Gruelies and Syringe Gruelies

4 weeks

Canines should be fully in and ears will be fully erect. Kittens will start showing more interest in playing. They have increased mobility and their tail will stick straight up! 

5 weeks

Ears become triangular. Kittens have more control while walking and playing. They might begin to show interest in eating from a plate. 

6 weeks

At this age kittens begin to "hunt" their toys and will start getting zoomies. They are now old enough for their six-week wellness appointment where they will receive their first vaccine and a check-up to make sure they are on track for adoption!

7 weeks

At 7 weeks old, kittens are in the home stretch before they can go to their home! They are eligible to be go on the APA! website IF they have reached adoption weight AND they have had their wellness appointment AND you have submitted at least one profile photo. You can also start holding meet and greets with potential adopters at 7 weeks.

8 weeks

At 8 weeks, these babies are miniature cats! They are ready to be adopted (assuming they have reached adoption weight and are able to eat on their own).  Kittens can be adopted once they turn 8 weeks old. 

Kitten wonderland!

Kittens need a place to play, eat, and potty. This set-up has all the essentials and removes all kitten hazards. While it may look small for some, it is perfect for kittens in our program!

Gruelie and syringe gruelie-specific items

In addition to the supplies required for all neonatal litters, you will also need a few extras for gruelies and syringe gruelies. Please be sure to have the following items before taking your kittens home! 

Volkslied learning to eat - hold for "dishes" blurb on resource page.MOV

A note about dishes

The dishes you use for feeding your foster kitties can have a surprisingly big impact! Kittens who are learning to eat gruel on their own have trouble navigating bowls and tend to chomp on the edge of the bowl instead of their food. That’s why we recommend using flat plates. Kittens will still chomp on the edge, but you can push gruel to the edge of the plate so they get a taste of the gruel when they chomp. Once they realize how tasty the gruel is, they usually get the hang of eating pretty quickly.


Nonporous dishes are recommended since there may be an association between plastic dishes and chin acne in teenage and adult cats. Be sure to wash kibble and water dishes daily and gruel plates after every use! 


There’s no need to spend lots of money on fancy cat dishes! Check your local Buy Nothing Group, thrift store, or even grocery store for free or inexpensive plates and saucers.

Want to foster a syringe gruel kitten?

Watch this short video covering all the basics of fostering syringe gruel kittens 

Fostering Basics Syringe Gruelies.mp4