How Long Till Kittens Can Eat Solid Food?

As a cat owner, you will know that there is no more of an exciting time than when you have either a brand new baby kitten or your cat has just given birth to kittens. There is simply nothing cuter and adorable in the world than baby kittens. They are so small and helpless that you cannot help but love and care for them. However, due to the fact that they are so small and defenceless, you need to ensure that you look after them well and most importantly provide them with all the nutrients that they require to grow at a good and healthy pace. As with all baby mammals, you cannot feed them with solid foods straight away as their bodies are not equipped to digest this type of food from birth. They will need to feed on fluids alone for the first two weeks of their lives and then you will be able to begin to introduce ground up foods and meats into their diets. In the third week it is still advisable to keep a mixture of fluids and solids in their diet, but after the third week they should be able to handle a diet of purely solid foods. There are obviously a wide variety of kitten foods that are available on the market today and they are all of a good quality. There are a number of websites that will help you choose what the best brand of kitten food would be for your particular breed of cat.


By ‘real food’ you probably mean solid food that has been specifically designed to support the health and growth of a young kitten. In that case, a kitten should usually start eating solid food between the ages of six and eight weeks old. Times may vary depending on the breed and size of the kitten.
It is vital you do not try to wean a kitten off its mother’s milk too soon as this could cause serious repercussions on the kitten’s digestive system and other vital organs. The milk contains a rich source of vitamins and nutrients that are specifically designed to aid a kitten’s healthy growth. If you are in doubt, consult your vet before trying to wean the kitten.
Most people carry out the process of weaning a kitten from the mother’s milk to kitten food over gradual increments. For example, if the kitten is still drinking his or her mother’s milk at five weeks old, try to slowly introduce a few spoonfuls of kitten food every day. This amount can then be built up gradually as the kitten begins to grow bigger and stronger.
It does not really matter what type of kitten food you choose to start your pet off on, as all kitten foods contain a certain amount of carbohydrates and fats needed to help support the kitten’s body and digestive system as it continues to grow. If you choose a dry kitten food, try adding some water to moisten it down. Mash it around in the bowl a little before giving it to the kitten to avoid any choking hazards.

Giving your kitten milk is not a good idea. A kitten drinking milk can result in the cat having an upset stomach for a prolonged period of time, suffering from cramps or diarrhea that quickly dehydrates their rather small bodies.

Cats and kittens, generally, do not need to drink milk. They can easily live their whole life without taking one drop of milk in their diet. Despite what people generally think, water is all a cat will ever need to survive. If you really do want your kitten to drink milk, then you will be able to purchase special kitten milk. This milk is free from lactose, and is available from most pet stores. The milk isn’t really necessary, though - remember that!

Many cats are lactose intolerant, given that they do not have the enzyme lactase in their bodies. This enzyme helps animals to digest lactose and take it into their blood stream. Lactose is a sugar that is found within milk, and can just cause problems for a cat. Undigested lactose will begin to pass through the kitten’s digestive system, and in the process it will draw water away from the intestines. Hence, lactose is not able to pass through the wall of the intestine easily, and get into the bloodstream. Hence, it will remain in the kitten’s intestines. This can cause problems in that bacteria will invade, and fermentation will begin to form large amounts of gas. This causes the diarrhoea and a large amount of pain for your cat.

A kitten over the age of six weeks will no longer need the milk that is can digest, from its mother, but will need to be put onto kitten food. Then after 12 months, you can move your kitten onto complete adult cat food.

Mother milk is very much needed for the kittens up to 5-6 weeks. This can protect them against infections. Kittens start to grow very rapidly after 2 weeks. They start to play and fight with their mates. They start taking some solid/semi solid foods after 4 weeks of their age and after 7-8 weeks can take all solid foods designed for the.

Kittens don't eat solids until they're 6 weeks old. You can give them soft food for a couple days keep it out next to the water dish.

After a couple of days, then you can start them on the solid hard food. They're going to start having runny to solid bowel movements when they start eating the solids.

So when they eat, wait a few minutes, then take them to the litter box, do this several times a day, they'll figure out what to do in there. Be patient, sometimes it takes some of them a few days to catch on. Good luck, hope this helps.

Sometime between 3-5 weeks is the general time when people begin introducing solid food to kittens. Rather than using water to soften the kitten food, it is advisable to use KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement). It comes in a little can and is available at pet stores (PetSmart, PetCo, etc) and some grocery stores. It is important to use kitten food and not cat food - they need the extra vitamins and calories provided in a kitten formula. (This is also the reason you want to use KMR instead of water, if at all possible.)

The first few times you feed them, mix the KMR and kitten food to make a sort of "gruel" - it should be pretty soft and watery. Don't be surprised if they put their feet in it and track it all over - I always put a large bath towel or a piece of plastic (drop cloth) under a towel, under their food. Some kittens do great and never make a mess - some get it all over the area you feed them AND all over themselves. :)

Keep it where they can easily get to it. Mom will help them understand what to do with it - but it is important that you also leave out a short bowl of water for them, AND a shallow litter box - because both will quickly become necessities. At first they will just tromp in and out of the litter box - but Mom should help them understand what to do with that strange stuff, too. It's important to only use clay-based litter for kittens.

They will start to eat more gruel/food and less milk from Mom...and this is a sign of successful weaning. You should also see them continue to grow and gain weight at the same incredible rate they did while weaning.

Over several days/couple of weeks, decrease the amount of KMR and increase the amount of kitten food, so it becomes drier and drier. I usually lessen the amount of KMR every 2-3 days if they are doing well. Yes, you will go through quite a bit of KMR - but the payoff will be happy, healthy, full-bellied kittens. :)

I hope this helps - good luck!
Katherine

Our kittens are about 4 weeks and 3 days old and they love real food and they are doing Great with it, normally animals wont eat things they shouldnt have so just watch them for a little while if they don't eat it than they are not ready.
                        Brandi
red creek wildlife center in schuylkill haven

Usually about six to eight weeks after birth you should first make sure that they are eating solids well before weaning them from the mother because they need proper nutrition and if you wean them to early sometimes they will start sucking on things like clothing or covers even as a adult cat.

Well... My I have 5 kittens and there pretty cute bt I havent feed them solids yet about 4 weeks -slightly mushed up
then about 8 weeks for chopped up solids
After about 9-10 weeks your kitten will be able to eat solids- but make sure you buy kitten food and not adults...

You and GOOD lUCK WITH YOUR CUTE AND CUDDLY KITTENS

BYE FOR NOW -catlover#1

I would recommend around 4 weeks start softening hard food and let them gradually start eating hard food around 7 weeks. Taking care of a new kitten can be somewhat of a difficult task at first, but it is well worth it.

Honestly all the other answers are ok. I just got my kittens about a week and a half ago and They were 6 wks then. I thought I could start them on solids, but DON'T! Their little tummies can't handle the solid foods yet. It is too hard for them to digest. They can choke or even get problems later on with their urinary track. So I call the vet and they told me that kittens should be at least 8-9 wks, better when they are 13 wks to start solid foods. If they are eating solids food at an earlier stage, then do what I did and boil hot water and put that in with the solid food. Let it sit for a while to make the solid food moist and let it cool down. Then serve it as mush. That way it will be easier to transfer them to the dry. Older they get- add less water- til no more!! I hope this helped and good luck. If you ever have anymore questions don't feel that you are bothering your vet, that's what they are there for. If I won't give advice, you DON'T want them to take care of your pet. Good luck!!

Kittens start to eat solids at about 6 weeks old. Sometimes a little later too. You can start them out on a soft food for a couple of days, and then move them to the hard food.

This gives their tummies time to adjust to taking in semi-solids and gets them ready for the solids. When you start them on the solids, you also want to keep water out for them too.

At this time, they are going to start having runny poo, and then solid bowel movements. You will want to take them to the litter box several times a day until they get the idea of what they're supposed to do in there. Be patient, this might take some of them a little more time than others to catch on. Hope this helps, good luck.

Typically, kittens start eating solids around 6 weeks old. You might start them on some soft food for a couple of days, and then you can add hard food to the soft food, or just give them the hard food.
Sometimes they get a little constipated when they start the solids, so don't panic if they do, unless they don't go for a couple of days, then I would have them seen. Hope this helps, good luck.

Around 4-5 weeks old. Some may wait til they are about 6 weeks old and that is when they no longer need to be nursing from their mother, but they need to be eating cat food first. You should leave out plenty of water and kitten food, not cat food. The mom can also eat the kitten food for a while too. If the kittens are having a hard time eating the kitten food, you can try adding a bit of water to it, and show them wear it is. Eventually, sooner or later they will figure it out. Hope this helps a bit.

I have given my kittens moistened, crushed kitten chow starting at 3-4 weeks. They will nibble on it, yet they will still nurse off of mama for the much needed antibiotics and nutrients that are in mama's milk. Mama will wean them. However if she has not started to wean her babies at around 7-8 weeks, you will need to seperate them. Good luck!!!

A kitten should be able to eat food when they get some teeth and are able to walk start them with wet food and work them up to hard.

You should start providing solid food which is soaked in water from about 3 weeks.  They may not eat it at first but this is to get the kittens used to the texture, smell and taste.  Weaning should occur naturally.  At about 4 weeks the mother will begin to evade feeding and discourage nursing and the kittens will begin to nurse for a shorter time.  By the time kittens are 8-12 weeks of age they should be eating solid food and no longer nursing.  

By the time they are 3 weeks old they should be trying wet food. By the time they are 6 to eight weeks they should be going for the dry food, but remember that they still need to be with their mother until they are 6 to 8 weeks old and make sure that you start offering water by the time they are 4 weeks old. This is also the time that they will start getting curious about using a litter box and burying their feces and urine.

Start to introduce dry food that has soaked in milk or water to become soft in low flat pan at about 3 to 4 weeks of age. They will make a mess and walk all though it but will learn it is good and start to eat.

Well, my kitten are 5 weeks and 3 days today and I started them on wet food last week. I just gave them solid food today and they seem to be okay with it. I will continue to mix it up for them for a few more weeks.

Usually 6-7 weeks old just put it in front of them if they eat it it's ok as long as they are not younger than 6 weeks.

You can give them food at about 5 weeks old, but olny wet food mashed up, not the dry ones. By 8 weeks they should be ok to eat regular meals and be off their mums milk, Give them food with KMR in it.

Kittens start developing teeth around three weeks of age. Make sure the mother cat is already eating dry kitten food so she has the extra calories to produce good milk for the kittens. At three to four weeks of age, the kittens should start getting curious about their surroundings and this is a good time to start tossing in a handful of dry kitten food into their nesting box. They will start smelling and "gumming" the food in their mouths. To make sure they actually start eating solids, you can introduce canned kitten food in coffee saucers. They will mostly suck the juices from the food and may actually suckle small pieces of solid food. This will take a few weeks before the kittens get used to chewing so be patient. Try to get them on dry solid kitten food by the time they are 5 to 6 weeks old. This is also a good time to get them a small litter box. Use clay litter only. Clumping litter has small enough granules that could get stuck in their nostrils and clog up their noses. Make sure the kittens litter box has low sides that they can climb into to go potty. If mother cat eats the food you offer to the kittens, this is fine since she needs the extra food right now too. Just make sure to offer solid food to the kittens at least 4 or 5 times a day. Offer small bowls of water to kittens too since they will soon be weening off of the mother's milk by the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old.

Kittens are ideally weaned at 6-8 weeks of age.  They should be offered a canned kitten food gruel starting at about 4 weeks of age.  If this kitten has been weaned early then it should be fed canned kitten food.  Many kittens that go through a shelter are weaned as early as 4 weeks and eat canned kitten food.  If your kitten does not seem to want to eat the canned food buy kitten milk replacer from a pet store or a veterinary clinic.

You should start giving dry food up to 2 months then feed them canned food (whiskas the best)
also if you still want to stick with dry food mix it up with warm water in the bowl and your kitten[s]
will start eating up

fact: Dry food helps teeth, contains protein and the balance your kitty needs
fact: Wet food at starters makes them throw up and they'll get diarrhea 80% of the time

About a when there a month

Mine ate it at 8 days old

5-6 weeks they will start.

5-6 måneder

3-4 weeks of age.put hot water in the solid food and let it set until soft.

I would say that they would have to be about three weeks because thats when they get teeth and start to walk.

I have 5 kittens that are 5 weeks old and I have been giving them solid food for 2 days now. I mix half a small can with a handful of dry. I got the idea when I fed thier mother and they would crawl in the food dish to eat.

We started ours at three and a weeks and all took to it really well and at the same time gave them a litter tray. At first there were a phew accidents outside litter tray but by the fourth week they are all eating solids, lapping water, using thier litter tray and thier stools are all solid.

3 to 6 weeks. Vinaka22 tips for kitties health:

• Put lots of Water even if your cat don't like it just put it in a bowl
• Play with you cat( even if you think that wont keep the cats health good it will maintain great bond with you.
• Give them meals 2 or 3 times a day nothing more
• If its an outdoor cat keep it company and put out lots of toys so it wont get lonely
• Overall, Take it to the vet regularly.

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Its usually a few months, but definitely start with soft food, then moist, etc.

It is 5 or 4 weeks old

6 weeks

I would say about 6-8 weeks old. Good Luck Chuck!!!

When can I start give my kittens food for kittens there are 3weeks old

At 6 weeks old I think.

When it is four to six weeks old

Usually within 4-6 weeks.

4 weeks min.
Red creek Wildlife Center
212 dark-horse road
schuylkill haven Pa 17972

My cat 6 weeks old should it eat hard food

Around 4 weeks and when they start to get teeth

Till there teeth grow out properly

Two month ,with kitten food

If the kittens have stopped drinking their mothers milk then you can give them warmed up milk, but you should mix it with water. Pure milk, that's what we drink, isn't all that good for kittens. You can feed them 2-5 times a day that way.

Maybe 6-7 weeks then put food out there and if they don't wait a few more days then try again.

Does anyone have any suggestions on raising an orphaned 2 week old kitten? I know to keep her warm, feed every 2-3, stimulate the bladder and bowels. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Start with soft food at about 4 weeks old then put a little dry food on a newspaper at 5 weeks if they eat it and are ok then you can

At around 3 weeks old. When there teeth come in they will start eating. They will not eat food until they are ready to do so so you can just leave kitten food out for there mom and when it is time the kittens will start eating.

I don't know but I would say abou+ 4-8 weeks like soft food at 4 weeks and then get them into hard food at 7-8 weeks

Purina says from 3-4 weeks.  Again, if using dry food to wet and soften.

Uhhhh...I don't know...I want to know too. I have 7 kittens to take care of.

You can give kitten dry food around 3-4 weeks of age. You will need to put hot water in the kitten food and let it set to get soft before you feed it to the kittens.I had a kitten in a litter that wound not eat the wet kitten food like the rest of the litter and I gave her dry kitten food and she would eat it dry but not wet. It will take a short time before the kittens to  eat the solid food.

6 to 8 weeks is when they should start eating food. If you feel that cat food may be to hard for them try putting a little water in it to moisten it so it will be softer and easier for them to chew. You may have to seperate them from the mother  and kinda guide them to the food so they will learn to be more independent and not rely on momma cat

You May Choose To Feed Your Kittens From 10days Onwards Make Sure its Very Small Amounts and don't Over-Feed Them

I have been feeding my 5-weed old kittens since their mother died at 3 weeks.   I have been trying to get them to eat wet solid food but have been unsucessful so far. I know they are ready they have chewed up for nipples.Any suggestions?

No they will choke and die it happened to my kitten shadow

I think about 5,6 weeks but make sure it's chicken flavoured because kittens have to have chicken flavoured food