Can kittens nurse and eat simultaneously?

I have a real simple question. I have a kitty that is around 8 weeks old now. It has started to eat food and drink water. The problem is that the mother cat still wants to nurse this kitty and its sibling. I was wondering, is it possible that this will make the kitten vomit? Drinking water and momma’s milk?

Carol
Cleveland, OH

It shouldn’t be a problem.

As any parent who has breast fed knows, weaning is a gradual process. In all mammals a normal transitional period occurs. During this period the infant nurses and consumes other forms of food and water. Over time, a complete transition away from nursing occurs.

I am troubled by your reference to vomiting. Are the kittens vomiting regularly? If so, you should have a vet check them out. (Actually, by eight weeks of age, a vet already should have checked them out! They need vaccines and deworming medications.)

However, if your kittens are not vomiting, then it sounds like they are going through a normal weaning process.