My 4-week-old kitten stopped eating gruel. Should I be worried?

I am attaching a handout on orphan kittens below which may help you with your question. When feeding a milk replacer, the general rule is that kittens should be drinking 22 to 26 cc of formula per 100 grams of body weight over the course of the day. This is a little trickier when you start transitioning to a gruel, but will give you some idea. https://www.vin.com/members/cms/project/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=19239&SAId=1&id=4951456 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

If the kitten is 4-6 weeks it should be fed solid food, not milk. You should try kitten wet food, warm it up before offering to the kitten. If kitten allows, you can hand-feed or even syringe feed. Please, remember that kittens at that age should be fed very small amounts every 2-3 hrs.

Yes, mix those together to make a gruel. Put some on your finger and get the kitten to lick it. Gradually have your finger in the gruel and it will start to lick the food from the dish. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milah.

She looks like a healthy little kitten, so I think she's probably OK and just being picky. If possible, I would contact the former caregiver and see what they were feeding. Sometimes they reject food that they are not familiar with. If you've done that already, or it is not possible, then try to feed a few different foods. She is old enough that she can eat 100% kitten food, so you can buy a few different cans of food at the pet store. Fancy feast is always a favorite. Don't feed too much at one time though, or she could develop vomiting/diarrhea. They also stop eating sometimes when they are feeling sick. If you notice some eye or nose discharge, or anything else concerning, then you may need to get her to a vet for evaluation. I hope that helps.

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

Without knowing what you are offering him, it would be hard to say if it is an issue or not. If you are trying to feed hard or solid food, moistening it with water or a bit of kitten milk replacer and making a slurry may make it easier for Croissant to eat (and know what it is). Wet food can also be easier for a kitten to eat as they teeth. Warming up and moistened food may also make it more enticing. If Croissant continues to refuse to eat even with the changes, seems very lethargic, or is otherwise acting ill, seeking veterinary care in person ASAP is best.

Hi there. An 8-week-old kitten should be eating regular solid food at this point, not formula. If he isn't eating on his own, you can get canned kitten food and mix it with a little bit of water to form a slurry, and then use an oral dosing syringe to gently put it in his mouth.