#1
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When do I feed kittens dry food?
The kittens are four weeks old now and are getting into mom's dry food. They seem to have a hard time chewing it and I'm not even sure if they are actually eating it.
Should I look into getting them dry kitten food? Or is it still too soon for them? Right now I've gone to putting mom's food up high because I'm worried it will upset their stomachs. Also tghey are biting at everything they can get their paws on, is there anything I can get them to convince them not to bite me? They have several soft toys to play with and strings but they don't seem too interested in them.
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Owned by: Kane (Dog)- Age 3-ish Vega (Cat)- Age unknown, but is full grown Psycho 1 & 2 (Cockateels)- 4 years Scaredy & Vermillian- Couple months, Vega's first semi-feral batch. Owned by a litter of Kittens - 7 weeks: Kit- Male. Mine Oakley- Male. My brother's. Mittens- Female. Denali- Male. My brother's roommate. Spuffy- Female. JD- Male. Mine |
#2
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As for the biting, I trained Amber off it by simply removing my hand and giving her one of the toys in its place.
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"Evil Triumphs when good men do nothing." ~Edmund Burke "If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans" ~ James Herriot |
#3
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I agree about feeding them canned food rather than dry. Perhaps you can leave out a plate of canned kitten food and see if they start eating that instead?
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"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#4
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I took your advice and fed them a can of salmon that their mom has been eating all through pregnancy and after. They adored it! At first they were hestiant, but the two females attacked it voraciously and the rest of them finally gave in. They ate almost the entire can themselves, mom helped a bit though.
^^ Thanks for the advice. ^^
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Owned by: Kane (Dog)- Age 3-ish Vega (Cat)- Age unknown, but is full grown Psycho 1 & 2 (Cockateels)- 4 years Scaredy & Vermillian- Couple months, Vega's first semi-feral batch. Owned by a litter of Kittens - 7 weeks: Kit- Male. Mine Oakley- Male. My brother's. Mittens- Female. Denali- Male. My brother's roommate. Spuffy- Female. JD- Male. Mine |
#5
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The kittens should be eating a watered down, high quality kitten canned food. Wellness makes a tasty grain free canned for kittens. I started feeding them at 3.5 weeks as per the advice of my vet. They didn't eat much, but watched their momma wolf down most of their food. They learn from watching momma's actions.
I feed them 5 times a day, both momma and kittens. Momma will be wanting to start weaning them at about 5-6 weeks so they should be eating mostly canned food at that stage. My foster kittens are almost 10 weeks old and I am still watering down their canned, much easier for them to eat and it ensures they are getting enough to drink. Good luck and can you post some pictures? I do keep a small bowl of Wellness kitten kibble out for them during the day because I am work and don't want them to be hungry. Last edited by Love4himies; September 28th, 2007 at 08:33 AM. Reason: Additional comment |
#6
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They seem to be doing alright on the canned cat food I have them on. It's supposed to be for cats and kittens (Purina Friskies). I've been feeding them Catfish dinners and Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Dinners. They seem to pretty wet and have sauce on the bottom as well. The kittens don't seem to be having any trouble.
I've been watching their bowel movements and such. They whinned a bit the first few days, but seem to be going well. So I'm thinking I should keep going with this...Unless someone knows whether or not this isn't good for them? (Also no pictures of them eating food, but here's a few of them snoozing and chilling ^^ I intend to snap a few eating photos of them next time they eat. ^^)
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Owned by: Kane (Dog)- Age 3-ish Vega (Cat)- Age unknown, but is full grown Psycho 1 & 2 (Cockateels)- 4 years Scaredy & Vermillian- Couple months, Vega's first semi-feral batch. Owned by a litter of Kittens - 7 weeks: Kit- Male. Mine Oakley- Male. My brother's. Mittens- Female. Denali- Male. My brother's roommate. Spuffy- Female. JD- Male. Mine |
#7
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OMG,beautiful pics,beautiful kittens
What is going to happen to them as they grow? I hope they'll all be spayed/neutered and get good homes. As for the biting,that's what kittens do,they are not biting because they are agressive,they are biting because they are kittens. My hands are a road-map of tiny scars Try to avoid playing with them with your hands,it's hard,they are just soo cute,soft and cuddly. OOOPS,I read your signature and see you have homes for all the kittens..
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie Last edited by chico2; October 2nd, 2007 at 07:21 AM. |
#8
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Aww they are so sweet. I prefer a canned food that is grain free and no by products. My foster kittens are eating Felidae Cat and Kitten, canned, and Wellness Kitten, canned, and dry for snacking. They are currently 11 weeks.
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#9
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Very cute kittens. I don't know which one the last one is but that pic is adorable.
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#10
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#11
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Chico- Yeah. I'm super happy most of them will be around for me to watch them grow up. I let them nibble a little at my hands, but if they bite hard I pick them up and move them away. It seems to discourage some of them from all but nibbling at me (usually ^.-).
Grain free and no by products? I'm going to have to look into that. Rainbow- That's my Kit. ^^ He has a fascination with eating my blanket. Also for the moment they can't reach my desk so I have mom's dry food up there. Until I get a dry kitten food that mom and kids will like.
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Owned by: Kane (Dog)- Age 3-ish Vega (Cat)- Age unknown, but is full grown Psycho 1 & 2 (Cockateels)- 4 years Scaredy & Vermillian- Couple months, Vega's first semi-feral batch. Owned by a litter of Kittens - 7 weeks: Kit- Male. Mine Oakley- Male. My brother's. Mittens- Female. Denali- Male. My brother's roommate. Spuffy- Female. JD- Male. Mine |
#12
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On a side note, when I tried to water down the wet food the kittens snubbed it for a day. They refused to eat it that way. I'm going to go hunting for some grain-free, no-by product catfood because I'm just a wee worried. Usually they are fine, but now and then one of them will whine when going number two like it's painful. It's never the same one and doesn't happen regularly...
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Owned by: Kane (Dog)- Age 3-ish Vega (Cat)- Age unknown, but is full grown Psycho 1 & 2 (Cockateels)- 4 years Scaredy & Vermillian- Couple months, Vega's first semi-feral batch. Owned by a litter of Kittens - 7 weeks: Kit- Male. Mine Oakley- Male. My brother's. Mittens- Female. Denali- Male. My brother's roommate. Spuffy- Female. JD- Male. Mine |
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