How long should 3 wk old kittens spend nursing?

Question

was wondering how long they should be drinking from mummy cat for?

it has decreased a lot over the last few days, i find she goes into the bed (its a suitcase) for 1bout 15 minutes at a time to feed them and only goes in maybe 6 times in a day...she spends some time washing them too...is that ok? or not enough? should i encourage her to stay with them more? i find she will sleep just NEXT to the suitcase never far away but not WITH them like she used to...

Answer 1

Mom is starting the weaning process.  There might not be enough room for her to stretch out in the suitcase with all the babies in there also. But now you need to go get some formula for baby kittens.  Start out with mostly formula to which you have added a little bit of canned kitten food.Let them learn to start lapping.  Gradually, over the next couple of weeks , increase the canned food and decrease the formula until at 6 weeks they are only eating the canned food.  At this point you can start introducing a little bit of hard kitten food. This is all natural and not to be worried about. They are lucky little kids to have you to supplement their diet. If they were in the wild mom would start bringing back a little prey for them about now and she would ..don't get sick here stay with me. regurgitate it for them to eat.  But in a home she does not need to do that.

When the weaning is all over take Mom to be spayed please.  We have so many kittens out here that there are just not enough homes for all of them.  Please please spay her.