ideas on how to get a 7wk old kitty eating solids...

[simpson]

I have recently decided to get 2 kittens from my neighbours next door whose cat had a litter of 3.

I got one of the kittens last friday and she strutted in like she owned the place and has made herself at home ever since

However her sister refuses all solids and still likes to nurse from her mother so she stayed behind.

I wanted to worm both kitties yesterday so took the 2nd one to mine too and then chatted to neighbours and we decided I would have it overnight in the hope that as it cannot get to its mother she may eat but she has eaten nothing and shows no interest

She is still full of beans though, charging around chasing/playing with her sister etc.

Does this mean that she is simply not ready to leave her mum yet??

What is the best thing to do??

They are 8wks on thursday.

TIA

try mashing the food and mixing it with warm water, or soaking dry cat food until it's soft (also in warm water)

well it seems to want to eat chunks of things and so far has eaten pasta, carrot, egg, but no meat!!

And its not eating enormous amounts either but is still chirpy, charging about etc...

Little kittens stomachs are very tiny, so it's not surprising it doesn't eat much! You could try offering a blob of wet kitten food on your finger for it to lick off and keep repeating until the kitten has had enough. At this stage I'd stick to wet food so that the kitten gets enough fluid, then when eating well introduce dry kitten food. I'd stick to proper cat food, though, as other foods won't give the right balance of nutrients.

I think the kitten will get the idea about eating from observing the mother cat or her sister tucking in.

girlywhirly - she totally refuses wet kitten food Have tried it on my finger etc but she looks at it like it poison

The food she has eaten (and it was tiny amounts) was off my plate when I was having my dinner

But she does not look noticably thinner or anything.

Her sister on the other hand is a real gannet and eating her own body weight in food