How to Wean a Kitten off Milk

Ideally, a mother cat will naturally wean her kitten at the right time. This is typically when the kitten develops teeth, which allow them to eat hard food and simultaneously makes it too painful for the mother to tolerate nursing. However, when we have to solely care for a kitten that's under eight weeks old, it is important to know when and how to wean them properly.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the age of the kitten. It is vital not to wean a kitten when they are too young: they should be at least four weeks old when the weaning process begins and around eight weeks old when the weaning is complete. If you are not certain of the kitten's age, make sure that its eyes are open and that it is capable of walking on its own.

    • 2

      Give the kitten a milk substitute. The kitten needs to learn how to lap up water and food. To accomplish this, alternate between giving the milk substitute from a bottle and placing it in a shallow bowl. Put a little of the liquid on your finger and encourage the kitten to lick it. Move your finger closer to the bowl and repeat this process until they are licking directly from the bowl. Continue this for one week.

    • 3

      Transition the kitten to more solid food. Mix dry kitten food (not cat food) with the milk substitute and allow the liquid to absorb into the food. Stir the mixture until all of the food is moist. Alternate bottle feedings with providing this mixture in a shallow bowl, in the same way that you encouraged the kitten to drink from the bowl. Continue this for one week.

    • 4

      Add less milk substitute, gradually, to the moistened food. Within about two weeks, the kitten should be capable of eating dry, solid food. Reduce the amount of bottle feedings and encourage them to only eat their food.

    • 5

      Stop feeding the kitten from the bottle. By this point, it should be around eight to 10 weeks old and capable of eating solid food and drinking water. If the kitten isn't developmentally ready to eat and drink on its own, continue softening its food for another week or until it demonstrates a clear ability to chew the hard food.