Stopping kitten eating is very difficult if they are hungry. Even more so, if you have to wean them off of solid food and onto only milk as their source of nutrition.
Kittens that are completely weaned off of meat need special care to be able to survive outside of your home. This includes knowing how to take good care of them while they are away from you!
There are several ways to wean a stubborn kitty. The easiest way is to wait it out – but this can become quite frustrating.
Make the weaning process gradual
The hardest part about weaning your kitten is figuring out how to wean him or her!
It can be difficult to get through that initial separation, which is why it is important to make the weaning process gradual.
You do not need to completely separate your cat from his or her mother and littermates before introducing a new food source, just like with any other animal.
By doing this, your cat will still have connections to his or her past eating habits and sources, which helps facilitate the transition.
Once your cat is fully adjusted to the new diet, you can start adding another ingredient to the mix. You can slowly add milk to the dry kibble to create an easier transition for your furry friend.
This article will go more in depth about what factors influence a kitten’s appetite and how to help them overcome their aversion to certain foods.
Make sure your kitten is healthy
If you are struggling to wean your cat, then make sure they are not being exposed to any more kibble or food. This could be due to lack of appetite, so try giving them water instead as an alternative means of hydration.
If their digestive system becomes aware of how much less food they have, then it will begin to process other foods more efficiently, which can help with eating later on.
Drinking enough liquid also helps keep them feeling full for longer. Once they are used to this, start introducing some softer diets such as meaty bones, fish, and raw vegetables.
These cats may need extra time to get used to them but don’t give up! They may feel hungry at first, but once they realize there isn’t as much nutrition in these things, they will take more care when chewing them.
Use the correct formula for weaning your kitten
When kittens are very young, they need their mother all the time. This is because their physical and social needs are not met when she is away.
When you try to let them sleep more than one night or take off for an afternoon, they can become fearful or even aggressive with each other or strangers.
This could be bad in the future, when they meet up in real life or find work that requires a lot of interaction with people. It also makes it harder to adopt or give away their own offspring at this stage as you have to make sure they will be able to survive being left alone.
Weaning happens once your cat is around six months old. At this age, most cats begin sleeping longer intervals every day until they eventually drop out of bed completely.
Let your kitten decide when to stop feeding
The hardest part about weaning is actually getting past the initial stages. You can’t force kitty to give up food!
Kittens are dependent little creatures, so they need constant nutritional support in order to thrive. Plus, it’s kind of their job as hunters-to-come of the future to feed on prey (like mice or birds) eventually!
So, how do you get through that first meal without giving your cat any food?
The trick is to not make a big deal out of it – for yourself at least. Most kittens will lose interest quickly if you don’t react too strongly to their refusal to eat.
Instead, wait until later to see whether or not they show signs of eating by looking for drool, sniffing around, etc. If you notice they are trying to eat something else, tell them “good work!” and put away what they were just ignoring.
Be consistent
Consistency is one of the biggest factors in weaning your kitten. If you start weaning him at midnight every night, then he will grow accustomed to that pattern and learn how to deal with it before morning.
If he sees you eating every day, he will get hungry later and let go more slowly because he knows you’re not going to eat unless you really need to. The same goes for wet food- he will know that you have planned to give him that until next time.
Drinking water can also be a consistency factor. Since most kittens are thirsty, they will try to drink as much of it as possible to make sure they meet their needs. By offering only small amounts, they will learn when they are enough and stop asking for more.
When starting off weaning, do not feed your cat his normal diet for an hour after sheering the topcoat. This way, he is experiencing a difference in what he has and what he does not have, which could create stress or separation anxiety.
He may attempt to take some of her fur back by nibbling, but this could easily cause problems like choking if there is any mucus in the coat.
Provide reassurance
If you are wondering how to wean your kitten away from his or her mother, then it is important to be supportive!
Many owners of separated kittens worry about what will happen to their pets when they are no longer able to care for them. They may fear that other people can’t take good care of them, or that they won’t get enough food or shelter if they are left alone.
Some dogs develop separation anxiety as adults, so this kind of behavior is totally normal.
Just because an animal is raised in a home doesn’t mean he or she has learned how to cope with outside sources. Unfortunately, sometimes animals need more time and guidance before they feel comfortable being set free.
But even though it may take some time to teach your cat how to live independently, most cats eventually grow out of their attachment to their parents.
Use food to your kitten’s advantage
Many experts agree that weaning is the hardest stage of all because it requires you to use food to your kitty’s disadvantage.
You have to be very careful not to reward bad behaviors with snacks, but instead must consistently teach them something new every time they eat.
For example, if your cat is eating too much, try giving her half her normal amount for one week before increasing it. This way she will get used to spending less money on foods and thinking about how many calories she has consumed.
Another good tip is to only give your cat small amounts of wet or soft food so that she learns that more food means happier life.
She may also need different types of diets as she grows.
Tell your kitten you love them
If all else fails, try telling your cat that they are beautiful and wonderful. A simple “I love you” is enough of a reason for many cats to believe that thing.
This can work if you have to wean your older cat off their food or switch up your kitty’s diet. Even if they don’t like what you give them, saying goodbye could help break the bond.
Many people use this trick when switching dogs from one owner to another. It works because animals form strong bonds with those around them and will be loyal towards those who treat them well.