Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: hels on August 30, 2008, 18:44:19 PM

Title: Kitten wont wean
Post by: hels on August 30, 2008, 18:44:19 PM

I'm fostering a mum cat and her four kittens who are five weeks old today. The kittens are all eating kitten food but one of them refuses to eat. I have tried everything I can think of from putting a bit of food in her mouth, to putting her paws in the food so she licks them and gets the taste of it. But she just wont eat. She's still putting on weight each day but at five weeks I know she should be eating and is still suckling from mum, who obviously will stop to produce milk soon as the other kittens are eating and she's producing less.

 Although having her since birth she is quite shy and doesn't like to be picked up. When i go in their room all the kittens jump up to see me but she stays in bed and sleeps. When i wake her up she does play and run around with the other kittens.

Does anyone know what i can do? Or has this happened to anyone and am i worrying unnecessarily? i was going to take her to the vets but i dont think there's a lot they can do.

Title: Re: Kitten wont wean
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on August 30, 2008, 18:56:34 PM

I wouldnt have thought it is too early to be concerned Hels - what are you are trying to wean them onto?

Title: Re: Kitten wont wean
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on August 30, 2008, 20:42:11 PM

I had a kitten like this !!
The other 3 took to solid foods easliy but Lilly wouldnt have none of it
I was lucky as all kittens were staying with mum so is didnt matter .....

Just give this little one some more time, Mum will start to walk away soon when she wants feeding, carry on with trying the solid foods too.
She is still very young and i think this is one reason why breeders dont rehome till kittens are 12/13wks old

Title: Re: Kitten wont wean
Post by: Millys Mum on August 30, 2008, 21:54:17 PM

I wouldnt worry about her weaning at this age but her other behaviour does sound odd

Title: Re: Kitten wont wean
Post by: Pinkbear (Julie) on August 30, 2008, 22:01:14 PM

Is she the same size as the others?

We have a kitten with a similar story but he was stunted and we think he may have a pituatory problem.

But 5 weeks is no age at all. There's still plenty of time.  ;)

Title: Re: Kitten wont wean
Post by: dabs on August 31, 2008, 16:15:25 PM

5 weeks is nothing, I have a litter of four that are coming up to 5 weeks and one of them took his first mouthful today. The others just walk away when I put food down. Mum will show them what to do. Mine are litter trained already as mum showed them and they will catch onto the rest.

Don't worry.