Hi there, we have two kittens whom were taken from their mother at an early age and dumped in a drain. We have had them for about 8 months now. In the beginning, they were happy to suckle a pink blanket, which didn't bother me the slightest. NOW, they've taken to suckling ME - and that is bothering me. They latch onto my clothes and suckle away! I am left with a HUGE wet spot and because they're big now it's starting to hurt. I have tried to move them back onto the blanket but they just keep coming back for more!!! HELP!
2006-10-17 12:00:21 · 27 answers · asked by jesskar21 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I know it is a 'comfort' action, and I don't want to stop that. I just need some relief, at times my arms become red and scratched. I don't want to emotionally hurt my kittens but I want to help them.
2006-10-17 12:28:36 · update #1
The easy answer is every time they start suckling stand up. They see you as their mum so you treat them the way SHE would.And that IS what mother cats do! Never physically punish them (Its cruel and you'll lose their affection) if you want to stop them doing something you consider wrong (they are only behaving as CATS) use a water spray and a firm NO. This works well and doesn't hurt the cat. It wont work for this though unless you dont mind getting wet! And it could lead to them being too scared to even sit on your lap! If you just stand up they cant suckle and they will soon stop and either return to the blanket themselves (you can never put a cat where they dont want to go without confining them in some way) or stop suckling altogether which at their age is most likely.
2006-10-17 13:48:11 · answer #1 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Some cat's which have had a traumatic past such as yours will revert back to a happy memory such as suckling with it's mother. We have a cat which is about 7 or 8, which we took in after being abandonded, and she still does the very same thing from time to time. Another thing you could do is just to get an old soft jumper or soft piece of fabric and put that on your lap and hopefully it wont affect you so much.
2006-10-18 01:01:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They never stop.. Well thats my experience. I had a cat that had a litter of four. Two of the kittens went to my mate and they are now 8 months old and both suckle at a teddy, so im guessing that they continue to do it. Its a bit weird though. Lol
2016-03-17 04:58:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the kittens have already been emotionally damaged I'm afraid. Kittens removed from the mother at too young an age may suckle for the rest of their lives. I would say that as soon as they start to suckle now, remove them and put them down on the floor. You will have to keep doing it and it may take weeks but that should work. It's a shame you didn't have an adult cat to take over initially.
2006-10-18 03:13:17 · answer #4 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I had a cat that did that too, i got her from a rescue center so i know she was abandoned as a kitten. I got round it by giving her an old sheepskin rug i used as a throw over the couch. She started to suckle that instead of me, maybe thought it was another cat or her mother. Try something furry and see what happens.
2006-10-17 12:04:46 · answer #5 · answered by AliG 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well that is a problem. hmmm I would think you should just experiment with all different things and see if they would rather suckle something beside you. If you must, give up a shirt of yours for them to suckle and try to make it smell like you. Maybe they're comforted by your scent? Give them a hug for me! Sorry but I just loooove cats. :)
2006-10-17 12:05:13 · answer #6 · answered by PurtyPilot 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They think of you as their mother. They will soon out grow the suckling part or that they are frighten of something and take to going to you and sucking to get comfort from the only mother that they knew.
I had a Main Coon cat who suckled my nightgown as he slept. I didn't even mind as this was a cat that I adopted. What we figured out was that he considered me to be his mother cat and would 'nurse' on me for comfort.
It is nothing to get scared about, they are seeking comfort from their mother.
2006-10-17 12:11:28 · answer #7 · answered by Kaladan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Jess
1st of you deserve a medal for taking the kittens SO WELL DONE TO YOU. I have never heard of kittens doing that before but i guess they think your there mother. I bet it is very sore. I would buy them a babies dummy tit and try to get them use to that. I wish you the best of luck with them
2006-10-17 22:01:30 · answer #8 · answered by chass_lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just had this same problem!!! i think they do it because they look at you like a mother and it is like a comfort thing for them. what i ended up doing was everytime i layed down i coverd my neck with something like a blanket or something... it seemed to have worked for the sucking but now she just kneeds on me... wich i have no idea how to break that habbit but i know that covering up so they cant suck you will work.. they will want to do it at first but it will stop... its cause there so young... mine stopped at about 8 months
2006-10-17 12:52:27 · answer #9 · answered by nessie86 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kitten used to try to suckle on my boyfriend's nipples!
We just encouraged him to play with other things... maybe try scenting things with lemon, or give them a baby bottle?
2006-10-17 22:51:17 · answer #10 · answered by Elphaba 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋