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  • 1.  Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 03-31-2024 01:09 PM

    Good Afternoon--When do others start to wean kittens away from their mother?  Any suggested techniques?


    #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment

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    Robin Tant
    Owner/Director
    Paws and All Feline Rescue
    NC
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  • 2.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 04-01-2024 07:59 AM

    Kittens can start being weaned anywhere from 4-6 weeks old. 



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    Charlie Williams
    Lawyer
    California Law Association
    CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 04-01-2024 10:09 AM

    Thank you! If starting at 4 weeks, should the process still include the mother's milk for supplementation?



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    Robin Tant
    Owner/Director
    Paws and All Feline Rescue
    NC
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 05-13-2024 05:56 PM

    Absolutely!  Or formula if they're being bottle fed.  The issue isn't whether or not the kittens can tolerate the food, it's whether their digestive systems are mature enough to get the nutrition they need from the food.  Retaining mom's milk or formula over the transition helps ensure nutritional needs are met.  Too many people are quick to make a total switch, then wonder why weight gain slows and the kittens don't thrive....

    Cheers!

    April



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    April King
    Volunteer and Board Member
    Kotor Kitties
    +1 206 407 5336
    http://www.kotorkitties.org
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 04-01-2024 09:21 AM

    Hi, Robin:
    I recommend enrolling in the new Maddie's University course Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care. It covers weaning as well as many other topics. Plus, linked from the course is an MPF group monitored by Marnie Russ, who authored the course and started the Kitten College at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. She is available for questions at any time and will get right back to you. She is all things kitten!
    Erika



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    Erika Shaffer
    Instructional Designer
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 04-01-2024 10:10 AM

    Thank you.  Will definitely look at that!



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    Robin Tant
    Owner/Director
    Paws and All Feline Rescue
    NC
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 05-14-2024 05:23 AM

    I second the Maddie's Course, and also recommend checking out Kitten Lady's information - she is an excellent kitten foster resource. 

    https://www.kittenlady.org/weaning 



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    Erin Dams
    Community Relations Coordinator
    Roanoke Valley SPCA
    Roanoke VA
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 04-01-2024 08:47 PM

    Hi Robin

    At our shelter, we tend to get a lot of bottle baby kittens that comes in without mom. Our foster start weaning at 4-5 weeks. When transition the kittens, we ask the fosters to do gruel which is formula mix with pate wet food. Kinda like apple sauce paste. The first week, is in a bottle and the foster slowly gets the kitten(s) to get from a plate. It usually takes about 2 weeks for the kittens transition from formula to wet food. I hope this helps



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    Amelia Pham
    Assistant Manager
    WAGS PET ADOPTION
    Westminster CA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

    Posted 05-24-2024 11:13 AM

    Robin,
    Is there some type of partnership with some TNR groups in your area to take scent items of the babies and try to trap the moms, since they are likely feral, stray or community cats? Even if they aren't reunited for whatever reasons, if mom could be spayed, she isn't going into heat right away to have more outside kittens. 
    We were trying to promote something like that with our animal services up here but can't even get a response. What are your thoughts, from inside a shelter, on the feasibility of this idea?



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    Karen Jealous
    PDX Cat Trapper
    Portland OR
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    Original Message


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