- Joined
- May 19, 2021
- Messages
- 12
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I've been raising a trio of orphaned kittens since day 1 and everything has been working out pretty good up until the weaning process and when these guys should be eating and drinking on their own, while getting them to eat on their own went well, it's getting them to drink that ended up being a huge problem.
I've been almost crying out of frustration with these guys and their refusal to drink water out of a bowl. Two of them are going to be adopted out soon, and there's a lot of pressure to get them to act normal before then.
I've tried different kinds of bowls, and chicken broth, one did drink a little of it, but since that day they've been acting repulsed by the same chicken broth they were eating up the day before and even scared of the broth/water bowl, I was being as gentle as possible with them but when I offer it, they act like it will come alive and attack them.
I've been trying to work with them to encourage them to drink as close to a mother cat as I can, but the only thing these dummies got out of my lessons was using the water bowls as a bathroom, I've caught them several times peeing in or around the bowl rather than drinking out of it for whatever reason.
They're eating a diet of wet food to keep hydrated and I've been supplementing with pedialyte when it seems they're getting dehydrated. They're super active and acting like normal kittens, well, except for the drinking thing.
Does anyone have any tips on how to encourage these kittens to learn how to drink from a bowl? I'm not sure the chicken broth is helping, that's what a vet recommended and it hasn't worked out (I was using TikiCat chicken broth packs.)
Kitten recommended fountains? Certain broths that worked with you guys? Techniques? I'll try anything!
I've been almost crying out of frustration with these guys and their refusal to drink water out of a bowl. Two of them are going to be adopted out soon, and there's a lot of pressure to get them to act normal before then.
I've tried different kinds of bowls, and chicken broth, one did drink a little of it, but since that day they've been acting repulsed by the same chicken broth they were eating up the day before and even scared of the broth/water bowl, I was being as gentle as possible with them but when I offer it, they act like it will come alive and attack them.
I've been trying to work with them to encourage them to drink as close to a mother cat as I can, but the only thing these dummies got out of my lessons was using the water bowls as a bathroom, I've caught them several times peeing in or around the bowl rather than drinking out of it for whatever reason.
They're eating a diet of wet food to keep hydrated and I've been supplementing with pedialyte when it seems they're getting dehydrated. They're super active and acting like normal kittens, well, except for the drinking thing.
Does anyone have any tips on how to encourage these kittens to learn how to drink from a bowl? I'm not sure the chicken broth is helping, that's what a vet recommended and it hasn't worked out (I was using TikiCat chicken broth packs.)
Kitten recommended fountains? Certain broths that worked with you guys? Techniques? I'll try anything!