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My kitten is weaning. Why is she biting the bottle and not drinking?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 9 days old

I'm weaning my kitty as it is more than 1 month old. She eats cooked chicken and fishes one time a day. When I feed her with bottle, she attacks d bottle and bites the nipples aggressively. It is very difficult to get her latched to the nipple and even if she is very hungry she doesn't drink as much as before. However, she eats meat or fish to her fill. I see this behaviour for the last 3 days. What could be the reason?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 12th, 2017

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sounds like your kitten is successfully weaning! It sounds like she's becoming less interested in bottle feeding, since she is taking solids, and is likely playing with the nipple now more than feeding from it. At this stage, kitten food will do her more good than meat or milk replacer. I recommend offering her both dry and canned kitten food (you may want to crush the dry food a bit if she needs help eating it), and you can also offer a bit of the milk replacer in a little saucer for her to lap up herself, to encourage self-feeding. Keep trying to do the bottle feedings until you're confident she's eating kitten food on her own, but don't stress too much if she seems to be losing interest as her "real food" consumption picks up. Hope this helps!

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    Answered By Maria DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 22nd, 2018

    If Angel's eyes are open she is about 3 weeks of age. If she is chewing the bottle I would start to introduce wet food. I would mix the kitten milk replacer with wet kitten food and put it in a bowl for her and she is she will start to take it. She may just start to need food on top of the milk. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. She is adorable!!

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