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Cats/mum not feeding kittens

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Expert: - 2/2/2010


Question

hungry babies
my cat had her litter of kittens on january 11, they are 3 weeks old and just gotten their teeth. momma cat is not feeding, she will nurse for maybe 2 or 3 minutes then just leave. the thing that is worrying me is that i have another female cats who has pretty much started acting like momma. she tries to pick them up and move them from my living room to my bedroom ,tries to nurse them and cries bloody murder when the kittens are crying. i was planning to start trying kitten food around 4 weeks or so, but im wondering if i should start now. i work all day and cannot be home to start a proper feeding schedule for them if i need to bottle feed. i am also worried that the kittens have not been urinating or defecating with mums help. anything you can suggest or know that i should do please help...this is my second litter i have housed, but this is worrisome. thank you so much.

Answer
Kayla,

Yes, it is time to get them on solid food.  At 3 weeks of age, they can pee and poop in the litter pan (kitten sized), using whatever kind of litter you normally use as long as it is not self clumping!!!!!.

If they are eating 3 or 4 times a day, they will be OK. You can even leave mama in there with them, as she will still supplement them a little bit.

Please let me know if you have more questions.

Best regards... Norm.  

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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