How to get my 3-month-old kitten to eat solid food and wean?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Hi one of my 3 month old kittens is refusing to eat? He has never tried to even eat and he only drinks his mom's milk. What should we do?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 30th, 2016
Some kittens do nurse longer than others, and wean at a later date. He does need to learn to eat regular food, however, you can try to wean him. To start, mix dry kitten food with kitten milk replacer formula so they recognize the taste. Smear the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it off. Once they get used to the taste, they’ll seek it out elsewhere. As he get used to this, add in more dry food, and less formula until you have completely eliminated the formula.
13Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on
The weaning process should be usually complete at 6-7 weeks of age but it may take longer occasionally. 3 months is indeed a long time but it may happen. My suggestion would be to start weaning him immediately. To begin weaning a kitten, mix the kitten food with formula so they recognize the taste. Smear the mixture around their mouth with your finger and let them lick it off. Once they get used to the taste, they’ll seek it out elsewhere. Then you can introduce them to lapping from a bowl. Monitor them so they don’t lap too fast, and never push their face into the bowl, which could cause them to inhale the mixture and develop pneumonia. After that, gradually transition the weaning kittens to dry food, supplementing with formula if needed. Use canned food or dry kitten food mixed with water; at first, add a lot of water, and then reduce the amount of water as the kitten matures. When you are weaning a kitten onto solid food, it’s important to use a food formulated specifically for kittens. These formulas have the higher levels of calories, protein and calcium that growing kittens need. If you are caring for a mother cat and her litter, it’s okay for the mom cat to eat the same kitten food while she’s nursing.
6Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 27th, 2020
The kittens should have all been weaned at 8 weeks. I suggest you separate them from the mother. Once she stops nursing she will start to eat cat food better. Do not feed her any human foods. That is a very bad habit for her to get into. I suggest you use Royal Canin Babycat Mousse. This is a good transition food. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=118238 )
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 20th, 2018
At six weeks of age, it's time for Heavenly to start eating a kitten formulated food. Because she will drink water out of a bowl, she can eat food out of a bowl and you do not need to syringe feed her. I can give you a method to wean her onto dry food. To help her wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality kitten formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with kitten formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry kitten food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until she is eating the dry kitten food only. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 28th, 2015
Kittens can be offered canned and dry kitten food starting around 4-5 weeks of age. To transition the kitten to dry food, you can make a gruel with it and the formula for a few days, offering dry food in a separate dish. Many kittens go right to the dry food. Once your kitten is eating the canned and/or dry food readily and gaining weight, you can stop feeding formula. Many kittens will wean themselves once they are eating solid food.
43Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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