When To Wean Kittens Off Milk
I find that weaning kittens can be easy with some litters and much harder with others.
When to wean kittens off milk. If you are in charge of weaning an orphaned kitten please. The weaning process begins when kittens are around four weeks old. Generally orphaned or hand fed kittens can begin weaning slightly earlier at about three weeks of age but otherwise the process is essentially the same. The best time to start weaning your kitten is when it is 4 weeks i e.
Before beginning the weaning process when it s at all possible kittens should be exposed to some mother s milk especially within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. The first milk or colostrum contains antibodies that the kitten can only absorb during this time. I usually start weaning kittens by introducing my kittens to solids at about three to four weeks though i do not worry if they are not eating until about five or six weeks old. As much as possible they should exclusively rely on their mother s milk up until they are four weeks of age.
But the weaning period of your kitten usually lasts for about 6 to1 0 weeks. For most kittens this process is usually completed when they reach eight to ten weeks old. The process of weaning usually starts when kittens are about three to four weeks old and takes two to three weeks to complete. The weaning process also varies from kitten to kitten.
However some kittens may need a bit more time on the bottle due to health issues or differences in weight or size. Kittens derive important antibodies and nutrients from their mother s milk. You can also complete this process in your kitten when it becomes 8 to 10 weeks old. Begin by offering milk replacer in a dish teaching the kitten how to lap from the dish.
The weaning process normally begins when kittens are around four weeks old and is usually completed when they reach eight to ten weeks. You can however start weaning the kittens at three weeks if you sense they are ready. Around 5 weeks of age the kitten s premolars will begin to emerge indicating that she is likely ready to start trying out some meaty foods. A kitten 0 5 weeks old should be nursing or bottle feeding.