Most adult female cats give birth to anywhere from one to eight kittens at a time and can have up to 100 kittens in their lifetime. The record for the most kittens born to an adult cat is 420, averaging 25 kittens per year. When kittens are born, they consume a special condensed milk called colostrum, which contains antibodies to help fight disease. If the mother cat—often referred to as the “queen”—has been vaccinated, her young will receive the same immunities through her milk until they are ready for their own vaccinations. The mother needs to allow her kittens to drink her milk for a certain period, usually a few weeks, to provide the nutrition they need to grow and build their immune systems.
Newborn kittens feed on their mother’s milk eagerly at every opportunity. After those few weeks, it can sometimes be a challenge to convince a kitten that it’s time to give up milk and start eating regular dry kitten food. Here are some tips for weaning kittens.
The mother will indicate that it’s time to start feeding the kittens solid food by becoming annoyed when they approach her, often hissing at them to go away. This is when it becomes necessary to take steps toward transitioning them to a diet of meats and dry cat food. They may seem lost, so it’s your responsibility to provide them with their new food source.
One challenge for some kittens is adjusting to an eating position where their heads are down. To address this, put some food on your finger and hold it slightly above their head level. Gradually lower your finger until it is at the same level as a food bowl. Soon, you should be able to encourage them to eat from a bowl placed in front of them. You can even do this “finger feeding” while they are still nursing from their mother, slowly introducing them to meat over milk.
Some very resistant kittens may cry and moan for their mother’s milk, even when it’s time to start eating regular food. To handle this, gradually introduce solid food into their diet. Start by mixing soft, meaty food with warm water to help them chew and digest it easily. The mushy consistency is closer to that of their mother’s milk, making the transition smoother for stubborn kittens. As they become accustomed to the new food, reduce the amount of water until they can eat it without any added liquid. You can also begin by placing formula in their bowl so they can get used to eating away from their mother before moving to solids. Kittens will quickly give up milk once they realize how tasty meat is; they are instinctual meat-eaters.
It is not recommended to give your kitten, or any cat for that matter, cow’s milk. Cow’s milk does not contain the same nutrients as a cat’s mother’s milk, and cats lack the enzymes needed to process and digest it. This can lead to stomach issues and, in some cases, diarrhea. When weaning kittens, you want to avoid creating digestive problems.
Once weaned, cats must be fed a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and calories. Most pet food companies offer products specially formulated to meet the needs of growing kittens. Therefore, cat food designed for “senior” cats will likely not provide the necessary nutrition for a kitten, and vice versa. Invest in high-quality kitten food that contains elevated levels of protein and fat for energy, along with fatty acids and extra vitamins and minerals for healthy teeth and bones. A couple of foods highly recommended by cat lovers are Nutro Natural Choice Kitten Food and Felidae Kitten Formula.
Many experts suggest that it is best to feed kittens wet food rather than dry food, as most dry food contains too many fillers that are not healthy for cats. Common fillers found in bags of dry cat food include corn gluten, poultry by-products, brewer’s rice, soybean meal, corn meal, and wheat gluten. Inexpensive dry food can lead to various health problems in cats, including diarrhea, urinary crystals, and even feline diabetes. Conversely, wet food is primarily made of meat, providing the natural proteins, vitamins, and minerals that kittens need to grow strong. Remember, cats are part of the same family as tigers, lions, and panthers—all of which are meat-eaters. You wouldn’t feed a tiger dry food daily, so why do it with a smaller version of this carnivorous animal? Cats thrive on meat because it offers the best nutrition for them.
If possible, avoid cat foods containing wheat gluten, a product that was at the center of a significant pet food recall. It was discovered that a specific source of wheat gluten was responsible for introducing contaminants into the pet food supply worldwide. While the issue is considered resolved, it is still safer to choose natural pet food products that do not contain this substance.
Weaning is a process that can take weeks to complete, but it can be done. You don’t want your three-month-old kitten still trying to nurse from its mother! (I sincerely doubt that the mother would allow this anyway.) So be proactive about transitioning kittens to solid food when the time is right.
