I have a 5 month old kitten who won't stop trying to nurse. We got him from the shelter, and he was 9 weeks old, but already in a "kittens only" cage with a bunch of others from other litters. I don't know the age he was origionally taken from his mother, but it was done before we got there. When we got him home he continuously came to us to try to nurse - earlobes, fingertips, anything that was the right size. Since we thought that he was taken from his mother too young I let him suck on my pinky finger and it made him happy, even though he never got milk out of it (obviously) we have tried a bottle but he does not like it, he will only lap at it like a fountian. Now he's older and we can't get him to stop. If I don't let him suck my finger (and I don't let him at all anymore) he will "nurse" on a blanket, pillow, or sometimes on his own fur (he's long hair). He has plenty of healthy kitten food, lots of water, and a kitten that is a few months older as a playmate. Any suggestions?
2006-08-09 06:41:28 · 5 answers · asked by Alexis 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
I had a cat that had his own blanket with tassles and everynight at bedtime he would suck on it and kneed it. I thought it was cute. I had gotten him from a farm where the rest of the litter had been found in someones camp fire he was the only one that had gotten away. He was a cool cat though I don't remember if he had had to stop nursing too early or not This was about 23 years ago
2006-08-09 07:42:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of these cats, when taken very early from their mothers, always have this nursing thing. It may go away on its own, it might not. It isn't bad for him, it's a kind of comfort for them, like thumb-sucking for toddlers. I've never heard of anyone actually changing this behavior, and since it doesn't hurt them, I would just accept it as a wonderfully neat part of the cat's personality.
2006-08-09 06:46:59 · answer #2 · answered by fizzygod 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my male cat who's 4 does this on occasion. when we first got him as a kitten he tried to nurse off of my older female cat (not his mom). she just layed there and let him. so, i guess since it's natural, you should just give into him and let him nurse on whatever. it surely doesn't do any harm and is probably cute.
2006-08-09 07:20:31 · answer #3 · answered by animal_mother 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my cats still do this. consider it a cute habit. I love it when my adult cat does this. It is just a habit, nothing more. The cat may stop, but probably will always occasionally "milk" on your shirt while sitting on your lap. Its ok.
2006-08-09 06:45:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is acting like a baby with a pacifier. As long as he is not doing something to hurt himself, what is the harm?
2006-08-09 06:45:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋