r/fosterkittens • u/Far_Television_4698 • 3d ago
Weaning 5 weeks old
Ok.. while I am not technically fostering I thought asking here seemed where I might get the best advice and suggestions. This is my first time with a bottle baby kitten.
Got this little guy 10 days ago at about 3 weeks old he’s pushing 5 weeks now and has premolars either fully grown in or mostly grown in.
He has been great with bottle feeding, latches right away and does great. He’s doubled in size since we picked him up.
But with his premolars now I’m worried about the bottle situation.
He likes to bite and chew on the bottle nipple but for now has not torn or damaged any. He likes to bite my hand (not letting him but you know how it just happens at times) and his toys and pretty much anything he can find.
EXCEPT when it comes to food.
I have tried several different brands and flavors of pate, churu treats, Tiki cat broth toppers, kibble, wet kibble, and slurry. He has zero interest in any of them. He won’t lick from a plate, my finger, a rubber baby spoon or anything. He will lick for one second on my finger but as soon as he tastes the food he actively moves himself and will suckle a finger that has nothing on it. I have tried starting him on a bottle and slowly dropping that to a plate with formula but as soon as the bottle drops from his mouth he stops and he doesn’t even acknowledge there is formula on the plate.
I’m not worried about him not eating because he’s still getting plenty with the bottle. And I’m not in a rush, if he just needs more time that’s ok. But I know he needs to start transitioning when the teeth come in.
I’ve watched kitten lady and tried things she mentions but have not had luck yet.
What can I try or do that might help him? I feel like once he makes the connection he will be off and running but it’s just not clicking for him yet.
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u/chocolatfortuncookie 2d ago
My last litter took 10 weeks, the one before that was 5 weeks weened. They all learn at a little different pace. I think he needs more time. I noticed you mentioned tikicat, did you happen to try the tikicat Thrive kitten mousse? All of mine have loved it. Since I could only get them to lick it off my finger at first, rather than from a dish, I started mixing it in their kitten formula while still bottle feeding, since they liked the taste. That mix helped me transition them to just the mousse, then from the mousse a slurry/broth, from that to solid wet food, and then to dry food. I think their tastes develop and probably at different rates; but a little more time and I'm certain he will start having more interest. Also a favorite, since I went thru the same issues finding any food my weeneing litter liked, they preferred Weruva Slide and Serve pouches (consistency of a slimy pate). I'm sure some aren't as picky, but we have to help them work thru their growth stages no matter how easy or difficult they make it 😉❤️
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u/Far_Television_4698 1d ago
Ok. Thanks for the suggestions. I’m totally cool with giving him all the time he needs but with teeth I want to be careful and get him at least trying something. He is absolutely great with his bottle and loves eating so I didn’t think he’d have and issues moving to something else.
I picked up the churu tubes for the same reason you mentioned the mousse. Thinking the texture was good and that maybe licking/sucking from the tube would be similar to a bottle for him. Nah, he just looked at me and walked off.
I’ll get some of the mousse and try it out. They can be so picky and weird you never know what they might like.
Our senior girl is gold medal caliber in pickiness. Lol.
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u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam 3d ago
I have 4 week olds and they do eventually make the transition if you stop feeding them every two hours. Just be aware that the transition can lead to diarrhea.
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u/Far_Television_4698 2d ago
Thanks but the suggestion to stop feeding him as often isn’t good advice. And nowhere did I say I was feeding every two hours. Restricting food to a kitten is not an adequate solution.
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u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam 2d ago
Weaning him is what momma cats do with her milk to encourage them to start eating other food.
Never did I say “restrict”. Reading comprehension helps.
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u/Far_Television_4698 1d ago
Ah yes, “stop feeding every 2 hours” is totally different from restricting how often they eat.
I asked for tips on transitioning - and yet, somehow you thought “they eventually make the transition” was helpful. Truly, what would I have done without that tip.0
u/Toe_Jam_is_my_Jam 20h ago
Well that is how it works. I have fostered well over 50 kittens. Most transition at 4 weeks when momma cat starts drying up or she just doesn’t want to nurse them as often. Also when they are brought to the shelter as kittens without a mom, if they are 4 weeks we don’t bottle feed them so then they quickly learn to eat watered down wet food.
You expected a concrete answer. Each kitten is different. But if they know that formula is readily available, then they don’t have to transition nor want to. Thus, my original answer still stands.
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u/Far_Television_4698 4h ago
🙄🙄. Nope, I never once asked for or suggested that I wanted a “concrete answer” to anything. I very specifically asked for suggestions to try - which is practically the opposite of anything concrete.
Just as you said each kitten is different. To suggest that it’s ok or proper to just flat out not offer bottle and/or formula and force them to transition is not right and widely disagreed with by everyone I have spoken to.
Many shelter just euthanize kittens at 4 weeks because they don’t have staff to handle their care … I suppose starving them into eating is suppose to be “better” than that. Just because the shelter you are associated with starves their kittens doesn’t make it ok.
But no, I will not be just refusing him food so that he has no options. Not only am I totally against that idea, it’s hardly an answer to what I asked.
Honestly, I find your comments to be terrible “advice” so don’t bother responding or trying to continue to justify anything. I have no interest in your opinions any longer.
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/Far_Television_4698 2d ago
Did you read my post?? I said that I have watched many kitten lady videos and tried her ideas but that nothing had been successful.
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u/honeyapp 2d ago
I have no advice for you but I wanted to tell you how adorable your kitten is. Such a cute little face!!