Wanting first hand advice for kittens

[crazydrunkevilhamster]

So my kittens are 17 days old and are growing extremely fast, they seem a lot more alert today as to what's going on around them and are starting to try and walk instead of swim .
I have read loads of books on what to expect next , but im wanting first hand experience as its better than what most books can say .

So what can I expect next from my balls of fluff

Lots of very cute stumbling around
Mum being prepared to leave them for slightly longer.
The start of mini play between them .... sooo cute!
Early purrs

From 3 weeks:
Engaging in gentle early play .....try slowly pulling a ribbon for them
With handrears, I would starting litter training now and it does no harm at all to teach any kitten from early. You can help with the natural process by introducing a small flat tray with a little soft litter in (I used to use an old tupperware lid for this age group). They will currently be very used to pee'ing for mum when she washes, so gently stroking with a little tissue under their tail should produce a wee. You then put a little of the tissue in with the litter, so the smell encourages them to go there. Next step is to pop kittens onto the tray .....and use the undertail stroke to get them to start pee'ing.
Using this method, I have had many kittens litter-trained' by 4 weeks and all of them by 5 weeks.

They will shortly start clambering out of the nest!
When you start to see them following after Mum towards the food bowl, it is time to introduce kitten food. Let Mum eat it too if she wants ....they learn by watching her. Do make sure that it is well-mashed and easy to eat, at this early stage. She will carry on feeding them for several weeks yet.

Just a note ..... please don't allow them to be homed until they are at least 8 weeks. I know people let kittens go at 6 weeks but it really is too young, and they are often not fully weaned. It is important that they know how to lap ...and that quite often happens a while after they start eating solids .......you may have to teach them! easy enough using the "lick off a finger" method, but really important that you have seen a kitten lap before it goes off to its new home.

Thanks mumngran

They have started to play fight & its adorable to watch
Thankfully they still have their mum who is doing a great job with them , they have just started to stray outside of their bed .
I'm still feeding the mum on Kitten food and will be doing until she has stopped feeding them .
Also won't be letting them go to their new homes until they are between 10 & 12 weeks .
Thanks

That is soooo good to hear I always hate it when kittens are yaken from Mum too soon.

Van you post any pix? its such a lovely lovely age !!

or "taken", even!

Crazy did have some pics if I recall but she seems to have made them private again.

I will sort some pics

Having trouble uploading pics , will try when on laptop