Cat Suckles on my dressing gown..?

Question

I have 2 cats both just over a year old. One is really friendly while the other practically ignores you.

The friendly one will come up to me and sit on me, If im wearing my furry dressing gown he will sit there and suckle on it purring away.....is this normal behaviour?

Tina, yes it does move its feet.

Its not that I mind so much its just an odd thing to do....the other one doesnt.

Answer 1

It's relatively normal.

I got two kittens at 10 months of age. Apparently they were not quite fully weaned. The one was all about sucking on my hair and the other could care less, at first. Eventually the other realized that sucking could still be had and now they are both mad sucking demons.

I say it this way because I love them so.

I researched it as much as the web would allow. My vet was not concerned in the least (though I did get them from him. I won't deny bias in his opinion. He is a good vet, though). From what I could glean via the web cats continue this suckling behaviour because they never really finished weaning. They still associate suckling with comfort.

First I tried to stop the behaviour by distracting them or simply removing them. Really hard to care about when you're trying to be asleep and consistency is everything with training cats. If you can't train because you are too tired you simply can't train.

Then I learned that it was comfort for them and not an attempt to feed. Even cats that don't suckle do "knead." They paw at you while they purr and you pet them. It's an instinct. The same instinct that they would use to stimulate milk flow from their mother. They will also drool a bit while they are kneading and purring. It's the same thing.

I gave in. I decided I'd rather that they feel comfortable and safe with me rather than I let my concerns about proper social behavior, in human terms, dictate the love and affection they get. I do have them trained to sucking on blankets rather than hair or clothing.

They like your dressing gown because it smells like you. They suck on it because it makes them feel safe and loved. With a lot of effort you can train them not to but you do risk training them not to be affectionate at all. That said I have read accounts of people who have been successful in weaning their cats from sucking at all while still having affectionate cats.

I suppose to wean them of this habit will depend on your determination and their personalities.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Cat Suckles on my dressing gown..?
I have 2 cats both just over a year old. One is really friendly while the other practically ignores you.

The friendly one will come up to me and sit on me, If im wearing my furry dressing gown he will sit there and suckle on it purring away.....is this normal behaviour?

Answer 3

I had a kitten years ago that would do the same to the sheep skin rug that lined it's bed, yet the other cat (which i got at an older age) never did it, I think the kitten was substituting the rug as it's mother trying to suckle it. If it really bothers you get a new dressing gown.

Answer 4

Yes this is normal behavior. When cats are born the 1st thing they learn to do is suckle and it makes them feel comfortable and happy. When your cat is suckleing on your gown, he is looking for comfort. You should take this as a sign that your cat is comfortable with you and does like you.

Answer 5

Nothing wrong with it, it's a behavioural thing that's left from when it was a suckling kitten. It will most likely do that forever, my one friend's cat still does that, she's already about 6 years old. Nothing to worry about though.

Answer 6

This isn't unusual. I had a cat that used to suckle my ear lobe!
It's a comfort thing. Like a toddler with a security blanket.

Answer 7

The furry dressing gown will remind her of her mum's fur. Does she move her feet up and down too ? This would activate the milk flow if you were it's mother.
Most of my cats used to do that...but it could also be a sign that it has been taken from its mother to early.
Generally I d say you got the best of both...one really independent cat and one friendly and affectionate...that's great !
Tina

Answer 8

It isn't abnormal. I had a cat once that would suck on anything that was fuzzy or the corner of a collar and knead and purr. It seemed to be comforting to the cat. Other cats will knead on anything soft. This is "kittenish" behavior and I think it's kinda cute. So if I don't want something sucked on, I put it away. Our vet attributed the sucking to early weaning.

Answer 9

my 2 cats are 10 months and ever since we first got her, the female will suckle my ear. she purrs like mad but she claws my head while she does it! she does it 2 or 3 times a day and for 5 - 20 mins each time! but like you, my other cat hasn't done anything weird like that - the nearest he's come is licking my eyeball...

Answer 10

This is not that abnormal in cats. I have a 2 year old the "sucks" her "thumb"! According to my vets, it is usually because they were weaned from their mother too soon. Many cats that start out doing it will eventually stop but not all of them. It's a security/comforting/pacifying habit.