Supplemental feeding is recommended when the milk supply is inadequate. However, when the kittens have been orphaned or the queen is unable to feed them they will need total replacement feeding — see our information on hand rearing kittens.
Weaning the transition to solid food should begin at around three to four weeks of age. This can be stressful for the mother if done suddenly or too early, and can also be stressful for the kitten as it starts to eat new foods, explore its surroundings and begins to spend time apart from its mother and itslittermatess.
A slow steady weaning will lead to healthier kittens. Regular feeding times are recommended and are particularly useful as they enable you to see which kittens are eating well, and which may need further encouragement. Solid food can be introduced from around three to four weeks of age — special kitten food wet or dry food is always recommended as these have been specifically designed to meet the special nutritional demands of a young growing kitten.
If using dry food, although the kitten kibble is very small, it may be sensible to moisten this with some water or kitten milk before offering it to the kittens to begin with. Food should be offered on a very shallow saucer or plate so that the kittens can access it easily, and the kittens can be encouraged to eat by offering food on your finger or the tip of a small spoon.
Initially, only a very small amount should be given. The kittens will also tread on the food in the saucer so it should be changed frequently. Over just a few weeks, the kittens will gradually consume more of the kitten food and take less and less milk from the queen. Dog food and human baby food should never be fed to cats since they are deficient in a number of essential nutrients, and can be dangerous and in some cases — such as where onion powder is included — even toxic to cats.
Even proper adult cat food is inadequate for the nutritional demands of a growing kitten so only good quality kitten food should be offered and there is no need to supplement this with any human foods or other additives.
Most kittens are completely weaned by six to eight weeks of age and should be fed according to their needs following the recommendations of the food manufacturer as a guide. Most kittens fed ad lib will eat every few hours, and small frequent meals are preferred.
For a newly weaned kitten, if ad lib feeding is not used they should ideally be fed at least 4 times a day.
While kittens can be offered milk replacement or commercial cat milks as part of the weaning process, this is not necessary, as they will get all the nutrition they need from the queen and the kitten food. If the queen cannot produce sufficient milk for the kittens then supplementation with special milk replacer may be required and attempts can be made to wean the kittens slightly earlier.
A low-sided litter box tray should be provided from about three weeks after the kittens are born. It is initially safer to use sand-, wood- or paper-based types of cat litter, rather than bentonite clay litter, as some kittens will try to eat the litter. Silica gel litter should not be used for kittens under eight weeks of age. Many kittens learn litter box training simply by watching their mother. However, if they do not, then stand the kitten in the tray the best time is after sleeping or eating and use one of its forepaws to scratch at the litter.
This usually trains the kitten to perform as required. Leaving a small amount of soiled litter in the tray can act as a useful scent reminder. You can also cut down the sides of the sweater box if needed. Some cats may feel more secure in a litter box with a hood. This can also be helpful for cats who dig very enthusiastically as they cover things up. This may also work well for cats who stand on the edge of the box to urinate or defecate.
However, a hooded box can concentrate odor and should be cleaned daily. Some cats do not like hooded boxes because they cannot see if another cat is approaching or waiting outside the box.
Automatic self-cleaning litter boxes can save on clean-up time, but some models are noisy. Some cats seem to be bothered by the noise, some apparently are not. If you have several cats, you might want to provide several types of litter boxes and let your cats choose between them.
In general, cats seem to like a litter that has the consistency of beach sand or garden soil. They seem to prefer fine-textured litter such as the clumping type to more coarse litter, and unscented litter to scented. Two inches of litter in the box is usually sufficient. It generally works better to use less litter and change it more frequently. If you're not sure what type of litter to use, put several types out, including clumping and non-clumping, and see which your cats prefer.
Cats are extremely clean creatures, and they may avoid a litter box that is not cleaned often enough. Scoop the litter boxes at least once daily. Wash the litter box and change the litter completely once a week. Do not clean the box with a strong smelling disinfectant, but rinse the box well after washing it. Any accidents should be cleaned up with an enzymatic cleaner specifically made for pet stains, including cat urine.
Regular cleaners may mask the odor so that we can't smell it, but to a cat's superior sense of smell, the odor will still be discernible, and can prompt a cat to continue to use that area as the bathroom. How do I potty train my kitten? How often should I change my cat litter? Cats prefer clean litter boxes, so scoop at least once daily and change the litter weekly. The box should be emptied and cleaned once monthly and every 6 months the litter box should be replaced.
Additional cleanings and maintenance can be helpful. What is the best cat litter box? There are many types of boxes available, and different cats have different preferences. Regardless of style, ensure the box is large enough for your cat and easily accessible. Why does my cat poop outside of the litter box? Typically inches will suffice, but not everyone has a ruler on hand when filling the box.
And how much cat litter is just right? Take a good look the next time your cat uses the box. Your cat should look confident and steady. This can be especially problematic for older cats or cats with physical challenges. Curious about how many kittens a cat can have? First things first!
Kitten season is a term that describes the warmer months of the year, when cats typically mate and give birth. For example, first-time cat moms often have just two or three kittens. Four were stillborn, and fourteen of the surviving kittens were male.
This partly explains why a litter of kittens can include babies in so many different colors as well as long and short hair lengths. Each kitten in a litter comes from a separate egg, and when cats mate, more eggs are released.
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