What Can a Kitten Drink?

Kittens are small and delicate, so it's no surprise that what goes inside of their growing bodies is so important. Until a kitten is old enough to begin weaning procedures, you don't have to worry about what he drinks. His mother's milk can manage all of his nutritional needs.

  1. Kittens and Weaning

    • Weaning generally takes place when kittens are 5 to 8 weeks in age, according to The Merck Manual for Pet Health. Until a tiny kitten starts on solid meals during weaning, he'll be too busy taking in mommy's milk to consume anything else -- which is totally healthy and appropriate. If a nursing mother or foster isn't around, commercial kitten milk from a pet supplies store is also very efficacious and nutritious.

    Drinking Water

    • Apart from "drinking" his mother's milk, a kitten can also begin drinking water once weaning starts. As soon as you begin offering the kitten solid foods, make sure that he always has a shallow bowl of fresh water easily and quickly accessible to him. Ensure that the bowl is steady on the ground so that the cutie doesn't accidentally push it over. Outside of water, kittens have no need for any other beverages at this point.

    Avoid Cow's Milk

    • Never, ever allow your kitten to drink milk that comes from a cow, whether before or after weaning. Not only is cow's milk unable to provide growing kittens with the appropriate nourishment they require, it can also trigger stomach upset and diarrhea. Cow's milk is also inappropriate for adult cats. Keep milk away from felines in general, whether they're youngsters, seniors or anywhere in between.

    Moistened Food and Water

    • Although clean water is always a must, canned food produced solely for kitten consumption is also beneficial for the little ones, especially if they're initially reluctant or confused about drinking. Commercial wet food made for kittens generally consists of a minimum of 75 percent water, according to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Felines that are a year old or less should only be taking in foods that are labeled as being for kittens and kittens only -- both canned and dry.