Weaning In Cats
Kittens also need, like other species, to feed from their mother the corresponding time to have a good state of health and a good development. Therefore, it is important to know everything about weaning cats. You already know? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you!
What to know about weaning cats
When
This is the most important question we need to know. A premature weaning could interfere with the proper development of the animal, while a late one could have the same effect, in addition to causing discomfort and problems for the mother.
The correct time to wean cats is after four weeks. In fact, it will be the mother herself who will take care not to give him more milk and to make him look for his food himself.
However, there are times when the mother may do this ahead of time. That is why it is necessary that you know when to do it and, of course, that you be attentive to it.
Do not break it abruptly
Even when the time has come for the cats to wean, do not abruptly separate them, as this would not be good for either party. On the one hand, the mother could become aggressive towards you and even become depressed.
On the other hand, the puppy will not have completed its socialization period and could even imitate the aggressive behaviors of its mother, which are the result of your actions: having separated them abruptly.
Do not worry or be impatient, and it is that before 10 weeks they will have separated naturally. What is advisable is that, once the four statutory weeks have passed, you separate them a few hours a day so that both of you get used to it and the little one develops his independence.
What to feed him
Although the weaning period is four weeks, you must make sure that the weaned cat already has its eyes open and can move on its own. If this is so, the time has come to give him another type of diet.
There are certain foods that are considered substitutes for breast milk and that can be combined with the feed, which should always be special for puppies. These substitutes provide all the nutrients they need and taste similar to milk.
However, these should not be the only thing that your puppy eats, since he needs to incorporate solid food into his diet. These substitutes are just one more supplement that will help the kitten get used to dry food.
You have to reduce the amount of breast milk substitutes as you get used to the feed.
Under no circumstances give cow, goat or sheep milk to your cats. The stomach of cats is not prepared to assimilate it and it will cause diarrhea.
Prepare the feeders
Every kitten should have its own feeder and waterer. These should be small in size and not very deep so that the animal can easily eat and drink.
If you see that he still has difficulty doing this, take a syringe in which you will put the milk substitute, and give him that as food while he finishes becoming self-sufficient. However, don’t let him get used to it; You should bring it to the plate often so that it gets used to the idea. But remember, don’t force it, it’s still a baby.
Only solid food
Once the kittens have reached eight to ten weeks, you will need to completely eliminate milk substitutes and give them only solid food. Special puppy food cans are a good option that can help them get used to it more quickly.
Remember to follow these tips, because weaning the cats properly is the only way to guarantee a correct development of the puppies.
