Why does Jeremy attack his bottle?

[Tina B and crew]

First, I know he needs to be weaning...but he's absolutely being a pain about going to solid food...I try each day. Going to get babyfood today and try it again.

But the biggest problem I have is that he attacks his bottle! I know most of my fosters will paw at the bottle, and I usually wrap it and my hand in a towel or soft blanket and give them a surface to "knead" on when they nurse. Jeremy grabs at the nipple and the ring that holds it on and scratches at it and his face when he nurses. He has even scratched his nose to the point of bleeding. I have tried everything to stop him from doing this and the only thing I have found that works some of the time is stroking his head as he nurses. I've watched his posture closely when he does this..his tail swishes as if he is angry and his ears go flat. It's almost as if he had to fight for his food at some point in his life and he takes on a defensive posture. I've never had a bottle feeder act like this. Any input?

Otherwise he is normal, his diarrhea is getting better, he no longer is vomiting..he uses the litter box and plays, never shows any aggression to me or anyone else...just his bottle

[Traci]

Welcome to my world....I've had two of my kittens do this with their bottles, Cody was the worst, and I mean the absolute worst, he would scratch anything.

The correct position helps, make sure you are holding him as if he is laying down, belly-side down as he would nurse from his own mother. If you hold him upright or at an angle, or upside down, chances are he won't tolerate it.

Double-check the nipple on the bottle and make sure he hasn't chewed or scratched it to the point of sharp edges. Sharp edges aren't fun on a sensitive kitten's mouth and gums. If they aren't frayed or sharp edges, try opening the nipple alittle to allow more milk to get through.

You mentioned getting baby food. Hope you don't mean gerbers or whatever. There are absolutely NO nutrients in baby food for growing and developing kittens. He could be a slow weaning kitten, give it alittle more time. Cody didn't want to be weaned until he was nearly 7 weeks, Cere wasn't ready until week 6.

(edited for content again, I really can spell, really I can)

[Tina B and crew]

Thanks for the reply Traci. We normally feed them in the same position that they would take when nursing from a mother. It doesn't matter with Jeremy, he still scratches himself to pieces Bottle, nipple condition, formula temp has been check...his mouth has been checked for sores...it's just his style I guess. Good thing is he is starting to eat solid food and relying less on the bottle.

Regarding the babyfood...I never feed them a pure diet of babyfood...I simply use it as a starter to introduce them to the feel of solids in their mouth. Maybe a teaspoon at a time...then mix it with kitten food, then pure kitten food. Rarely does one of my kittens even go through an entire jar of baby food before they are onto kitten food