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When should my kitten stop formula and begin eating solid food?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

How long can I keep giving my kitten formula

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Debi Matlack

Veterinary Technician

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.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 20th, 2017

    Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is time right now to start kitten food! Start mixing dry food with the kitten milk replacer and offering canned food. Sometimes I recommend bottle fed kittens to start kitten food sooner than those raised by their mothers. It would have been safe to start over a week ago. I hope this helps and good luck!

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    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 8th, 2019

    Thank you for submitting your question regarding your kitten. At this age, it is fine to start offering kitten food in small amounts. You can use wet food or dry food softened with warm water. Still continue to give her formula as well. By 6 weeks of age, she should be eating predominantly kitten food and it is fine to wean her off the formula. I hope this information helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 22nd, 2019

    You can start weaning them onto kitten food around four weeks of age. 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.

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