when will the kittens need to be weaned and use little tray?

[Jenkeywoo]

our kittens will be 3 weeks old this coming Sunday. They are growing fast and doing really well. I've been reading about starting kittens on solids and have read all sorts ranging from 2 - 5 weeks. I feel like 2 or 3 weeks must be the cat equivalent of putting baby rice in a bottle of formula. How will I know when it's the right time?

Also mummy cat doesn't use a litter tray at all so at the moment there isn't one is situ. Do they only need a litter tray when they start solids? Also I need to put the tray somewhere out of the way of crawling dd2 - does it need to be right next to there sleeping box? at the moment they are in the corner of the playroom behind the hanging rail of dressing up outfits and I don't fancy sticking a litter tray in there!

Any advice appreciated.

where are they doing their business atm then?

Cats don't like their tray too near their bed or food area either so that may be an issue - not sure how you actually go about training them though

When kittens are tiny, their mother licks their bottoms to encourage them to wee and poo, she then cleans them up.
This will stop though. I found two puddles in separate corners of the kitchen one morning, and realised they were ready.

Get some shallow kitten trays and put in some litter. To give the kittens the idea of using it, use some litter or a bit of kitchen roll to soak up any little accidents, and put in the tray. The kittens will be attracted by the smell!!! Put them on the tray to have a good sniff, get used to the feel of the litter etc. If you spot a kitten crouching down anywhere else, scoop it up and place on the tray. They should get the idea very quickly if you leave the trays in the same place, keep the kittens in the same room, and do not put their food near the trays. Don't rely on the mother cat to train them because she won't. Clean accidents off the floor using a non ammonia cleaner to prevent kittens returning to the same spot for a repeat performance!! Clean the trays daily, using only water, as cleaning agents smells may put them off.

The kittens should be in a room away from any baby, for their proection, and also they may need worming.

When they are ready for solid food they will often try the mother cats food, and when they show an interest at around 4 wks you can offer kitten food, they will need 4-5 small meals a day up to 4 mths old. The kittens will still continue to breast feed, but as their solid food intake increases the milk intake will go down. Some queens will refuse to feed at some point, others will call to their kittens to feed and the kittens aren't interested anymore!
(kitten led weaning!)

I'd offer a little kitten food from now and a litter tray. Nature will take its course and they will start when they are ready. Incidentally kitten food is higher energy and a better plan for a nursing cat than adult cat food so it is worth changing if you haven't already and then if they pick at food with mum they are getting the right stuff too.

Thank you - the kittens haven't left the box yet since being born but are just starting to hang their paws over the sides so I guess it won't be long before they're off exploring.