cause stomach upset and diarrhea in some kittens. You should wean a kitten off of the bottle only when they are ready or show interest to be weaned off the bottle. Then you can introduce them to lapping from a bowl.

He may inhale the liquid and develop. Again no two kittens are the same so trying to get them to conform to a timetable is futile if they are not yet ready to be weaned. Do not be tempted to push his head into the bowl. After the kitten has gotten used to licking your finger direct him to the shallow bowl.

Weaning is the fun messy adventure of helping a kitten transition from nursing or bottle feeding to eating solid food on her own. Once they get used to the taste they ll seek it out elsewhere. For most kittens this process is usually completed when they reach eight to ten weeks old. Determine when to wean your kitten.

Weaning a young kitten from the bottle requires patience and persistence. This can cause the food to go up the kitten s nose resulting in health problems. How do i wean a kitten off of mother s milk or bottle feeding. Please do not push his nose into the bowl.

Some kittens may grasp the process quickly. Do not shove the kitten s nose into the food. Kitten weaning is something that does not have a set time frame.