When Should Kittens Start Eating Solid Food & How to Wean Them?

Kittenhood is amazing, but there comes a time in every cat’s life when they have to take their first step towards independence and leave kittenhood behind. It all starts with a process called weaning.

In most cases, you’ll bring your kitten home at 8 weeks of age or older and they’ll already be weaned. A reputable breeder will not sell a kitten that is younger than 8 weeks or not fully weaned. However, there may be exceptional circumstances - for example, if you are caring for an accidental litter or supporting a rescue situation - where younger kittens need your care. 

Keep reading to find out when kittens are weaned and how to help your furball make a smooth transition from their mum’s milk to solid food. Be prepared, as it might get a bit messy.

When to start weaning kittens?

Wondering when your kittens are ready to start eating some delicious solid kitten food? Knowing the usual age range and the signs of readiness can help you introduce solid food at the right pace.

The optimal age to start weaning

Signs your kitten is ready for weaning

As kittens develop, they begin to show signs that they are ready to explore solid food. This may include chewing their bottle teat, showing interest in food - including trying to eat their mother’s food. As their teeth begin to come through, many kittens become more curious about different tastes and textures. If your kitten seems comfortable trying soft food, you can continue the weaning process gradually over the following weeks.

Kittens tend to have their own individual schedule when it comes to weaning and switching to solid food. But if you notice your kitten is struggling to eat food, or appears lethargic or weak, it is best to seek veterinary advice. 

Getting Ready for Weaning

Before you begin weaning, it helps to have everything in place to make the transition as smooth as possible. From choosing the right food to setting up suitable bowls, a little preparation can make mealtimes easier for both you and your kitten.

1. Choose the right kitten food from the start

If in doubt, you can check out Purina’s range of kitten food and find nutritionally balanced meals that are tasty too.

2. Get the right food bowls

Your kitten’s first food bowl is an exciting purchase. Kitten food bowls often come with colourful, cute designs that may catch your eye. But to make life easier, you should also pay attention to the material they’re made out of and how deep or shallow they are. Steel or ceramic food bowls are usually a better choice because plastic tends to scratch easily and may harbour bacteria in the resulting grooves. Choose a shallow bowl so that your kitten is able to get to the food easily. You should always ensure that your kitten has a separate bowl for water that’s always fresh and filled.

You can find out more about choosing the right bowl for your cat with our top tips.

3. Keep milk feeds going as the kitten gets used to solid food

The transition from milk to solid food should be gradual. Kitten weaning is a slow process and for good reason. Until this point, your kitten will only have known their mum’s milk or the formula in the bottle, so learning to eat solid food is a big change. Continuing to offer milk feeds while your kitten is growing more comfortable with solid food means that they’ll still be getting the calories they need no matter how happy or reluctant they are to accept the new meals. By week eight, most kittens are fully weaned and ready to eat solid meals on their own.

5. Introduce your kitten to water too

Once your kitten is confident around their new food bowl, it’s time to introduce the other important bowl in any cat’s life: the water bowl. Choose a stainless steel or ceramic bowl that your kitten can drink from comfortably, preferably placed away from their food bowl as cats don’t like their food and water to be too close together!

How to wean kittens in 5 easy steps

If you’ve decided now is the time to start the kitten weaning adventure, here are a few easy steps to take your kitten from drinking their mum’s milk, or from a bottle, to eating solid food on their own. 

1. Start with kitten milk in a shallow bowl. Follow the packaging instructions with regards to dilution and temperature. You can try placing a small amount on or near the kitten's mouth to encourage them to drink from the bowl. Do this several times a day until they are happily taking the milk from the bowl.
2. Add a small amount of wet kitten food to the milk.
3. Gradually increase the ratio of food to milk until the kitten is happily eating the solid food.
4. Allow the change to happen gradually over several weeks. During this time the kittens may continue to suckle while they adjust to solid food.
5. If you are rearing a litter, monitor each kitten during this time to make sure they are all eating (and growing) well.

Kitten weaning top tips

Now that you have the basics of how to wean a kitten, here are a few more kitten weaning tips.

• Offer both wet and dry kitten food: Some kittens take to dry food easily, while others prefer wet food at first. Having both available can make it easier to find what suits your kitten.
• Warm the food slightly: Gently warming wet food can make it smell more appealing and may encourage a reluctant kitten to try it.
• Use a feeding mat: Weaning can be messy, so placing bowls on a mat can help catch spills and make cleaning up easier.
• Create a feeding routine: Offering meals at regular times each day can help kittens get used to eating solid food. Aim for three to four small meals a day.
• Be patient: Weaning usually takes a few weeks, so try not to rush the process. Let your kitten adjust gradually and build confidence with solid food at their own pace.

How to wean an orphaned kitten

If you’ve welcomed an orphaned kitten into the family, the weaning process is broadly similar, although it may need to start a little earlier - often from around three weeks of age. As with kittens being raised by their mother, look for clues that they are ready for solid food: emerging teeth, biting and chewing, or showing interest in food.

If they’re underweight or very small, you might need to wait a little longer before starting weaning. As always, check with your vet to make sure you’re taking the right approach for your kitten. 

Next, find out if cats truly hate water and discover what to do if your kitten is drinking too much water.

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