Summary
Caring for weaning kittens is usually less intense than caring for bottle kittens. Some aspects of caring for bottle kittens are no longer part of the daily routine; other tasks will remain or be new. Instead of stimulating kittens to urinate and defecate, you’ll be scooping and cleaning litter boxes; instead of cleaning bottles, you’ll be cleaning dishes and bowls.
Daily Care of Weaning Kittens
As kittens begin the weaning process, continue to care for them as you would for bottle kittens. See Daily Care of Bottle Kittens, Weaning—a Critical Time for Orphaned Kittens, and The Kitten Weaning Process articles.
It’s essential to weigh kittens daily, record their weights, and note any lack of weight gain.
Weaning kittens will still need a larger confined space than previously as they become more mobile and active. They will need a heat source that they can move onto and off as they like and soft bedding.
While weaning, kittens will start urinating and defecating on their own, but they may still need occasional stimulation.
Provide kittens with a low-sided litter box and NON-clumping litter. Kittens starting to urinate and defecate on their own and still learning to use a litter box may urinate or defecate as soon as the urge hits them. To avoid accidents, it will help to have more than one litter box and space them around the room, but not close to their food and water dishes. In places where kittens have eliminated away from a box, clean the spot thoroughly and use a cat-safe odor eliminator product and place a litter box there. As kittens develop and have more control over their bladder and bowel, they should be better able to get to the litter box in time. See Supplies Needed for Weaning Kittens article.
Provide clean, fresh water in a shallow bowl that is always available to kittens.
Depending on the kitten’s age, feed wet food 2–3 times daily once you know they are eating their food. You should also provide a shallow bowl of kitten-sized, dry food 24/7.
If there are several kittens in the litter, make sure that they all can eat at the same time. This may mean you’ll have to provide them with several dishes—even one for each kitten—so they will not have to compete for the food.
Watch kittens as they learn to eat wet food to ensure they are biting and swallowing the food instead of only suckling and not swallowing. This behavior may be a sign that kittens are being introduced to solid food before they area developmentally ready.
Continue to offer kittens milk formula from a bottle during the weaning process. Some may enjoy nursing from the bottle for several more weeks. Others will show no interest in the bottle, preferring the wet and dry foods. Again, let kittens set the pace, and do not withhold bottle feeding to force weaning.
Keep the kittens’ space clean. Change soiled bedding and scoop or replace litter as needed. Wash bottles, nipples, dishes, and bowls thoroughly.
