My cat is really a kitten he is only 8wks old as of monday and a week after we got him he started I guess suckling me and now whenever I go to pet him he starts purring and will proceed to climb on me to suckle me at first it didin't bother me cuz I thought it was cute but now he does it whenever I pet him not just occasionally and he won't do this to my husband will he ever stop and is he ok????
2007-04-04 08:58:27 · 13 answers · asked by Mickey 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
we got him when he was 6 weeks old
2007-04-04 08:59:01 · update #1
I tried the towel thing and he always realizes it's not "me" and if the towel or something is covering my upper body he'll suck on my arm or chin or eye and if he can't reach he suckle my leg!!!!
2007-04-04 09:07:16 · update #2
Thanks for your input everyone all of it was very helpful
2007-04-06 14:27:08 · update #3
My cat used to do it all the time, I'd have wet spots on my shirts she did it so much. She eventually grew out of it. There's nothing wrong with it, he just loves you.
2007-04-04 09:07:44 · answer #1 · answered by Tab 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ideally kittens should stay with their mother until they are at least eight weeks old. Your kitten sees you as his new mother and gains comfort from suckling on you.
It's a case of having to be cruel to be kind I'm afraid. You'll have to become less available to your cat and try to distract him with toys. If he starts trying to suckle on you, get your husband to make a fuss of him instead. If you let him carry on, he wont grow out of the habit and you could find that he becomes quite emotionally dependent on you.
I wouldn't advise giving him a security blanket to suck on. Though it's rare, some cats suffer from Pica (strange food cravings) and many such cats have gone on from wool sucking to then actually eating the fabric. This is mainly seen in cats which have never grown up emotionally. Offering him something else to suckle on isn't going to break the habit.
2007-04-04 09:17:36 · answer #2 · answered by Michele the Louis Wain cat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, he'll stop! He may have been taken from his mother a little early- I think it is 8 weeks before a kitten should be taken from his mother.
Anyways, my cat used to try to suckle at my dog when she was a kitten and we were told she was 8 weeks old but I am not sure now that she was.
2007-04-04 11:12:10 · answer #3 · answered by JOANNA W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He might stop-- then again he may keep the habit -- it's like a little kid sucking its thumb.
Suckling makes em happppy!! It reminds them of when they were cuddled next to mama cat drinking her milk.
If he suckles on you and it annoys you, put a clean towel or one of his blankies (no lint) between you and the kitty so he suckles on that. Once his scent is on it, he may continue to suckle on that -- of course if he does, keep an eye on that blankie or towel to make sure that NO stray threads are there that might get in his mouth -- they can twist up inside of his throat or intestines and cause harm.
And wash that blankie or towel once in a while - in hot water only -- no soap, no fabric softeners or that will take the famliar taste away (and also add possible irritants like perfumes or dyes) from his favorite suckling object.
2007-04-04 09:02:16 · answer #4 · answered by aattura 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's your cat's way of being affectionate. You can very, very, very carefully trim the TIP of your cat's claw so that they won't be so sharp. Mind you, I said only the sharp tip. Don't cut close to their knuckle because it will hurt them. Your cat may stop. One of my cats did this. They'd climb in my bed & suckle my hair line. I put vicks on my forehead & they stopped. Now they'll only suckle my arm for a short time. I think it's cute.
2007-04-04 09:07:11 · answer #5 · answered by Missy Saffron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your kitty was weaned way too early, and that is why he is trying to suckle you. He sees you like a mama cat. You might want to ask a vet what to do to help your kitty get better adjusted.
2007-04-04 09:08:10 · answer #6 · answered by scissorhappy42 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he does it to you because he has a bigger bond with you.cat's do that some times.you must reminded him of his mother,so he suckles on you.he may grow out of it.
if you don't like it no more them try asking your vet what you can do.there may be something you can buy and spray on you that you can't smell,that he wont like or taste.
2007-04-04 09:52:36 · answer #7 · answered by beth j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is nursing behavior. Many people believe cats do this when they are taken away from the mother too soon. I have an adult male who nurses on me (not my husband) regularly, not much you can do to stop it. I got him when he was very tiny too.
2007-04-04 09:04:32 · answer #8 · answered by Lee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i got my cat, it was a baby. for the first 2-3months before she went to sleep she suck her tail. i thought she was not going to stop but she did. Just give your cat time he will stop.
2007-04-04 09:33:08 · answer #9 · answered by sussettetorres 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could go and get a bottle and some kitten milk from your local pet store to see if that helps any.
2007-04-04 09:08:27 · answer #10 · answered by enharmonicgrl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋