I have a 9 week old kitten (male) and recently got a 6 week old kitten (female). The female kitten is suckling on the males pads on his paws. Is this normal or should i try and stop it? It doesn't seem to hurt him.
2007-04-12 01:35:54 · 16 answers · asked by lynn a 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Don't worry about it. SHe is looking to him for comfort. Just be sure to get them altered soon so you don't have an accident. Once they have babies they may not enjoy that cute companionship they are starting now.
2007-04-12 01:39:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly at six weeks your kitten was removed from its mum too soon, they ideally they should be minimum of eight weeks whenever possible because mum teaches them so much more than just weaning them. They start pushing kittens away and telling them off firmly and people mistake this for mum being just fed up with them whereas in fact she is teaching them social skills, how to interact with other adult cats etc. and they learn social boundaries. This is the same with puppies and indeed even human babies practise on their parents. This suckling may be cute now but will be shame if she keeps a long term need for this comfort and its not always available or acceptable especially if her nature changes when she matures By that I mean you may not want her sucking on your best jumper or outfit you are wearing out or maybe the babies blanket in its cot, visitors may also find it a tad of putting when she is an adult cat. Probably like me you don't mind what your animals do but you have to think other people may not be so tolerant and many animals feel the wrath of others because their owner have over indulged there anti-social habits (again just like children). For her own sake I would just distract her when she does it but not make a big deal about it and hopefully she will outgrow this need to suckle. Hope this is helpful - good luck.
In addition separating from siblings too soon can also create this need to suckle just as the mother who loses her litter too early or before she is ready will allow a remaining kitten to suckle longer. Eight weeks is the minimum, longer is better depending on the mum, they are all different some being more maternal than others.
2007-04-12 03:49:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A young kitten will try to suckle if they have been weaned too early. This behavior is not harmful, and will continue throughout their entire lifetime. Trying to stop it will cause her much emotional harm. She will most likely never outgrow it, but it will not hurt her to continue her suckling behavior. As she matures, the suckling will become less often, and will probably happen when she is tired, anxious, or lonely. Other than that you can expect to have a very normal, happy kitty.
2007-04-12 01:42:22 · answer #3 · answered by jewel 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the younger kitten wasn't weaned properly. While it doesn't seem to be bothering the older kitten, you should try to discourage this. The younger kitten might start sucking on other things, like wool blankets.
Try a gentle scruff of the neck and tell the little guy NO. Becareful, though. You don't want him thinking he's being told he can't hang out with the other cat.
2007-04-12 01:40:41 · answer #4 · answered by Paula S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, It's an oral fixation, they get it when they were either taken from their mother too soon, or if they could not get near their mother because of their other brothers and sisters, sometimes their mother wont let them suckle. So then this happens when they will suckle on anything, i am very suprised she hasnt done it to you yet. My cat Bobbie does this and he is now 10 years old.
2007-04-12 02:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by kevina p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's perfectly fine my cat had kittens i kept one and he suckles on a big teddy i disagree that he was weaned too early as he's never left his mum and she only stopped him suckling when he was about 13wks old i also have a new kitten who is also trying to suckle on me but i stopped him doing it so now he tries suckling on my children which they think is really cute lol my mum also had a male cat who started suckling when he was about 2 years old he was poorly so mum took him to the vet she spoiled him by letting him sleep in her room and that was it he still tries to suckle her top now from time to time
2007-04-12 04:23:42 · answer #6 · answered by bubblesno11979 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's normal. My partner and I found a kitten that was only a few days old and we would feed him w/a bottle, but also he would suckle her finger and when I held him close to my face he would attach himself to my lip and suckle until he fell asleep.
2007-04-12 13:35:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat spit is nothing at all like Dog Drool. If she suckles on blankets of paws, it's no big deal. Lots of cats suckle-- even when adults-- it makes them happy becuz it reminds them of their mama.
2007-04-12 02:03:38 · answer #8 · answered by aattura 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no don't try and stop her it is not hurting your older kitten but the one who is doing it has been taken from her mum too early. they should be left with the mother till at least seven weeks old. Hope this has helped.
2007-04-12 01:53:45 · answer #9 · answered by penno41 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oooooh, that is so adorable. He loves you. You are right about him not being 6 months forever. If it doesn't bother you, then just let him do it. He will probably stop eventually. Cats have the strangest habits. My cat used to like to sit in my lap when I was on the commode. He would just purr and purr.
2016-04-01 10:54:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is normal....when my kitty was a baby....8 weeks or so...she suckled on my husband's ear!!... Like crazy...I mean every night when he was sleeping. It stopped now and she is 7 months, but it was cute, although it drove him CRAZY!
2007-04-12 01:56:05 · answer #11 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋