Hello.. The kittens I'm fostering are still nursing and they are now 7 weeks old. They eat dry &wet food on their own.. but when it comes time to drink, they ignore the bowl of water that I have out, and go right for there mom! I did see one of them once try some water...

The water level is always lower on the bowl, but I think that's just because the mom uses it..

The mom is leaving in 6 days to get fixed and then she'll be put up for adoption and kept at the shelter.. I'm going to be keeping the babies for probably 2 more weeks.. They don't weigh enough to get fixed yet.

I'm just worried that they'll get dehydrated without there mom? I tried spraying "Bitter Apple" on the moms tummy so the taste would discourage them.. but it didn't seem to bother them the slightest.

:/

its perfectly normal. some kittens just need a little longer with their mum, especaily if they are quite small. also i jus posted in your other forum with your kitten being ill. you really need to let her stay with mum for a litle longer as mums milk will help her and did you ever wonder whether the stuff you were spraying on mum belly might be the problem to your kitens weasing?? maybe its too stong and she is allergic but still best to take to vets asap.

the kittens wont be able to have injection or be nautered etc... until 5 months of age. and if you want to take mum away leave some lactol nursing milk about as its a substitute for mums milk. but to be honest they shoudl be fine by 8 weeks old and aslong as you already have them eating proper food and they are drinking water there should be no probs

__________________
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...1669936&ref=mf

please visit this link to facebook to become a fan of MISTY an organisation to reuniting missing pets

Kittens will suckle for as long as they are allowed to. I have a ten month old that regularly suckles one of my older girls. As long as you are sure they are eating, it won't be a problem, but I agree that the sick one needs to stay with Mum rather than being subjected to stress before she is well.

Liz

__________________
Kaz...lucky keeper of Sparky & 3 Birmans

I don't think the one kitty is sick because she has been fine all day.. I'll talk more about her in my other thread.

Also they have already had their shots and they're getting fixed in about 2 weeks. It's not my call on when they get their shots because the cat belongs to the shelter, not to me.