Expert: Norman Auspitz - 1/21/2011

Question
QUESTION: My cats kittens turned 5 weeks old this past Sunday but my concern is that they havn't yet began to even nibble on solid food. I have kitten kibble always out which the mom eats so she has the right proteins ect. for when shes lactating.
I've tried to mix the kitten kibble with warm water so its soft and put a little on their lips to smashing the kitten kibble so its small so they could eat it. But so far nothing has worked.
What should I be doing? And should I be worried that they are on their 6th week and not eating solids yet?
(They took to the litter box just fine)

and,
I have a concern about the momma cat, every time me or my husband get out of the shower or are wearing shorts (our ankles/feed are exposed) she nips at our ankles and most times it starts out a soft bite and its like she's playing or fighting, we try and walk away and she runs at them and her biting gets pretty rough.
We've tried using a stern voice saying no and either giving her a little pop on the nose or trying to spray her with water.
Neither seems to faze her though. What should we do?

Please help,
Thanks!

ANSWER: Jackie,

Sooner or later they will eat solid food.  We have also found that a good meat baby food (only ingredients are strained meat and broth or gravy) is a great way to start to wean them.  It is easy to put some in their mouths and most kittens take to it after a couple of tries. It also helps to isolate the kittens from mama.  They really do not need milk any more and should be eating solid food. There is usually one kitten that is rather stubborn and takes an extra day or two to get the hang of eating the baby food.  After they are chowing down, on the baby food, you can mix a little bit of their normal food with the baby food and gradually use less and less baby food.

On the mama's nipping at your ankles, has this been happening all along or only since she had kittens?

Best regards... Norm.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Norm,

I bought and started feeding the kittens baby food (soley meat and broth/gravy) and they absolutly adore it! I'am not adding a little bit of dry kibble to the mix and they are taking to it well.
Now, I have to bring all five kittens into the bathroom and close the door to feed them in there because the mother cat will just eat it all so therefor i cannot just leave the soft food out for the kittens because the mother will eat it. What do I do in that situation? Or is that situation fine and i just have to feed them a certain number of times a day?
And the mother is still letting them feed off of her a few times throughout the day.

And we found the pregnant momma on the street and took her in two days before she had the kittens and even when she was pregnant if we had bare ankles she was at them.
Just yesterday I had on shorts and she went at my ankle so hard I was bleeding.
But if we're wearing long pants she doesnt do anything.

Thanks!

Answer
Jackie,

I would separate the kittens from mama now that they are well on their way to be weaned.  Her milk will not dry up as long as she lets them feed from her.  Meanwhile they can get their shots and be socialized to people while mama is not with them.  I would wait until they are better able to fare for themselves before feeding everyone together (when they are about 10 to 12 weeks of age).  By then, they are totally on the adult food and will be able to compete with mama for food!

Please let me know if there are further questions.

Best regards... Norm.