kitty sucking behavior

[caybee 21]

We have two 12-week-old kittens that we adopted at 8 weeks from a family that had 10 new kittens in 2 litters. We chose two who were especially close to each other so they could comfort each other in their new home, and they have adapted wonderfully. They are so sweet and active, and their personalities are so different. The female is small and sleek and long-legged like her mom. The male is big, fluffy, and stocky like his dad. She the dominant one and initiates most of the wrestling matches. He's a lap baby and loves to watch TV. She's independent, but if she leaves the room, he still cries for her from time to time. They wrestle and chase each other, all very normal.

A couple of weeks ago, the male started this "nursing" behavior on the female. I know kittens and even grown cats do that sometimes, sucking on towels and other soft things, and sometimes each other, especially when they left their mom a little too soon. I had two grown cats that would do that. She doesn't seem to mind; she lies back with her eyes closed until she gets irritated, and then she yells, boxes him, and gets up.

Well, now he's started sucking on her neck. It's like he zeros in on her "purr box" (she's a loud purrer) and goes to town with these loud sucking noises. He looks like a vampire attacking her, quite aggressive looking. Again, she doesn't seem to mind and just lays back until she gets tired of it, and she doesn't seem to have any trouble getting away if she wants to. But she comes out with this sopping-wet neck in the end, and at first, it looks like she's been shaved. We've checked to see if she has furr loss or skin irritation, and she doesn't, but we're concerned that might happen over time. I understand this is his comfort behavior, but I'm wondering if there's a way to help him transfer the behavior to something else. We not going to punish him for a comfort behavior. I've thought about bringing him a stuffed animal. Maybe a damp washcloth? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thank you.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You are right in that it is comfort behaviour and often happens in kittens who are weaned early. 8 weeks may be early for some kittens - one stray mother I adopted nursed her kittens until they were about 12 weeks old and then weaned them, so your little boy may still have been nursing fairly heavily when he was 'weaned' abruptly at 8 weeks even though he didn't need the milk.. I had a 4 year old male cat when I adopted Kirsty - she was orphaned at about 5 weeks old and the only one of her litter to survive. She started to 'nurse' on our older male who let her. She continued for a few months, gradually tapering off and finally stopping all together.

When I adopted three 10 day old kittens, also orphaned, I bottle raised them and they were weaned from the bottle at about 6 weeks old. When the little female went to her new home at 16 weeks, she started to suck/nurse on a ribbon on her new owner's nightgown. It is now a nightly ritual for them. The two males, who I still have, share this old chenille sweater of mine and will knead and suck on that and drag it around the house in their mouths. It is a comfort thing.

If your little girl doesn't mind and isn't obviously being harmed I would say to let it run its course. You could try giving him a substitution - a piece of rabbit fur, the stuffed toy or even a soft knitted sweater of some type and see if he will transfer. It sounds like the little male just needs that little extra bit of reassurance - comfort, as you surmised, - from this nursing action. He probably will outgrow it, but in the meantime it gives him reassurance. Do make sure that he is neutered, though, before he becomes sexually aware.

Kudos for you for not getting upset about it and trying to find a solution that keeps everyone happy. If you are very much bothered by it, you could discuss it with your vet.

Edited May 24, 2008 by Kathryn41

[caybee 21]

No, it doesn't bother us. It's kinda cute, but we just don't want her to have skin problems. We'll take him in soon to be neutered -- I think he's old enough now at 12 weeks? We'll wait a while on her since she's so small and neither goes outside. When we picked them up, the family said none of that litter was nursing anymore, but they may not have been aware of it, and I know they were anxious to get the kitties placed. We'll try your suggestions, and we could also try cuddling him more when he does that. When he's wound up, if you scruff him and cuddle him, he mellows right out. She, on the other hand, doesn't care for the scruffing, but she's not as needy either. Thanks for the advice.

[BMJ 0]

One of our cats likes to suck on a oversize stuffed puppy dog, its really soft and squishy and big. He will just put his paws on it, kneeding it while he sucks. He was found abandoned when he was only about 5 or 6 weeks old, so he didnt have enough time nursing. He is now around a little over a year old and he still does it.