My kittens aren't interested in learning how to eat!?

Question

I have 6 kittens and they are 4 weeks and 1 day old. They are very uninterested in 'eating'. They are happy to drink their mothers milk and I have one who is bottle fed (formula) alongside his mothers milk as he is extremely small and was a very low birthweight.

I am mixing kitten loaf (not the chunks as the kitten chunks wont blend smooth enough, however the loaf goes very smooth) mixed with kitten milk and giving it to them 3 times a day but they don't really touch it. 2 of them show interest but i believe they are just sucking the milk out of it!

I put kitten milk down on a saucer and i have 3 kittens who will drink the milk- ie, they will lap the milk from the saucer, but the other 3 will not touch it (i have dipped it on their noses and paws to see if they will wash it off & get the taste but they wont!)

Is this 'normal' for their age? I had a kitten once who i was given at just 5 weeks old and he ate proper kitten food, chunky kind straight from pouches and even biscuits, just straight out of a bowl, no mixing it up or anything! I cannot imagine my kittens getting to that stage within a week!

I am extra concerned because the mother cat has begun to feed them infrequently and I feel they need to be getting food elsewhere as they cannot be getting enough from her anymore. She only feeds them for a few minutes 4 or 5 times in 24 hours.

thanks for any advice

Answer 1

Don't make the milk acsessible to them. they will learn how to eat if they are hungry if not see a vet

Answer 2

At that time, it's normal for them to still be drinking milk from their mother, but soon they should be eating real food.  Just keep putting real food down by them, and they'll figure it out when they think it's time.  Don't worry, they'll be fine!!

Answer 3

let them go another week or two and try again.

wet some dry food and leave close to the bed.  Mom will show them how to eat it..

good luck

AND MAKE SURE TO TAKE THE MOM IN AND HAVE HER SPAYED SO YOU WON'T HAVE ANY MORE LITTERS!

Answer 4

try switching the kat food. If that doesent work try to hide the mother when there hungry or whatever to see if they will eat. if not go to the vet

Answer 5

Yes, it's normal. They still prefer nursing. Mom cat will let them know when it's time to wean. In the mean time, take them to the saucer and just let them try. Don't offer them milk, only kitten formula and canned cat food.(no fish or organ meats)

Answer 6

Let their mother wean them on her own.  She knows best.  Keep offering them small amounts of the kitten food frequently, and be patient.

Answer 7

lol.  Yes, it is frustrating isn't it?  I've been fostering for many years, and it is so funny to watch kittens go from *OMG you are feeding me poison!* to *OMG that is SOO DELICIOUS!!*

at four weeks they are generally a little young for solid food anyway.  It is usually around five weeks.  I had one set that was fully into the sixth week before they realized food was a good thing.

You have a mom cat, so don't force the food on them.  When they are ready, they'll eat her food, and you'll know it, as they will be covered in it :)

as to mom not feeding as much - that is normal too.  Their bellies are getting bigger so they can go longer and longer between feedings.  Don't worry, they won't starve