{"id":175441,"date":"2022-07-16T08:02:40","date_gmt":"2022-07-16T08:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/"},"modified":"2022-07-16T08:02:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-16T08:02:40","slug":"at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/","title":{"rendered":"At what age should kittens be weaned?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#At_what_age_should_kittens_be_weaned\" title=\"At what age should kittens be weaned?\">At what age should kittens be weaned?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_start_weaning_kittens\" title=\"How do you start weaning kittens?\">How do you start weaning kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_does_weaning_mean_for_cats\" title=\"What does weaning mean for cats?\">What does weaning mean for cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#When_cats_are_weaned_too_early\" title=\"When cats are weaned too early?\">When cats are weaned too early?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#When_can_kittens_leave_their_mamas\" title=\"When can kittens leave their mamas?\">When can kittens leave their mamas?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_does_a_mother_cat_wean_her_kittens\" title=\"How does a mother cat wean her kittens?\">How does a mother cat wean her kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#At_what_age_can_kittens_eat_dry_food\" title=\"At what age can kittens eat dry food?\">At what age can kittens eat dry food?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Can_4_week_old_kittens_eat_wet_food\" title=\"Can 4 week old kittens eat wet food?\">Can 4 week old kittens eat wet food?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_age_do_you_start_weaning_kittens\" title=\"What age do you start weaning kittens?\">What age do you start weaning kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_introduce_a_kitten_to_dry_food\" title=\"How do you introduce a kitten to dry food?\">How do you introduce a kitten to dry food?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_wean_a_4_week_old_kitten\" title=\"How do you wean a 4 week old kitten?\">How do you wean a 4 week old kitten?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_many_times_a_day_should_I_feed_weaning_kittens\" title=\"How many times a day should I feed weaning kittens?\">How many times a day should I feed weaning kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_is_the_weaning_period_for_cats\" title=\"What is the weaning period for cats?\">What is the weaning period for cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_tell_if_a_cat_is_weaned\" title=\"How do you tell if a cat is weaned?\">How do you tell if a cat is weaned?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_to_feed_a_kitten_that_was_weaned_too_early\" title=\"What to feed a kitten that was weaned too early?\">What to feed a kitten that was weaned too early?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Can_kittens_leave_mom_at_6_weeks\" title=\"Can kittens leave mom at 6 weeks?\">Can kittens leave mom at 6 weeks?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Is_7_weeks_too_early_to_get_a_kitten\" title=\"Is 7 weeks too early to get a kitten?\">Is 7 weeks too early to get a kitten?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_is_the_earliest_a_kitten_can_be_weaned\" title=\"What is the earliest a kitten can be weaned?\">What is the earliest a kitten can be weaned?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_know_when_kittens_are_ready_to_leave_their_mother\" title=\"How do you know when kittens are ready to leave their mother?\">How do you know when kittens are ready to leave their mother?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#What_happens_if_you_take_a_kitten_away_from_its_mother_too_early\" title=\"What happens if you take a kitten away from its mother too early?\">What happens if you take a kitten away from its mother too early?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Do_mother_cats_get_sad_when_their_kittens_are_taken_away\" title=\"Do mother cats get sad when their kittens are taken away?\">Do mother cats get sad when their kittens are taken away?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Can_a_4_week_old_kitten_survive_without_its_mother\" title=\"Can a 4 week old kitten survive without its mother?\">Can a 4 week old kitten survive without its mother?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#Will_a_mother_cat_wean_kittens_on_her_own\" title=\"Will a mother cat wean kittens on her own?\">Will a mother cat wean kittens on her own?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_does_a_cat_wean_her_kittens\" title=\"How does a cat wean her kittens?\">How does a cat wean her kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/at-what-age-should-kittens-be-weaned\/#How_do_you_know_when_kittens_are_weaned\" title=\"How do you know when kittens are weaned?\">How do you know when kittens are weaned?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_what_age_should_kittens_be_weaned\"><\/span>At what age should kittens be weaned?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>around three to four weeks<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_start_weaning_kittens\"><\/span>How do you start weaning kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kittens generally nibble solid foods at three to four weeks of age, which is a great time to start setting out moistened kitten food for them. Just <b>add one part warm &#8211; not hot &#8211; water to three parts dry or canned kitten food, changing frequently to ensure freshness.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_weaning_mean_for_cats\"><\/span>What does weaning mean for cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Weaning a kitten is <b>the process of transitioning the kitten from mother&#8217;s milk to solid food. It&#8217;s an important part of the kitten&#8217;s development, and needs to be done at the right time and in the right way.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_cats_are_weaned_too_early\"><\/span>When cats are weaned too early?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In laboratory animals, early weaning <b>increases the risk for aggression, anxiety, and stereotypic behaviour. However, very few studies have focused on early weaning in one of the world&#8217;s most popular pets, the domestic cat, although weaning soon after the critical period of socialisation is common practice.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_kittens_leave_their_mamas\"><\/span>When can kittens leave their mamas?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is a common misconception that kittens can be separated from their mothers as early as 8 weeks old. However, kittens separated at this time are still at risk for developmental, social, and health issues. Instead, kittens should remain with their mothers until they are <b>12-14 weeks old<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_a_mother_cat_wean_her_kittens\"><\/span>How does a mother cat wean her kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To begin the weaning process, start by <b>separating mother and kitten for a few hours at a time. This will gradually lessen the kitten&#8217;s dependence on their mother and her milk. Both mom and kitten should have their own special area, complete with a litter box, food, and water.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_what_age_can_kittens_eat_dry_food\"><\/span>At what age can kittens eat dry food?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kittens 5 to 6 weeks should be given kitten kibble and kibble should be mixed into the wet food. Kittens <b>7 weeks and older should eat mainly dry kibble.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_4_week_old_kittens_eat_wet_food\"><\/span>Can 4 week old kittens eat wet food?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Feeding. When kittens are four weeks old, it&#8217;s time to start getting serious about the weaning process! <b>Mix kitten formula with wet food and either let the kittens eat it themselves from a dish or feed them the mixture with a kitten-specific bottle. Gradually, adjust the mixture so it&#8217;s more wet food and less formula.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_age_do_you_start_weaning_kittens\"><\/span>What age do you start weaning kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>around three to four weeks<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_introduce_a_kitten_to_dry_food\"><\/span>How do you introduce a kitten to dry food?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Start by <b>sprinkling a small amount of dry cat food into their wet food so they will eat small portions of the dry food, too. This can help them adjust to the taste and new ingredients. You can slowly increase the amount of dry food your cat eats with the wet food at each feeding.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_wean_a_4_week_old_kitten\"><\/span>How do you wean a 4 week old kitten?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>How to Wean Kittens<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Weeks 4-5: Give wet or moistened dry food, mixed with formula to form a slush.  <\/li>\n<li>Weeks 5-6: The weaning kittens should start to nibble on the kibble, slightly moistened with water.<\/li>\n<li>Weeks 6-7: By now, the kitten weaning process is complete, and they should be eating all solid food by week seven.<\/li>\n<p>20-Nov-2012<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_times_a_day_should_I_feed_weaning_kittens\"><\/span>How many times a day should I feed weaning kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>three times per day<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_weaning_period_for_cats\"><\/span>What is the weaning period for cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most kittens are completely weaned by <b>six to eight weeks of age and should be fed according to their needs following the recommendations of the food manufacturer as a guide.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_tell_if_a_cat_is_weaned\"><\/span>How do you tell if a cat is weaned?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Weaning is the process of graduating a kitten from milk to solid foods, and that she has learned everything she can from her mother. <b>Once a kitten is eating on his own, that is usually a tell-tale sign that he&#8217;s ready to be separated from his cat mama<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_feed_a_kitten_that_was_weaned_too_early\"><\/span>What to feed a kitten that was weaned too early?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Under normal circumstances, a kitten exclusively needs its mother&#8217;s milk from birth to around four weeks of age. Until this time, your kittens should not eat any solid food. If they are less than four weeks old, you will need to bottle feed them with <b>kitten milk replacement formula<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_kittens_leave_mom_at_6_weeks\"><\/span>Can kittens leave mom at 6 weeks?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kittens go through a lot of changes very soon after they&#8217;re born. The first few weeks of their lives are full of new sights and sounds, and <b>by the time they reach six weeks of age, they are almost ready to leave their mothers<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_7_weeks_too_early_to_get_a_kitten\"><\/span>Is 7 weeks too early to get a kitten?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many creatures need the care and support of their mothers in their earliest weeks, and cats are no exception. At most shelters and rescues, <b>kittens can be adopted starting at 8 weeks. Breeders will often wait until the kitten has been with their mother for at least 12 weeks, with many breeders waiting until 14 weeks.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_earliest_a_kitten_can_be_weaned\"><\/span>What is the earliest a kitten can be weaned?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When Is the Right Age to Wean a Kitten? At <b>around four weeks old, kittens are ready to begin weaning. Under four weeks of age, kittens are considered neonatal and might not be ready for weaning from their mother&#8217;s milk or formula.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_when_kittens_are_ready_to_leave_their_mother\"><\/span>How do you know when kittens are ready to leave their mother?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you give them their first taste of solid food, be sure to chop it finely or soak it, if it&#8217;s dry. Offer it in a shallow dish. They will gradually eat more solid food until they are fully weaned, at about eight weeks. <b>At about eight weeks of age, kittens are ready to leave the mother.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_take_a_kitten_away_from_its_mother_too_early\"><\/span>What happens if you take a kitten away from its mother too early?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A kitten that is removed from its mother too soon may also have <b>trouble adjusting to its new home and you. Growing up with a mother and littermates is an essential part of cat socialization. Without proper socialization at a young age, the kitten may grow up to be fearful, skittish, or even aggressive.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_mother_cats_get_sad_when_their_kittens_are_taken_away\"><\/span>Do mother cats get sad when their kittens are taken away?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While <b>it may feel like a mother cat will be upset that her kittens will be taken away, cats don&#8217;t think the same way people do. It&#8217;s natural for a mother cat to begin weaning her kittens around four to five weeks of age, and they&#8217;ll be fully weaned around 10 or 12 weeks.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_4_week_old_kitten_survive_without_its_mother\"><\/span>Can a 4 week old kitten survive without its mother?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, <b>orphaned kittens less than 4 weeks old cannot live without their mother, and must be bottle fed around the clock in order to survive. Thankfully, most discoveries of newborn kittens do not call for human assistance, and in fact, leaving Mom and her family alone is generally the best thing you can do.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_mother_cat_wean_kittens_on_her_own\"><\/span>Will a mother cat wean kittens on her own?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s an important part of the kitten&#8217;s development, and needs to be done at the right time and in the right way. <b>Normally the queen, or mother cat, will handle kitten weaning on her own<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_a_cat_wean_her_kittens\"><\/span>How does a cat wean her kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The liquid kitten food should gradually get thicker until it is a watered-down canned kitten food or a moistened kitten kibble. <b>Over the four to six week weaning period, the kitten will consume less and less milk from its mother.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_when_kittens_are_weaned\"><\/span>How do you know when kittens are weaned?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Weaning is the process of graduating a kitten from milk to solid foods, and that she has learned everything she can from her mother. <b>Once a kitten is eating on his own, that is usually a tell-tale sign that he&#8217;s ready to be separated from his cat mama<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents At what age should kittens be weaned?How do you start weaning kittens?What does weaning mean for cats?When cats are weaned too early?When can kittens leave their mamas?How does a mother cat wean her kittens?At what age can kittens eat dry food?Can 4 week old kittens eat wet food?What age do you start&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-175441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-care"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175441"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175441\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}