Owners are overwhelmed when their young kitten turns four weeks, and it’s time to get seriously concerned about their weaning process. Weaning is when your kitten moves from fluids to solid food. A kitten’s growth rate and development are directly related to food consumption, and maintaining a proper schedule is critical. It is essential to continue the bottling or Feeding from the mother cat’s milk as it takes time for the kitten to adjust to the weaning process and ensure that it is getting adequate nutrition. Switching food and eating behavior can be stressful for the kitten.
Guide – How to Feed A Kitten?
Food consumption increases along with passing weeks, and at four weeks, it’s time to update the feeding schedule—the first step in weaning is to introduce the kitten to solid food. Mix the formula with the wet food, but it should still be liquid and easy for the kitten to swallow. Mix the warm canned food and prepare it into a thin gruel.
Put the mixture into a special bottle or feed it using a spoon. With every passing day, adjust the quantity of solid food, the i-e formula with liquid, making the formula quantity more and wetter amount less once the kitten is familiar with the dry food and feeding method. Remove the bottle and put the formula in a flat dish to make; it gets used to it. Always provide them water along.
Always follow the instructions on food packaging and feed it accordingly, unless the vet has advised something else. The weaning process will take about two weeks, and the kitten will solely demand solid food at the end of the 6th week.
Do’s and Don’ts in Feeding a 4-week-old Kitten.
- Four- the weeks-old kitten is not ready for solid food, but you can start the weaning process.
- Use kitten milk replacer, which comes in both liquid and powdered forms.
- Never give the kitten cow’s milk as it can cause diarrhea and doesn’t have the nutrient which a kitten needs.
- Add the formula with food and make a gruel to get the familiar smell, encouraging them to eat.
- Check the weight gain by each passing day.
How Much to Feed A Kitten?
Weight of the kitten and feeding
Kitten Weight | Daily Caloric Requirement | Amount of Formula Per Day | Amount Per Feeding (ml) | Number of Feedings Per Day |
16 oz (1 lb) 454 g | 91 kcal | 123 ml | 18 ml | 5 |
1 lb, 2 oz 510 g | 102 kcal | 138 ml | 20 ml | 4 |
Final Words:
Kittens this age are very delicate and experience new things. Let them have fun but take care of their Feeding as it’s time to update the schedule. Have fun with your kitten and their Feeding.