Helped feed a litter of kittens that my parents are raising up today. One of them spent as much time chewing on my finger as eating from the bottle. Dang thing just couldn't decide which tasted better.
olstar18 awww how adorable!! I fostered four baby kittens with their mother when they were 5 days old. They are still extremely cute at one and a hlaf years of age. So sweet. :)
Kitten Lady you shouldn't use warm water from the tap. Hot water sits in the tank and collects lead from the tank. You should always use cold water from the tap for anything that goes in to food for kittens or humans. They can get lead poisoning especially since this is given to them every few hours every day for weeks.
although this may differ from country to country, all modern "plumbing" equipment (don't know how else to call it) is lead free. the heating tanks, or boilers w/e, are made of stainless steel and other neutral/non-reacting materials. if there was lead in the tanks it wouldn't be safe to even shower with this water. more than that, different countries have different tap water qualities. in my country we drink and cook with tap water, while in some other EU countries that's a big NO-NO.
Or sometimes you get a kitten who is food-motivated enough to eat her mom's kibble at 4 1/2 weeks old... (She was literally standing IN the plate we'd put down for the momcat.)
Yep. I definitely had a foster kitten who fell asleep *in* the food bowl. I find that it helps if the mom is around because then the kittens will see their mother eating the food and will sample whatever she is eating. My fosters were probably 3 weeks old, and they were sampling the dry food that the adults were eating because they saw the adults eating it. Not that they made a meal of it, but they ate a few bites. Around 4-5 weeks, they are capable of making meals of wet food, and nursing becomes more of a comfort than actual nutrition; keeping them with their mother until 8 weeks whenever possible is a matter of socialization and not a need for her to nurse them.
You never know. My son heard a baby crying. He tracked down the cry. Newborn hours old. Covered in amniotic fluid full umbilical cord. No momma in sight. He brought to me. She is now 16 days old. Doing GREAT!!
Also don't panic about their poo during the weaning stages. It can change a little from when they were on formula to when they start slurry formula all the way to full soft kitten food. If they get an upset stomach (diarrhea or vomiting) then maybe slow the weaning down to extend whatever stage they're at till they adjust. Fostering kittens is just so rewarding when they thrive & go to good homes (plus all the purrs...)
Thank you so much. I don’t think I could have done this without you. I’m crying right now because all of my kittens are so healthy because of you. They are three weeks and three days and I’ve bottle fed them since they were 24 hours old. They’re 4 healthy boys, thank you so much Kitten Lady. My boys and I love you, and you have inspired me to be able to do this again, and again. You are a true hero. Much love. 🐱💕
I want to be just like you when I grow up I LOVE kittens/cats and I'd love to foster them and see them grow a little bit and have someone adopt them plus I'd get to have new kittens ALL the time
THANK YOU so much for all the informative videos! We just found a tiny kitten that was dumped out of a car in a shoe box :( she is safe now with us, I have honestly never seen or held a kitten that small (we think is about three weeks old) no idea what to do, but know thanks to your videos and information from other rescues online, we will try to get her happy, healthy, and in a forever home. Your message is inspiring thank you for all the work you do saving lives!
Thank you so much for rescuing the baby and keeping her safe. I am currently caring for a smol kitty as well. She’s a lot of work but she’s worth everything ❤️
Hi! Please know that I have been following your step by step videos since July 15 when my husband and I rescued a kitten with the umbilical cord still apparent. Without you, I don’t think Tigerito would have survived. I’m getting ready for weaning in a few days. You have given me confidence and direction. I owe my little kittens life to you and will be eternally grateful for sharing your knowledge.
Your videos have literally been lifesaving for our kitten. Born in our driveway, then abandoned by his mom, he survived overnight in 60 degree weather and foxes that roam our area. We've watched and learned from many of your videos and now he is turning five weeks old and starting the weaning process. After his rough start and numerous Vet visits to combat bowel infection, we named him Houdini. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for all the help. It's been a really scary experience raising my first neonate and I had to go off the book a bit. My little girl refused outright to eat with a bottle, she would only do the syringe, so I had to do a lot of small feedings a day and it's been exhausting. She's finally eating well. I've been so scared and anxious and I cried holding my little girl yesterday cause she just... helped me forget my depression, even for a little bit. And to see her flourishing from when I got her when she was so tiny... Just. I don't think I could have done it without your easy to understand and incredibly informative videos. Thank you thank you thank you
I have some left over slurry that my little guy didn't eat, do you think it would be ok in the fridge until his next feeding? Also, is heating it up a bad idea? Thanks so much!! Btw your vids are incredibly helpful and I'm glad you've dedicated your time to these amazing little creatures. :)
That should be fine. KMR has a shelf life of about 24 hours once it is reconstituted. You wouldn't want to leave it around for any serious length of time, but until later that day should be alright. Heating it would be good, just make sure that you don't over-heat it. Too cold is better than too hot.
I have a kitten at 8 weeks who has not been weaned (I just got her yesterday) Will this affect her developing or cause illness? I'm really worried for her because she is extremely small for an 8 week kitten. I took her to the vet the day I got her and they told me she was malnourished and had not been weaned, should I wean her the same way off of the formula she had been drinking and kitten food or should I do it differently becuase she's older Update: I tried to get her drinking slurrie but she puked after she drank it and I tried with a different kitten food but again she threw up again so I took her to the vet and she had a multiple parasites and is now being monitered there, Pray for little Layla ♥️
@@jaysrabbitholejaysonallen7989 no, her previous owner started weaning her at 8 weeks but she doesnt drink anything. She will only have a few sips of something and then walk away from it
Once they're confident with wet food, they can be introduced to dry as well -- but I do not recommend taking them off of wet. The wet food is really important for their little growing bodies! I'm making lots of videos over the coming months, and will keep that suggestion in mind!
You never need to transition them to dry food. In general, adult cats prefer wet food over dry. I had some fosters that started with dry food around 3 weeks (when they had canine teeth but no front teeth, which was hilarious in its own right). They weren't serious about it, but they were pecking at it because they saw the adults eating the dry food, and they were curious. You could try leaving dry food out for them to experiment with as long as they know that wet food will be available whenever they need it.
I agree. Even adult cats should get wet and dry food, and put multiple cat fountains or dishes in different rooms that they often hang out in so they have plenty of opportunities for hydration. Cats need lots of moisture.
I found a kitten last week that was about 4 weeks old. I have watched so many of these videos and they are so informative. My little guy is now litter box trained thanks to you. I was so worried how I was going to wean him and now I feel confident I can do this.
We have been feeding our 6 week old kittens wet, soft CAT food....... I don’t know if they are old enough. We don’t feed them formula or anything. we took two kittens away from there momma at about 6 weeks, and my grandma feeds all her cats hard food in the morning and half of soft cat food and leftovers from supper at night, and the kittens eat that....... plz tell me if it is too early to feed them soft cat food😬
technically they can be on cat food but its best to be on kitten food as its formulated to give them everything they need to grow and develop into cats
Thank you for making this video! One of our ferals that we brought in @ about 10 months got pregnant right before we brought them in. Everyone, as of tonight, is weaned, but one. Three of them started eating Momma's wet food w/ her in the crate (XL dog crate), about a week ago. Another that I think is the runt, Brice, she was still nursing, but would eat straight meat like chicken breast, fish & tuna. But, she wouldn't eat wet kitten food. Tonight, I noticed she's eating from the bowl, woohoo! Blossom, the first born, was born in the litterbox because we dk Turtle was even pregnant. She might have been the first born, but she's the most stubborn. She refuses to do nothing but nurse @ 11 weeks. Now, Turtle won't feed her @ all. Like I said, thank you so much! I was in need of some answers very quick!
Thank you 🙏❤️I found a box of kitten thrown on the side of the road and I saved them. They were probably about three week old. It’s Been hard work but well worth it for these precious babies your video has helped so much🥰✨I am starting the weaning process as I speak🥰❤️
I have two four week old kittens that I am fostering, I am giving them canned food but it is not the specific kitten food is that okay that its not the specific kitten labeled can?
How often should I feed them? My kittens are almost 6 weeks old, still have their mom. I didn’t realize I was supposed to mix the wet food with a liquid but 2/3 have been eating it. They do still eat from momma too. I’ve only been giving it to them once a day. Love your videos! Thank you!!
Hi! I have 4 kittens & a mama cat, they’re about to be 4 weeks tomorrow, what is that mesh thing in the back and where can I get one? Is it okay to put the kittens in there if I am trying to ween them off mamas milk?
You're my new superhero Kitten Lady! You're videos are so informative and easy to follow and you do such tremendously good job with the kittens.. really inspiring ❤️
My friend found this kitten on a rainy night so he took her and then contacted me asking if I wanted her, I am an animal lover and I'll do anything to save a life so I took her, her name is Lilith she's only 3 almost 4 weeks old and I need to take her to the vet but I'm currently unemployed so I don't have the extra money to pay for vet bills so I finally decided to make a go fund me for Lilith in hopes that there's people out there who would want to help save a life, so far nobody has donated which breaks my heart because I'm doing everything I can to try to get money put together for her vet bill, I'm selling stuff of Craigslist and nobody has contacted me. This is truly my last hope for this kitten. If you can please donate, help save this little baby's life. www.gofundme.com/HelpLilithLive
I looked at the website for donations and I will try to earn some pocket money to help you save Lilith. I love animals and will try my hardest to help out.🐈🐱
What's the ratio of milk to wet kitten food that you use when starting to wean? Is it half a bottle of milk (or approximately 30ml) to half a can? And does the blender bottle get all the clumps out? I have to use a hand blender or else the clumps will clog the nipple.
Thank you for this incredible tutorial. It worked. Two of my most stubborn kitties are starting to eat food. And it's only been 3 days. Thank you Soo much😄😄😄
hi! I watched this video after your "when can a kitten eat on her own" video. In the other video you said before 5 weeks is really too early to wean, but this video says 4-4.5 weeks is a good time to start?
The momcat my friends took in didn't seem to be in any hurry to wean her kittens. They watched her eat and got the idea. For a long time, they were eating food but also nursing. One of them she even let nurse until he was about six months old. By that time he was bigger than she was! But obviously he was getting most of his nutrition from regular food.
They encourage the kittens to eat meat while still nursing them. The kittens will try the meat, and as time passes, they will eat more and more meat, and drink less and less from their mommy, until they are completely weaned. That's how it works for all mammal predators.
I mix it in a little plug in personal smoothie mixer so it's really smooth. If you're having trouble with the nipple you can widen it. Just snip the nipple like make an x in it.
Just wanted you to know you've helped so much. 13 days ago I was in car pick up line at my son's school and it was 90° here. As I pulled off I saw what looked like a paralysed rat on the asphalt. It meowed. I jumped out and put her in the car (son held her) she was burned, dehydrated, burned and wouldn't have made it another 10 minutes if she didn't get ran over. We finally got her stabilized. I went and bought kitten formula. She looked to be maybe 6-9 days old. One eye barely open. She was a mess. I looked up kitten videos and you popped up. It's bc of you that I knew how to bottle feed her. I also ordered miracle nipple at your suggestion. Heating pad,pur comfort cat etc. I watched a few videos to see what to do. She's the smallest kitten I've raised. I have 5 other cats. We're also keeping her. She's doing so well. I wish I could show you pictures then and now. Her progression daily is on FB And.ig. @ssmithtiffany2008 if you want to look from the day we found her up until today. Her name is Mira. Pronounced M-EE-RA. Short for "miracle*. Also means *admirable*. She's one determined kitten. I did go back to look for her mom,no luck. I donated to your place. Thanks for all you do. 😻🐆🐈🐾🧡
I just started doing this today they are 4 1/2 weeks old, one of chewed off the tip of the bottle!! Calling the vet but no answer, has anyone been through this? Should I be super worried?
ok so I have 6 orphan kittens. They have been on your slurry a couple days. You are correct! my kittens have become crazy...savages lol. My kittens are half the size of your kittens at same age. I hope they thicken up soon. I totally am relieing on your videos. I have no clue. anyhow my kittens have clawed my hands up. I thought it was because they were cutting teeth.
I've done all this, and my 6-week-old girl will just chew the bottle but try to suckle the kitten food. She's hungry but won't eat anything unless I force it. She has been to the vet and my vet said to stop the formula altogether. Basically, let her figure it out, but she's losing weight and I am scared.
How much should you feed 4-5 week old weening kittens (with the momma cat still present)? I offer them the slurry in a shallow bowl and they love it, but I don’t know how much or how often I should be offering them the “slurry dish”
Something sad happened....(not related to weaning) Well i had HAD 2 kittens around 9 weeks old... It was 3am and 1 of them went outside(i dont know how)and a big tom(male 🐈) captured her and there was screeching and my dad went outside to check and he didnt find anything.... The next day..... We found nothing but her skeleton and ALOT of blood..... RIP stacy,nice knowing you😭
I have raised several litters of orphaned kittens. I've found that chicken baby food works well as a transition during weaning. Once they are about 3.5-4.0 weeks I'll start offering them some on a spoon at meal time. Once the accept the food on a spoon it winds up being a very quick transition to eating on their own out of a dish. With the litter I'm raising right now I'm using small dishes about 3" in diameter rather than using a bigger dish. I've found this helps keep them cleaner because they can't crawl inside the dish. It also allows me to separate them so one doesn't try to hog the food.
Thx so much! We have a kitty Minerva and she hated meat and she only drank the kitten milk.... now thanks to you she is eating the “hard” food with such joy! THX soo much!💕🐈🍼🥩
thanks thats very informative. just saved a 3 weeks old kitten and will proceed as you advise. I already know I will miss the bottle feeding though... :/
My cats are 2 years old and they still don't know how to use the litter or to not step in the food bowl they just like to step in the food bowl AND MY CATS ARE WAY WAY WAY to lazy to even go to the litter box so they just poop around the house
I love you so much! I found an abandoned kitten 2 weeks ago and your videos have been helping me raise her. She is a weakling, probably that's why left behind by the mom, but very playful. She's about to enter her week 4 in a couple of days. Will follow your guide to wean her. Thanks much! Xoxo..
My kittens (about 6 weeks) don’t purr! I spend tons of time with them, but they’re not purring. 🤔🤔 I know this video was from a long time ago, but I’m just scrolling through and watching random videos of yours.
This method works well. I been feeding him slurry for a few days but he still won't eat by himself. Today he found some butter my other cat ate on a small plate and started licking it, so I quickly replaced it with wet food and he ate the whole thing. I have to give you credit but the butter is the MVP, they can't say no to it.
My first attempt into slurry did not go to well. My bottle kept getting clogged. I ordered a blender bottle hopefully that will make this work better. Thanks for the video.
I found a 3 day old kitten back in the first week of April, and I've been watching your videos to help guide him through these early stages of life. Weaning took a little longer than I would've liked, but we are there now. There's a lot of diarrhea in my life right now, though, that stops right?
Whaa-boom! I found one of those springy wire balls two years ago in a park, and I kept it because is was cool but I didn't know what the heck it was. Now I know. What a weight off my shoulders! Thanks Kitten Lady!
My daughter brought home 6 kittens (around 4-5 wks old) and I am all alone to take care of them (I rather have my daughter focus on school instead and well, it's simpler that way...). I had to wake up in the middle of the night, but not anymore. I have started to wean them since they keep ripping the nipple of the bottle. So far so good, but as you mentioned, it is a really messy business. I put a puppy pad under their bowls (2 large and shallow bowls; they fight or else), but they always put their front paws in the bowl and sometimes they crawl across the bowl. Each time, I end up having to bathe (individually) 6 kittens without anyone's help. So here's my question: on average, how long does it take for them to stop crawling inside the food dish?
Your video gave me some hope. My kittens are 6 weeks old and have been drinking slurry from the bottle. They all have diarrhea. Weights are 15.3, 14.6, and a sad 10.4 ounces. They will not eat out of a dish if warm slurry made a little thicker like humus. I'm scared for the smallest named Sweetie Pue. I got them at day one after momma aband6them. I think shee was too young to know what to do. The babies were cold when I found them. So sad. I don't want to fail them.
I did the mixture of the formula and wet food but then my kitten started shaking right after, is that normal or should I wait a bit longer then try again
All the cat lovers comment me about his / her kitty . My kitty always go to poop after eating food. I HAVE TOTAL 3 CATS . And they always welcomes me when I come home after school. ☺☺☺☺
Hey! My kitten is about 3 months old, and I noticed the mom still allows the kitten to nurse. The kitten also eats kitten food. She is way too old for this. I’m not sure how to stop it for when I’m not home! Any suggestions?
Hello. Any advice on how to wean a baby orphan kitten? He's 5 week old. I tried gruel, mousse and dry cat food and every time he regurgitates. He can only accept milk formula, but he's always hungry. His brother and sister are eating mousse and dry food without problem now. Help!
I was in for a surprise when I started to wean my kitten this afternoon, I started by putting her kitten milk replacer (KMR) into a kitten food bowl. P.S I didn't make a slurry, just their actual milk. I was surprised because she only put her foot in it once ! Never again! Tomorrow I'm going to start to buy her tuna or food. Can you please recommend any brands for me? Thanks! I started to wean my kitten at three and a half weeks.
Do they still eat every 3, 4, 5 etc hours? I have a 6 week old kitten that I've had since day one (found him in my backyard, placenta still attached) and he's still only on formula every 4 hours because he's so small. But I bought everything he needs to start weaning.
Please can you advise me. We have a 4-5 week old kitten who weighs 500g. How much wet food or calories should he be eating per day? He has been having ~90ml of formula per day
Any suggestions on how to avoid diarrhea with a new diet? My fosters are about 5 1/2 weeks and I’m transitioning simply from Kmr to Kmr 2nd step with a 50/50 ratio and they’re having upset tummies. Im worried it’ll take a long time to wean to wet food.
