kittens

[claraman]

Hi all,

Our cat recently had 3 kittens. They're nearly 2 weeks old now. Does anybody know when i should start feeding them and what is the best thing to start them off on.

thanks in advance

[jules77]

Anytime from three weeks you can start to wean them onto kitten milk substitute and kitten food. They may suckle on mom up to around 6 to 7 weeks, but 80% of diet should be from their own food, and not mom.

[paraffin]

And make sure they get megaloads of tickles and cuddles.

[Kleiber]

Agreed, but they won't be ready to be separated from Mum till they're at least 6 weeks old, preferably 8. She will not only suckle till then (giving them invaluable immunity from all sorts of infections &c) but will teach them social and hunting skills. Have you decided what you're going to do with them? I once had 8 kittens (well, I didn't - a little stray whom I took in did!!) and it was a terrible wrench letting 6 of them go to new homes. I've still got Mum and her daughter (both now spayed), but sadly the little male cat I kept died last summer. Most of the other kittens are doing fine. Good luck!! K x

[claraman]

We'll probably keep one. Hopefully it wont be too difficult to find good homes for 2 of them. There's one male and 2 females so we'll probably keep one of the females (the only brindle one).

Like you Kleiber, the mother is a stray who turned up a few wks after our previous cat was killed by a car. She's far from being a stray now though as she loves to be inside curled up on the chair.

Both and mother and daughter will be getting spayed though as we dont want anymore unexpected litters.

[claraman]

Sorry that probably doesn't sound right!!

I meant to say "Like your situation, the mother is a stray......"
Sorry Kleiber.