Are you caring for a kitten that has been orphaned or hasn't been able to be fed by its mother? If so, you're probably wondering when you can start introducing more or less solid food, right? Bottle-feeding is a wonderful experience that allows you to create a very special bond with your little furry friend, but it's also very demanding. You have to keep a close eye on it and feed it every 3-4 hours depending on its age (the younger it is, the more frequently it will need to drink milk).
He's adorable and very, very sweet, but there comes a time when he needs to become a little more independent and take care of his basic needs. So, let's see when kittens can start eating dry food.
What does a newborn kitten have to eat?
From birth until three weeks of age, a kitten should feed exclusively on its mother's milk . If this isn't possible, either because the mother is absent or ill, the kitten should be given formula specifically for kittens, which is available at veterinary clinics and pet stores. Cow's milk should not be given, as it contains lactose, a sugar that can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Just in case we cannot find kitten milk, we will prepare this mixture for you:
- 250ml of whole milk without lactose.
- A raw egg yolk (without any white)
- A teaspoon of heavy cream
If we cannot get whole milk without lactose, we can mix the following:
- 150 ml of whole milk.
- 50 ml water
- 50 ml natural yogurt
- Raw egg yolk (without any white)
- A teaspoon of heavy cream
We stir everything well so that it is well mixed, we heat it a little so that it is warm (about 37ºC) and we give it to the puppy.
From weaning to solid feeding in kittens
Weaning a kitten is the transition from its mother's milk to solid food, a significant milestone for their development. Normally, the mother kitten handles the weaning process, but if she has difficulty producing milk or if the litter is orphaned, intervention is necessary to ensure the kittens' healthy growth. The following tips will help you make the process go smoothly.
Before weaning
Before weaning begins, it's important that the kittens have access to their mother's milk or colostrum, which contains important antibodies for their growth. If the mother cat can't produce enough milk, each kitten should receive some; it's better to receive a little than none. If the mother has mastitis, another nursing cat can be found to nurse the kittens, even if they aren't her own.
If there is no surrogate nursing mother, then you will need to use kitten formula with a bottle or syringe. They can be bottle-fed for three to four weeks (on demand), always using warm water in the bottle. You should test the formula beforehand by pouring some onto your arm to make sure it's not too hot and is at a comfortable temperature. Tasting it is also a good way to check that it hasn't gone sour. If you are using powdered formula, store the powder unmixed in the refrigerator . They can be fed on demand, both day and night.
Weaning
Weaning is usually finished around four weeks of age. Babies will start trying to eat solid food. When they begin to bite and chew the bottle, it means they are ready to start eating solid foods, although semi-solid foods are best at first.
How to wean kittens
To begin weaning a kitten, mix kitten food with formula so they recognize the taste . Dab the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it. Once they get used to the taste, they'll look for it elsewhere to eat.
Then, give them in a bowl and observe well so that they do not eat too quickly and do not push their little head into the bowl, allow them to do it for themselves. It will be between the fifth and the mushroom week when they can make a gradual transition to dry food. The feed should first be somewhat moistened in water and in the seventh and eighth week they should already eat solid food.
More on weaning kittens
When you wean a kitten on solid foods, it is necessary that the food she takes is specific for kittens. This type of diet has all the proteins, vitamins and everything necessary for them to grow strong and healthy.
Newly weaned kittens need to be kept warm, so it's important to put blankets where they sleep , and this is even more important if their mother isn't around. Heating pads or hot water bottles placed under the blankets or towels are a good option. This will give the kittens the warmth they need.
Remember that you shouldn't force the weaning process to start solid foods. It's a gradual process, and it's important to respect their pace. They just need a lot of patience, but also a lot of love.
When can you eat feed?
Once the kitten is 3-4 weeks old , it will start nibbling on the bottle, hands, and anything else it finds. This is the signal we've been waiting for to start introducing other types of food, as its milk teeth will have begun to erupt and it will be able to chew very soft foods , such as those in canned kitten food (wet food).
Since it's very likely he won't want to eat on his own, we'll take a small amount of food with a finger, open his mouth, and place it inside . Then, we'll close his mouth firmly but gently (we don't want to hurt him) until he swallows. Afterward, we'll bring him to the food dish, and instinctively, he'll most likely eat it on his own. If not, we could make a sort of gruel with wet food mixed with kitten milk and feed it to him with a bottle for a few days.
At two months old, you can give them kitten food , but since they won't have very strong teeth yet, you have to mix it with kitten milk or water.
Feeding tips for kittens
For optimal growth and development, your kitten needs high-quality, grain-free food (free of corn, oats, wheat, rice) and byproducts . Their bodies don't need these ingredients, and in fact, they can cause various short- and medium-term health problems, such as allergies or urinary tract infections. A kitten's health is very important. Its condition will depend heavily on its diet and the care it receives.
As his caregivers, we must be very attentive to him and provide him with all the care he needs . Whether the little one grows up happy and healthy, or… quite the opposite, depends on us. If we cannot take care of him, the best course of action is to find him a new home, ideally with the help of an animal shelter, who will find him a family that can be responsible for him until the end of his days.