Weaning is the process of helping a kitten transition from nursing (or bottle feeding) to eating solid food on her own. Kittens often need extra support during this time to help ensure they're receiving proper nutrition and caloric intake; it can take time and patience to help them become independent eaters, but with the right knowledge you’ll have them eating successfully!

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Get the Right Supplies

You’ll want:

Wet kitten food: Make sure the food is labeled specifically for kittens. Kitten food is higher in calories, fat and protein that the kitten needs to help grow big and strong. Wet food is the healthiest choice for kittens to start off with, as the moisture content will help them stay healthy and hydrated.
Dry kitten food: Some kittens may prefer dry food, and it’s a great idea to introduce them to both so that they’ve got experience with each texture, and can express their preferences.
Shallow food dishes: Choose a kitten-friendly dish with a low lip so that they can easily access the food.
Baby spoons: You may find it helpful to use soft baby spoons as you’re weaning!

Begin at the Right Age

Kittens' bodies are very sensitive to premature weaning, and can experience life-threatening issues when forced to wean too young. Be sure you know the kitten’s age and aim to start weaning around 5 weeks.

Keep in mind that it’s easy to make a mistake when aging a kitten! The best rule of thumb when it comes to weaning age is: if they have premolars, they’re around 5 weeks old and it’s appropriate to introduce them to solid food. If they don’t have premolars yet, it’s too early.

Young kittens will be nursing or bottle feeding. But around 5 weeks of age, she is likely ready to start trying out some meaty foods! Keep in mind that every kitten is an individual, and some kittens may need a bit more time on the bottle than others due to health issues, differences in weight or size, or mere preference. Use your best judgement and follow the kitten's lead to determine the appropriate age to wean. If you see any changes in the kitten's health or energy during this process, immediately step back to bottle feeding.

Throughout the process, it’s a good idea to supplemental feed with a bottle (or allow them to keep nursing with mom, if mom is present!) Supplemental feeding ensures that your kitten is getting all of the calories and nutrition she needs during this slow transition. There's no such thing as "tough love" for kittens; if she isn't understanding how to eat yet, you'll still need to supplement to make sure she's staying healthy and well fed.

Introducing Food

Start by offering the kitten some small bites of wet food on a finger, a spoon, or a tongue depressor, and see if they will accept it. If they’re interested in eating, see if they are able to access the food in a dish. Remember that this is a new skill for them, so many kittens will find it difficult to eat out of a dish for the first several days. Let the kitten eat from the dish for as long as they are interested, then weigh them to ensure their weights are up. Always supplement with a bottle or with mom if needed!

Weaning-age kittens (5-6 weeks) can be offered 4 meals of wet food per day, and can be given free access to both dry food and water.

Introducing Water

As you introduce solid food, you’ll also want to start to introduce water. Be sure you’re providing water in a small, shallow dish and cleaning/refilling it daily. Never provide a large dish that can cause a safety hazard to a tiny kitten; keep your water dish to about 2 inches high. It's normal for kittens to struggle with water at first, but she should be drinking confidently within 1-3 days of introduction.

Monitor the Kitten’s Progress

It’s essential to weigh the kitten throughout the weaning process. Don’t skip this step! If her weight drops or steadies, you’ll need to supplement with a bottle, try a different method of eating, or scale back to kitten formula.

You’ll also want to watch the kitten closely to ensure the kitten has successfully developed the motor skills for eating. Be wary of meat nursing and check that your kitten is actually consuming enough food!

If your kittens tremble while weaning, don’t worry. It’s actually normal for kittens to shake while trying meat for the first time!

Once the kitten is confidently eating on her own, gaining weight, and rejecting the bottle, you can cease supplemental feeding—it's time to switch completely to solid foods! Be sure you're feeding a high quality food formulated for kittens, and monitor to ensure that there are no concerning changes in weight, behavior, or condition.

“Meat” Them Where They Are

The most important rule of weaning is not to rush—do things on the kitten’s timeline, not yours! You wouldn’t expect a human baby to go from nursing to solids in one day, so please don’t expect a kitten to make the transition rapidly either. Think of weaning as a process of 3-10 days, during which you’re observing the kitten closely and making sure they’re supplemented with nursing or bottle-feeding until they’ve fully got the hang of solids.

You've got this!