Kittens feed on their mother’s milk for a certain amount of weeks after birth to get the proper nutrients necessary for growth and to move into the next stage of their lives. The mother’s milk is a special type of condensed milk called colostrum, which contains antibodies to help fight disease and is also very high in essential proteins.
The mothering process can sometimes be confusing for a human who has never owned a cat that has given birth. The average cat owner doesn’t know much about how cats communicate with each other, especially between a mother and her kittens. It is uncanny how a mother cat teaches her young basic principles such as how to use the litter box and how to clean themselves in such a short amount of time. One common question new kitten owners have is: when can kittens be weaned? Weaning is the process of transitioning kittens from their mother’s milk to solid foods. It’s a gradual process that requires some patience. Here are a few signs that it may be time to start adjusting your new kittens to a diet of dry cat food and meats.
Signs It’s Time to Start Weaning
Normally, kittens should begin the weaning process around four weeks of age. Experts recommend that you start by introducing solid foods into their diets, mixing soft meat with hot water to make it easier to chew. It’s important to never mix the food with cow’s milk—cow’s milk is not the same as cat’s milk and can actually make kittens sick. It’s difficult for kittens to digest, and it may cause digestive issues. At four weeks, the kittens will still likely feed from their mother, but by six weeks, they should begin eating soft meat without the hot water, and will consume even less milk from her. By eight weeks, they should be fully transitioned to solid foods with no assistance from their mother. If any kitten is still exclusively nursing at 10 weeks of age or older, they should be checked by a vet to ensure there is no underlying issue, as they may need an intensive training program to assist with their transition to solid foods.
When the Kittens Develop Teeth
Kittens need teeth to chew food, and at birth, they don’t have any. This is why they must suckle their mother’s milk. However, once you begin to see their teeth forming, they will soon be able to eat solid foods. At around four weeks, kittens begin to form their deciduous or “milk” teeth. By six weeks, they should have all 26 of their milk teeth. At 30 weeks, their deciduous teeth will fall out and be replaced by 30 permanent teeth. When you notice that their teeth are starting to mature, that’s a clear sign that it’s time to introduce solid food.
When Their Mother Gets Nasty
After several weeks of nursing, the mother may start getting a bit more irritable. She may swat at her kittens whenever they try to nurse. If they persist, she might allow them to nurse one more day, but the next day, it’s likely to be worse. Eventually, the mother will completely refuse to let them nurse. This is because 1) she knows it’s time for them to grow up and start looking for their own food, and 2) nursing has started to become painful for her.
So, a good answer to the question “When can kittens be weaned?” is: when their mother starts snapping at them. A little swat to the head will certainly signal to the kittens that they need to move on. The mother knows best—she’s guiding them to the next phase of their development.
When Their Mother Leaves
Kittens born outdoors are carefully guarded by their mother for the first few weeks of their lives. She places them in a secure location where they are hidden from humans and other potential predators. This is because she knows that, in time, they will need to become independent and face the outside world.
When the mother starts leaving the “nest” for longer periods, it’s a clear indication to the kittens that they need to start looking for their own food. Once they reach a certain age, they’ll begin exploring and searching for food other than their mother’s milk. A cat’s instincts are strong—they know they need protein. A lucky feral cat might find a family that will feed it daily, while others will roam the wilderness hunting for field mice, birds, and other prey. In this way, they learn how to hunt both through instinct and by watching their mother, who will likely still be involved in their lives. Feral cats often stick together in groups to find food.
