Kittens need to consume milk until they are four weeks old. (Ideally, they should nurse until they are a full month old; in countries like the United States, it is recommended that kittens continue to have access to breast milk for up to two or three months.)
Starting at four weeks of age, mix kitten milk with a small amount of canned kitten food in a shallow dish and warm it slightly. (If using a microwave, heat for only a few seconds and stir thoroughly, as microwaves heat unevenly.) This allows them to taste and get used to the canned food, eventually leading them to eat directly from the dish. Gradually decrease the amount of milk while increasing the amount of canned food.
After a week, you can add dry kitten food-softened with warm water-to the dish. At the same time, gradually stop adding milk to the dish and reduce the milk provided in the bottle until it is eliminated entirely.
By the time the kittens are six weeks old, they should be eating dry kitten food and drinking water from a bowl on their own.
The entire process should be gradual; do not rush it. (Avoid using food bowls that are too large; experience shows that kittens often mistake oversized bowls for litter boxes-defecating or urinating in them-or stand inside the bowl while eating.)
