5 week old kittens

[Becky Pyland Davis]

I have 3 five week old kittens, that are doing just fine and healthy. However, after doing some reading online and in books, I am finding that they are not quite up to snuff on their eating habits. The momma, Gizmo, is giving pleany of milk and the lil fellers are so round that they high center when they try to walk or play. However, they are not eating any soft kitten food or drinking any water or anything. They are not using a litter box, the momma is still taking care of that problem for them. Now this is Gizmo's first and ONLY litter and perhaps she is just being very cautious for them, but I do know that in another week, most kittens are weaned and litter box trained by this time. I have gotten them some canned kitten food and even taken some of it and placed it in their little mouths and they will swollow it, but they have no desire to have anymore.
What should I do? Do I let the momma decide when it is time for them to start eating a lil bit and let her train them when SHE is ready for them to start using a litter box or what. I placed a small container in their room, with litter in it, for when she is ready to train them, but she used it and she is quite the 'coverer', when she uses the litter box, that it looked like it had snowed litter in the room. Do I just placec the small container with the litteri n it again, in the room and just put out a huge towel to TRY and catch what she slings, or what.
I would appreciate any you'll might care to give.
Thank you,
Becky, Sassy, Gizmo and Doofus, Goofus and Roofus

[davet]

i think you are beign a little too ambitious for these guys...weaning can be from 6 to 10 weeks, there is no rush to get them on "real food"....let the mom handle this for a while longer.....mother nature knows far more than we do.....

[Tina B and crew]

I agree with davet...let momma handle it for now...she will do a fine job I usually start showing my foster kittens the litter box around 4 weeks...sometimes it takes one show, sometimes it takes several weeks. They will eventually get there though

[Guest]

Thank you Davet and Tina, guess I was just jumping the gun some
I will let the momma take care of it and just enjoyed the dickens out of these lil fellers
Becky