Foster Kittens + The Permanents + a Question!

[Casper]

Hello everyone. I'm a frequent lurker to Cat General, but I have a question on the subject of weaning a stubborn kitten. I decided it was only fair to trade pictures for the answer to my question, right?


A picture from the first day the kittens arrived in our care. Someone dumped them off at the local animal shelter saying they were abandoned. The head of the shelter did not have time to care for them so his "only" option was to euthanize them. Of course, we could not bear to see five helpless kittens be PTS, so we offered to raise them.


(Sorry the "after" pictures are poor quality. My sister dropped my camera at my graduation and it seems to have jolted something...)

Orange Boy:

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Orange Girl:

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Black Boy:

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Tortie Girl:


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More coming....

[Casper]

Tabby Girl:

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I love how each and every one has their own personality. Even when they first arrived it seemed like they all were very different. The Tortie is the "smartest". She learned to take the bottle, walk, eat wet food, and use the litterbox before anyone else. The tabby is the most out-going... always exploring and wanting to climb on your lap. The orange boy is super laid back. The orange girl is very stubborn and demanding. And the black boy is very calm and cuddly.
I love all these kittens dearly and cannot imagine when they go to their new homes. Most all of them already have homes. The Tabby is going all the way to Oklahoma. :-)


The Permanents:




My beautiful Marzy! It is such a pleasure to own a cat like her. Sure, she does not enjoy being held or cuddled, but her attitude makes up for it all. She is a ton of fun.






Melani is still the boss of the house. She has quite the job of keeping all the dogs and cats in their places!




Kayla is doing great, as well. She is the complete opposite of Marz. She demands constant attention from anyone who makes eye contact.




My utterly handsome boy, Khaith. Still 100% perfect.


Thats it for the pictures, I will type up my question and post it ASAP.

[Casper]

The Question:

Alright. All is going great with the kittens. Four out of five are eating wet food with no problem and we have got the majority using the litterbox all the time. Well...You might have guessed our problem...
We cannot get the orange girl to eat wet food! We have tried everything we know to do... We have put a tiny bit in her mouth, but she always spits it out. We have tried five different flavors, but she still won't budge. Are there any hidden tricks I don't know about?
Please, any suggestions are greatly valued. It would be splendid if we got everyone on wet food.

Thank you.

[Moesha]

I don't know if I have a suggestion or not, but I just have to say how ADORABLE those kitten pictures are. The ones of the big kitties are sweet too, but nothing is cuter than a kitten. Obviously that orange girl has an attitude. Look at that picture. It is priceless! The only thing I can think to suggest is perhaps trying dry food moistened with a little water. Some kitties don't like canned food at all. How old are they?

[Pinot's Mom]

First; your pictures are WONDERFUL!! Thank you!! I, of course, am partial to a certain Tabby....anyway....

Why does everyone have to eat wet food? No tricks, there are just preferences. I know with that many it makes things easier, but that little orange girl knows what she wants!! Keep us updated!!!

[cassiesmom]

I have no idea how to get a kitten to eat wet food. I just wanted to say that the kittens are adorable, your kitties are gorgeous!

[katladyd]

Try mixing chicken broth with it. This may work. My boyfriend's little girl, Mau Mau, will not eat any canned and goodness knows we have tried. Some cats just don't like it. You can't force a cat to do anything they don't want to.

[happylabs]

We always gave dry kitten food moistened with some warm water and the little darlings gobbled it right up.

The pictures are sweet! I like the baby kitty pictures but have to say that I would take Kayla in a heartbeat...she is...GORGEOUS!

Kittens are always so cute when they get all hissing and protective!

[jenluckenbach]

Babies wean at their own rate. And I have had those so stubborn when it came to starting solid food.

You should start by mixing the canned food with the milk replacer.

also

Offer dry kitten food and also dry kitten food softened with water. She may skip canned in favor of dry.

[Medusa]

Jenluckenbach's advice seems the wisest to me. My Creamsicle, an orangie, won't eat canned food either, never did. She eats dry and that's it.

Your kittens and grown up kitties are all adorable!

[Casper]

Thank you so much for your replies, everyone! I have no idea why my mind skipped over trying to go straight to dry food (or moist dry food). I guess since the four permanent cats at our house are little piggies when it comes to wet food that I forget some cats are not too fond of it. I will certainly be trying what is suggested.

I figured everyone would wean at their own rates. The stubborn girl is no longer taking the bottle well and I feel guilty for not trying any other options sooner...

Anyhow, thanks again!

[catmandu]

tHeres KMR and there a gel that My Vet gave me for Mr Purr when he wouldnt eat, which is good for Kittens which is concentrtaed protein.

I wish I could recall its name , but its worked for The Animal Welfare Association too.