When Should My Kitten Start Eating Dry Food

As they grow used to eating solid food and their teeth continue to develop begin to mix in dry food softened with a bit of water.

When should my kitten start eating dry food. Kittens can begin eating solid food at around four weeks old. By the time kittens are 6 weeks old they will be ready to wean and starting eating some solid food. Don t use the cow s milk you drink or you ll likely end up with sick kittens on your hands. Kittens naturally wean off their mother s milk at around 8 12 weeks of age.

Breastfeeding a kitten lasts about 9 weeks and when their teeth begin to come in after about four weeks they can begin to eat food. Some larger breeds are recommended to be on growth diets for a longer period of time because they do not reach maturity until 18 months to 2 years of age. In general kittens reach this milestone at about 10 to 12 months of age. Proper feeding is a big part of the health equation.

Begin by feeding your kitten soft or wet canned food. With mom they ll start to try to eat her food and she ll push them away from her says benson. Buy this milk replacer at pet and farm supply stores and some grocery stores. The exception is for larger breed cats.

Basic kitten feeding guide. You want to do what you can to ensure that your adorable baby grows into a healthy adult. How long does it take to wean a kitten. Generally when a kitten s eyes are open and able to focus and he is steady on his feet the introduction of solid food can safely begin.

Normally the kitten weaning process begins at about four weeks of age. Kittens are essentially baby carnivores with specialised needs. After the first four weeks of mother s milk a kitten. When young cats are old enough around 8 weeks old they start to eat food on their own whilst simultaneously decreasing the amount of milk they suckle from their mother.

But if you re weaning a kitten that has been orphaned you can start a little earlier between three and four weeks. Make the transition easier by mixing it with kitten milk replacer. It is advisable to moisten it a little with water to make it easier to adapt to the process of chewing or add a bit of wet food pâté or pieces in sauce.