ok for kitten to be suckling on another kitten?

Question
QUESTION: ok so we bought a new home and my dad was checking if everything was ok around the house...when we found 3 kittens and there mother dead. :[ we are keeping the kittens for now but i have been noticing that the 2 smaller kittens have been suckling on the older kitten. it seems like there stretching his belly alot. is this hurting him???? please. thank you! :]

ANSWER: Chantal,

No, this will not hurt him, but it is a behavior they will, hopefully grow out of.  How old do you think the kittens Are?  They may need to have their diets adjusted if they are too young.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i'd say there about 3 or 4 weeks old.

Answer
Chantal,

It is time for the young kittens to be weaned.  I would wean them using a good baby food (only ingredients are strained meat and broth).  You will probably have to put it in their mounts and work it a bit until the get the hang of eating.  A few days after they begin eating the baby food with gusto, you can start to mix in some canned food gradually, until they eat that with gusto.  Then you can leave dry food out for them, if you like.  You will need a bit of patience and perseverance to begin with as they may not be used to eating, yet.

I would begin by feeding them 4 times a day for the first couple of weeks, then down to 3 times a day by the time they are 9 or 10 weeks.  They can go to twice a day by 12-12 weeks.

They should get their first shot (a modified live 3-1, protecting against panleokopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calici viruses)  They can have a booster at 12 weeks.  If they are to go outside, they should get a rabies shot no younger than at 16 weeks.

Best regards... Norm.