All About Weaning Kittens
The best time to separate a kitten from its mother is between
seven and eight weeks of age. It is at this point that weaning
has been completed (the switch from nursing mother's milk to
eating solid food) and a kitten can best adjust to living in a
strange home with a new family. If taken away too early, kittens
may have to be bottle-fed by their new families and frequently
behave badly due to premature departure from the nest.
Kittens need milk feeding for the first four to five weeks of
life, so formula needs to be provided for a newborn kitten in
cases where the mother cat is unable to nurse it. If a kitten is
orphaned when it's two weeks old, for example, it needs to be
bottle-fed for at least another two weeks until it can be
introduced to solid food at four weeks.
See our reports on Taking Care of Abandoned & Orphaned Kittens
http://petcaretips.net/orphaned_kitten_care.html
http://petcaretips.net/abandoned_kitten_care.html
The milk produced by the queen in the first hours following delivery
contains colostrum, which is rich in protective antibodies that can
defend a kitten against illness during the first three months of life.
Here are some things to look out for with kittens who are
orphaned too early: First, they tend to have oral fixations
throughout their lives--they either suckle objects, such as
blankets or their new parent (you, the pet owner) or themselves.
Many cats will suck on their owner's fingers, hair or skin
whenever given the chance. This may go on for their whole lives!
Most owners seem not to mind, however. Cats who lick themselves
can do so to the point of baldness, usually on their bellies or
sides. Another possible result of early adoption is a kitten who
is slow to learn or one who displays aggressive behavior.
Kittens who are separated from their mother when older than seven
or eight weeks will have a harder time accepting the new family,
as they have become accustomed to their mother and siblings.
In order to make this transition easy for the kittens, you should
start introducing kitten food early on. At about four weeks of
age start mixing a good quality kitten food with milk or water,
and soak it until it resembles oatmeal. Place the food in a
shallow bowl and stimulate the kittens to eat it by placing a bit
of the food in their mouths. Once the kittens are eating well out
of the bowl it is safe to stop the nursing with the queen.
See Alfred's Recommendation for a Quality Kitten Food below
It may seem mean sometimes to take a kitten from its mother, but,
believe it or not, the well-being of the queen often requires
that her kittens be taken away from her. By the time seven weeks
have gone by, the queen is pretty tired of nursing--after all,
she's been satisfying the needs of many hungry kittens, who at
this point have sharp teeth and claws.
The mother needs a break from producing milk, which is best done
by separating her from the kittens. To prevent her glands from
becoming over-full and painful, it helps to impose a 24-hour fast,
withholding both food and water. It sounds cruel, but it forces her
body to reabsorb the milk in her mammary glands, thereby keeping
her from having painful swelling and potential mastitis (mammary infection).
You can also apply an ice pack to the swollen area to reduce pain and
further milk production. Since the act of nursing stimulates the
production of more milk, it is important to keep the kittens away
for at least one week.
Kittens should be vaccinated at eight and twelve weeks of age
against feline distemper and upper respiratory viruses with a
rabies vaccine given at twelve weeks.
Go Here for Recommended Vaccination Schedule
http://petcaretips.net/cat_vaccination_schedule.html
Be sure to have your veterinarian test your kitten for feline leukemia
and feline AIDS (tests are most reliable after a kitten is nine weeks old),
and bring a fecal sample to have analyzed for intestinal parasites.
We do Not recommend giving over the counter vermicides!
Follow your veterinarians recommendations.
At eight weeks of age, kittens are mature enough to
adapt to a new home, find their litter box and use it, take care
of their own grooming and start a love affair with their new
family.
What Should You Feed Your Cat?
By: Alfred
Hey guys, I guess you could say I'm an expert when it comes to eating!
I do it every day, and I know what Tastes Good and what is Good For Me!
Let's get a little science lesson in here:
You know that cats are carnivores, meaning they are meat eaters. They
don't have the ability to manufacture proteins in their liver as dogs
and humans do, thus they have to get their proteins from food.
Complete proteins come from meat sources. Incomplete proteins come
from grains. Incomplete proteins do not have all the amino acids present
required to form what we call a complete protein.
Also you will want to consider the presence of harsh chemical
preservatives that are in some foods, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.
All have been proven to play a role in various degenerative diseases
such as kidney and liver disease, and cancer.
Now, what do you believe would be better for your little kitten, a food
that has a cancer causing agent, or a food that has all natural preservatives?
Our suggestion then is to look for a cat food that has at least
2 to 3 meat sources of proteins to every one grain source.
When your kitty goes out for a hunt, does he bring back an ear of corn,
or mice and rodents?
Also look for a food that has all natural preservatives instead
of toxic chemicals.
Our recommended food is
Life's Abundance Premium Health Food For Cats
It is a 100% complete and balanced formula that is safe for your cat
or kitten, and will supply them with the nutrients they need.
Help your precious kitty live the Longest and
Healthiest Life Possible.....
Find Out More Here!
While you're there, check out the Gourmet Cat
Treats.....GREAT for Hairballs!
See Also:
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