- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Kittens nurse from their mothers or drink milk for the first several weeks of life before they transition to a solid diet. But the timeline for when kittens start eating food can depend on how they’re raised.
Generally speaking, kittens can begin eating solids around the age of 3 to 5 weeks. For feral cats, weaning happens gradually, with many kittens eating entirely solid food by the time they reach 8 to 10 weeks.
Some orphaned or bottle-fed kittens may need a little more time and care to smoothly transition to a solid diet, explains Nicole Savageau, DVM, a veterinarian with North Austin Animal Hospital. She also recommends against weaning kittens younger than 4 weeks old. “Starting the weaning process before this age can deprive them of essential nutrients and antibodies from the mother’s milk.”
Read on to get tips to start your kitten eating solid food, plus learn how much food a hungry, growing kitten should eat.
Feeding A Kitten When Their Mom’s Not Around
If you’re raising orphaned or abandoned kittens, you’ve likely been bottle-feeding them a kitten formula or milk replacement. These are specially formulated to contain all the nutrients a kitten needs for their first month of life.
When they’re newborns, kittens should typically eat every two hours. Once they reach 2 weeks, they can eat every three to four hours.
When Are Kittens Ready For Weaning?
Generally, a kitten is ready to start weaning when their eyes are open and able to focus and they can stand steadily.
Additionally, kittens learn by mimicking, Dr. Savageau says. So, kittens who still have their mom around will likely naturally develop an interest in solid food from watching her eat.
How Long Does Weaning Take?
In general, the weaning process should last anywhere from six to eight weeks. That said, weaning is a gradual process, and some kittens may take longer than others.
“Be patient and let them progress at their own pace,” Dr. Savageau says.
3 Steps To Weaning Kittens
When you’re ready to start the weaning process, the following steps could help you make the process easier.
1. Get them used to lapping liquid
First, you’ll need to get your curious kittens interested in solid food.
One way to start the process is by setting out kitten formula in a shallow bowl. This will help them learn how to lap up liquid instead of suckling, which lays the groundwork for the next steps. (It also gives them an adorable milk beard!)
2. Slowly introduce solids
Next, you can start introducing solid food to your kittens in earnest. Start by mixing a wet kitten food with kitten formula or water to create a soupy gruel, like the mushy rice cereal that a human baby might eat.
Many kittens will be naturally curious and give it a try on their own, but again, orphan kittens may require a more hands-on approach.
“You can also use a soft cloth or your finger to stimulate their nursing behavior while introducing them to solid food,” Dr. Savageau says.
3. Gradually increase the wet food frequency
Once your kittens readily eat solids, you can begin gradually increasing the amount of kitten food they eat every day.
At this stage, Dr. Savageau says orphan kittens should still be bottle-fed 3-4 times per day, but the number of feedings and the amount of formula should decrease over time as they get more calories from solid food.
You can also set out dry kitten food for them to nibble on so they’ll have a meal ready whenever they’re hungry.
What Do You Feed A Kitten Who’s Weaning?
When selecting your kitten’s first food, it’s important to choose one specifically formulated for cats their age. Since they’re still growing, kittens need a higher calorie intake than adult cats. For example, a 10-week-old kitten needs around 200 calories per kilogram of their body weight, while a 10-month-old cat needs just 80 calories per kilogram.
Dr. Savageau recommends you keep kittens on an exclusive kitten food diet until they reach their first birthday. (Just keep in mind that some cat breeds may finish growing sooner or later.)
When Should You Start Weaning Kittens?
While it’s crucial not to start the weaning process too early, waiting too late could also lead to unwanted consequences.
Waiting to wean your kitten until they’re older than 8 weeks could hinder a kitten’s social and developmental skills, as they may miss out on important interactions with their littermates and mother, Dr. Savageu says. “Proper timing is crucial to ensure kittens receive a balanced diet and learn important social behaviors from their feline family.”
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, most kittens should be completely weaned by the time they reach 8 to 10 weeks old, but this timeline can vary, depending on whether they’re with their mother or not.
Kittens who are still with their mother should gradually spend more time away from her until they’re independent. Orphaned kittens may be fully weaned a little earlier and often get 80-90% of their calories from solids as early as six weeks old. But some orphaned kittens may need more time to fully make the switch.
How Much Do You Feed Kittens When They Start Eating Solids?
Once your kitten is weaned and accustomed to eating solid foods, you can generally feed them around three meals per day. You can also free-feed them dry food, provided that another hungry pet won’t gobble it up first.
Concerned about your kitten eating too much? This isn’t something you need to worry about. According to Dr. Savageu, most cats don’t have any risk of gaining excess weight before their first birthday.
Some pet parents become accustomed to feeding their cat the same amount of food, though they need less once they’re fully grown. Once your kitten turns 1, you can switch to adult cat food and follow the directions on the package for your cat’s weight.
You can get a general idea of how many calories a growing kitten needs for their size in the chart below.
Kitten Size | How Much Solid Food To Give Them |
4 pounds | 275 calories |
5 pounds | 325 calories |
6 pounds | 373 calories |
What If My Kitten Wants To Play With Their Food?
At first, a kitten may rather play with their food than eat it, but don’t fret. This is totally normal. Kittens learn fast and should eventually learn that they’re supposed to eat their food, not just bat it around.
That said, if your kitten seems to have a poor appetite, pay attention to their weight. “Kittens should gain about 1 pound every month the first few months,” Dr. Savageau explains. If your kitten fails to meet their growth milestones, a vet appointment should be in order.
Weaning a kitten is an exciting and rewarding process. They’re not just becoming independent, they’re also growing up to become someone’s next best friend for life. So, giving them a good head start can set them up for a happy and healthy life with their family.