When To Wean Kittens From Milk

Around 5 weeks of age the kitten s premolars will begin to emerge indicating that she is likely ready to start trying out some meaty foods.

When to wean kittens from milk. Weaning is the process that a kitten goes through to switch from mother s milk to solid food. Weaning is the process of transitioning kittens from feeding on their mother s milk to solid food. Begin by offering milk replacer in a dish teaching the kitten how to lap from the dish. However some kittens may need a bit more time on the bottle due to health issues or differences in weight or size.

When the kittens are between 3 and 4 weeks of age it is time to begin the process of weaning them. If you are bottle feeding an orphaned kitten or one whose mother isn t able to feed her weaning can begin as early as three weeks. Before beginning the weaning process when it s at all possible kittens should be exposed to some mother s milk especially within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. For most kittens this process is usually completed when they reach eight to ten weeks old.

As the kitten slowly grows accustomed to eating gradually reduce the amount of milk replacer you use. Gradually transition to a gruel created by mixing a commercial milk replacer with high quality kitten food. This process usually begins when a kitten is around 4 weeks of age and it ends when he or she reaches the age of 8 to 10 weeks. This should be done when the kittens are around four to five weeks of age and ideally no sooner.

The first milk or colostrum contains antibodies that the kitten can only absorb during this time. A kitten 0 5 weeks old should be nursing or bottle feeding. The process of weaning usually starts when kittens are about three to four weeks old and takes two to three weeks to complete. By five to six weeks of age he should.

Once a kitten has opened its eyes is able to focus and can walk steadily you can begin the process. Generally orphaned or hand fed kittens can begin weaning slightly earlier at about three weeks of age but otherwise the process is essentially the same. If the kitten is orphaned weaning can be done before the cat gets to 1 month of age. I usually start weaning kittens by introducing my kittens to solids at about three to four weeks though i do not worry if they are not eating until about five or six weeks old.

It is time to teach the kittens to eat from a dish. The reason being just like with all mammals a mother s milk is very crucial in the kittens newborn stage. I often begin by offering milk replacer do not give cow s milk to kittens in a very shallow dish. Generally orphaned or hand fed kittens can begin weaning slightly earlier at about three weeks of age but otherwise the process is essentially the same.