The transition from formula to solid foods begins at about 3-4 weeks of age for orphaned kittens. But adjusting to solid foods can stress the kitten's digestive system. This video will guide caregivers through food selection and preparation, along with tips for handling the transition period. For more information about this and other videos about orphaned kitten care, please visit
I just got a five or six week old kitten. Do I need to go get some formula for him?
He’s gotten a really swollen tummy since we brought him home. He was a farm cat and was very skinny and was eating like crazy as soon as we provided him food. He didn’t poop after that first meal but pooped at his second one when we put him in the litter box. We’re trying to stimulate him to poop again because his tummy is pretty puffy still, but no luck so far.
A 5-6 week old kitten can eat on his own without formula. The swollen tummy could be from several things, a normal kitten tummy, gas and/or food building up in his system from diet change, it could be from parasites. Monitor his appetite and attitude – make sure he is happy & eating. Make sure he is warm. Growing kittens don’t always poop every day, they can skip a day, he should be able to poop on his own. I recommend taking him to a veterinarian for a check up and de-worming.
I started weaning my bottle feeders at 4 weeks old. I switched from formula to goats milk and used the goats milk in their bottles and also to soften/moisten the canned Wellness Chicken food.
I have 3 kittens, and only 1 of them shows an interest in eating any hard or canned food. I have tried rubbing a bit around the mouths of the other 2, but they don’t seem interested, and I am not sure what to do. The other kitten has been going to the food dish on it’s own for a few days now. Any suggestions?
PS Momma cat is with them
Neighbor found 3 abandoned kittens today less then a week old. They are in a box with food and water but will not eat or drink. Cat food was placed on a small dish but they will not eat it. This morning they were crying loudly but have gotten quiet and are not moving as much. Nobody has touched them since putting them in the box and the box is in a warm room. He does not know what to do. We saw videos about bottle feeding but he decided not to do that because he does not want to touch them. Nobody else does either and we are trying to find a way to make them eat the normal food.
Jack Ofalltrades at that age they can’t eat or drink anything but formula
I need to wein 4 kittens that are 4 weeks old and they wont even touch the food which i assume is normal for just the tart but i dont know how to show them that the food is food
+mypets101 Sometimes it is helpful to gently open their mouth and put the food in their mouth.
I have been bottle feeding 2 kittens since they were 24 hours old, abandoned by their momma. They are 4 weeks old and teething. They only want to chew on the nipples now, not drinking the formula much. I tried starting them on premium kitten canned food mixed with their formula, served warm. They are just not interested in it. I have managed to get them to lick a little bit off my finger. Im afraid they are not getting enough food and I dont know what else I can do to get them to take the food. They have no interest in the food when I put it in a small dish. Any suggestions?
Feed them a BigMac, kittens love mcdonalds.
do u have to give them food specified for weaning?or can u give them normal kitten food with formula
+bangtan boys Hi, kittens generally start weaning at 4 weeks of age. You can start adding a little wet kitten food in addition to milk formula (such as KMR powder). The amount you give is determined by the weight of the kitten Please take a look at the feeding chart here: http://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Orphaned%20Kittens%20Feeding%20Chart%20and%20Stomach%20Capacity%20Table.pdf
+Maddie’s Institute thanks:-)
definately helped me when I was in the process of weaning my wee one 3 months back. thanks!
My friend found this kitten on a rainy night so he took her and then contacted me asking if I wanted her, I am an animal lover and I’ll do anything to save a life so I took her, her name is Lilith she’s only 3 almost 4 weeks old and I need to take her to the vet but I’m currently unemployed so I don’t have the extra money to pay for vet bills so I finally decided to make a go fund me for Lilith in hopes that there’s people out there who would want to help save a life, so far nobody has donated which breaks my heart because I’m doing everything I can to try to get money put together for her vet bill, I’m selling stuff of Craigslist and nobody has contacted me. This is truly my last hope for this kitten. If you can please donate, help save this little baby’s life. http://www.gofundme.com/HelpLilithLive
Where could I get that green little square bowl like thing we see a kitten with white mittens grabbing onto?? Looks like a great option to have!
Hi Smiley, thanks for watching our video. We created it several years ago and can’t recall where we got the bowl, but you can do an online search. The important thing is that the bowl is stable enough so that it doesn’t tip over, and low enough for the kitten to reach the bottom of the bowl. Good luck and thanks for all you doing for the kittens!
Ok. I have tried this weaning process and the stubborn little beans are totally not interest. Any other suggestions. I think they’d rather starve. :/ I’m afraid to let them go too long without eating.
Hello Octocat – thank you for caring for the kittens! Perhaps they aren’t ready for wet food yet; how old are they? Try diluting the food and putting it in a saucer so it’s low enough for them to reach it. You may have to start with the bottle and then lead the kitten to the saucer. Also try changing the wet food – they may not like the way it smells.
I have a question I have a cat my girlfriend has one as well and just got a kitten the kitten was about 4 weeks when she got it it is now like 2 months the problem is it won’t stop weening from my cat but as my cat is not a mother she is getting nothing from her but the kitten constantly tries you can pull her her away and put he near the food dish and she will eat for a little then try to wean I instantly put her back at the food and she will eat a little more my cat just lets her do it but sometimes looks kinda mad flapping her tail around how do I get the kitten to stop its driving my girlfriend crazy and making her concerned by the way the two cats are both somewhere over a year old and as. I said the kitten is like. 2 months
Hello and thank you for watching our video. You may want to dilute the food you are giving the kitten. And you may want to try bottle feeding in addition to the wet food. The behavior of the momma cat is normal and the kitten will eventually wean. Please watch our other videos on caring for kittens: http://www.maddiesfund.org/orphaned-kitten-care-how-to.htm
Ok but my cat is not the kittens mom she has never had kittens and we were bottle feeding the little one thank you for the reply I will watch some more of your videos
why did u mention cow milk? Kittens shouldn’t be eating that??
Hello and thank you for watching and for your question. You are right, kittens after they are weaned are lactose intolerant, and cow’s milk has high levels of lactose. A cow-based formula though, like KMR, can be given to unweaned kittens as they can digest it.
Wellness Connect They should be eating goat milk or KMR
Help! My kitten is constipated and I am afraid he will get bloat and die. What can I do at home? The vet is too far away
Maddie’s Fund Education would it help to tell you he is about 6 weeks old? should i change his diet and give him more water?
Sam -Make sure the formula you are giving him is KMR or a replacement, and you might dilute it. Here are more articles for you
Stomach Capacity and Feeding Chart http://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Kitten%20Bottle%20Feeding%20and%20Stomach%20Capacity%20Chart.pdf
Milk replacement recipe: http://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Orphaned%20Kitten%20Emergency%20Milk%20Replacer%20Recipes.pdf
Maddie’s Fund Education We Dont have KMR in my country. I give him milk from my goat .
Milk replacement recipe: http://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Orphaned%20Kitten%20Emergency%20Milk%20Replacer%20Recipes.pdf
Maddie’s Fund Education Thank you so much for the recipe. Blessings to you!