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08/24/08

Can Kittens Nurse and Eat Simultaneously?
Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

white_cat_nursing_four_kittens.jpgI have a real simple question. I have a kitty
that is around 8 weeks old now. It has started to
eat food and drink water. The problem is that
the mother cat still wants to nurse this kitty and
its sibling. I was wondering, is it possible
that this will make the kitten vomit? Drinking
water and momma’s milk?

Carol
Cleveland, OH

It shouldn’t be a problem.

As any parent who has breast fed knows, weaning is a gradual process. In all mammals a normal transitional period occurs. During this period the infant nurses and consumes other forms of food and water. Over time, a complete transition away from nursing occurs.

I am troubled by your reference to vomiting. Are the kittens vomiting regularly? If so, you should have a vet check them out. (Actually, by eight weeks of age, a vet already should have checked them out! They need vaccines and deworming medications.)

However, if your kittens are not vomiting, then it sounds like they are going through a normal weaning process.

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