# How do I convince the mama cat to turn off the milk machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305 "2020-05-22T18:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/1 "2020-05-22T18:32:52Z")
The three kittens are eleven weeks old. They are really healthy=fat. Mama cat is very skinny. And always cries for more food. Which I give, and which the kittens also consume. I started feeding the mama cat, when she cries, at a place the kittens can’t reach. She eats, but still cries. Maybe she is asking for food for the kittens? Is this an area of concern? Or will it work out on its own? Thanks for your input. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/2 "2020-05-22T18:51:10Z")
To stop the milk production, the kittens must stop nursing. Unless you are prepared to take the kittens away, feed them baby cat food, AND continue to feed mom, there’s no other recourse. Feed mom a high quality, nutritious cat food, and make sure she has plenty (I mean lots!) of fesh water. She should start bring them disabled prey very soon. The babies will need kitten chow. Mom needs to be spayed, yesterday. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![half-elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/3 "2020-05-22T19:11:51Z")
In the Olde Days when one Did Not Spay Their Pets, I had to milk a female dog till she stopped producing milk (when her puppies were taken from her :mad: ) otherwise it would have calcified. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/4 "2020-05-22T22:08:33Z")
> [@half-elf](#): > > In the Olde Days when one Did Not Spay Their Pets, I had to milk a female dog till she stopped producing milk (when her puppies were taken from her :mad: ) otherwise it would have calcified. And thus began the tradition of chihuahua cheese… ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/5 "2020-05-22T22:59:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And thus began the tradition of chihuahua cheese… For little, teeny-tiny tacos! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/6 "2020-05-22T23:11:09Z")
The more solid food the kittens eat, the less they’ll want to nurse. They will self-wean when they are ready. However, if you really don’t want the kittens nursing, there’s a product called a Suitical (also dubbed a weansie) that was designed as an alternative to a plastic cone for animals who have had abdominal surgery, and it will also cover the mammary chain so the kittens can’t access it. > **[Amazon.com : Suitical Recovery Suit Cat, XX-Small, Black Camouflage : Pet...](https://www.amazon.com/Suitical-Recovery-Suit-Cats-XXSmall/dp/B00NHNF5SY)** > > Amazon.com : Suitical Recovery Suit Cat, XX-Small, Black Camouflage : Pet Supplies ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/7 "2020-05-22T23:45:08Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > For little, teeny-tiny tacos! > ~VOW Oh, god. Y’all are gross. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/8 "2020-05-22T23:59:19Z")
_points at **Darren Garrison** _ He started it! .~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/9 "2020-05-23T02:24:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The more solid food the kittens eat, the less they’ll want to nurse. They will self-wean when they are ready. That’s the key. Get the kittens eating solid (wet) food. Make it better – more easily available (no nursing needed) and better tasting (multiple flavors besides ‘dairy’) – and the kittens will eat this for most of their nutrition. They will still nurse some, for psychological comfort reasons, but less often. And as the nurse less, the mother cat will dry up. Plus she’ll begin teaching them about hunting, and will start weaning them because their nursing hurts (especially as they grow teeth). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-the-mama-cat-to-turn-off-the-milk-machine/854305/10 "2020-05-23T02:34:06Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The more solid food the kittens eat, the less they’ll want to nurse. They will self-wean when they are ready. That’s the key. Get the kittens eating solid (wet) food. Make it better – more easily available (no nursing needed) and better tasting (multiple flavors besides ‘dairy’) – and the kittens will eat this for most of their nutrition. They will still nurse some, for psychological comfort reasons, but less often. And as the nurse less, the mother cat will dry up. Plus she’ll begin teaching them about hunting, and will start weaning them because their nursing hurts (especially as they grow teeth).