Expert: Carol - 6/29/2008

Question
I have a ten week old female kitten I rescued her at four weeks because her feral mother kept abandoning her. She was the runt. She still wants to drink from a bottle and will not drink water or milk from a saucer. How do I get her to drink from a saucer? She just started eating solid food a week ago without my feeding it to her by hand.

Answer
Claudia,

More than likely she is wants to keep drinking from the bottle because she needs the comfort and attention that she gets from you when you give her the bottle. A kitten that lost it's mother very young can have emotional problems as a result. So if the bottle makes her happy and content, and it's not too much trouble for you, then I would let her keep doing it for awhile. It will make her a better adjusted kitty.

Also she will drink when she is ready, and she's not ready. Don't try to force her or put her face into the saucer to drink. That will only make her fear it, plus she can inhale the liquid into her lungs. Touch some on your finger and put it on her mouth. Those are things that the mother cat teaches them when they can be with her for longer. Note: you should NOT be giving her regular milk! That is not good for her digestive system.

Carol