My kitten sucks on everything!?

Question

She's almost 3 months old and she feels the need to suck on the couch, my tshirts and any blanket that happens to be in her path. She doesn't stop, no matter how many times I get her down off the couch she jumps back up and goes right back to the same spot...or to the same tshirt or blanket....it's getting really annoying because everything gets wet. I give her milk in the morning and at night, what's the problem?

not cow's milk, I'm not that dense lol cat milk

She does eat dry food

Answer 1

Actually, you can use cow's milk for your kitten with no problem if you water it down really good. I've saved plenty of them. :) But at 3 months, she should be TOTALLY off milk.

How old was the kitten when she was taken away from her mother? The sucking instinct wouldn't be there if she'd stayed with her mother for about 8 weeks. She's just looking for reassurance. Find her an old t-shirt that she can "nurse" on for as long as she wants.

Answer 2

She is hungry. You need to be feeding her every 4-6 hours...actually if she is 3 months old then you really need to be letting her eat some canned wet food or dry food. It needs to be available all the time or as often as possible so she can eat. Milk needs to be weened out of her diet. You do this by decreasing the amount each time you give it to them.

I would suggest to put down some dry cat food. Let her check it out. All the cats I've had know what it is and eat it right away. Make sure they are small pieces. If she doesn't eat this try giving her some of the wet food.
I really think she will eat it right away. But if you are only giving her the milk then she is starving.

If this doesn't work then you can try taking her to the vet. I have never had an issue like this with the 4 litters of kittens I have had. The vet will suggest some things. (The cat could be teething but they usually chew, not suck)

Answer 3

Hi. Your kitten was taken away from mama too early. Most people that have kittens just want to get rid of them or are selling them to get money and want to get them gone so they are taken from mama by 8 weeks. Unless a kitten has lost a mama for which you would then bottle feed it kitty formula from the vet or pet store, they should not be taken from their mama until age 3 months. That way mama can also teach them a lot of other things too. In some states it is illegal to sell them before they are 12 weeks old but a lot of people do not even learn the laws of their states as well as those getting kittens do not become 'kitty smart' before getting them. Your kitty needs a bottle. Go to the pet store and get a kitty nurser kit and since the kitten is old enough now to be without mama's milk at 3 months, get the milk that is a suppliment and not the kitty formula. Let your kitty suck on that for a week, 2 to 4 ounces, 4 times a day. Until a kitten is an adult, 1 year old, they should be fed as much as they want in kitty food each day. Make sure that it is eating the chow, either wet or dry 1st before you give the milk. Gradually ween her off the bottle by decreasing the times a day she gets it. Do this for a week at a time, so the first week she gets milk 4 times a day. The second week she gets it 3 times a day. Once she is getting it only once a day, then decrease the amount she is getting until she gets nothing. By that time she should be over her sucking problem. Another way to help her get over it is to supply something she can chew to replace the material. I give my kitties and cats dog chews. I give them dog jerkey too, the 100% all meat, all natural ones. You have to watch the amount with the food ones so that they don't lose their appetite for their regular cat food. There are actually pacifiers out there for petite dogs that you can get for you kitty too. I have never seen a kitty pacifier. If she still wants to suck, then you can do what I did once with one of my rescue kitties I had. I took one of the nipples to the nursers and stuffed it with gauze and put it into the cover. Then I taped the back side of the cover so no air could enter the nipple. It becomes a kitty pacifier. You cannot let the kitty have it by itself but you can hold the kitty and let it suck on it that way and it will help it over its rough insecure time. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

First, take her to the vet,then if nothing is wrong the doctor will tell you what to do.If you don't want to go to the doctor,then give her more milk. Get her a chew toy, maybe that will help some. I f it doesn't then try to put your blankets and shirts up some where you KNOW she can't get them! I hope I helped you!Bye!

Answer 5

My cat did this- all over everything. She probably wasn't totally weened from her mother, and feels she needs to suck on something. She thinks it's her mommy's you- know- what. Try feeding her milk through a bottle, and then gradually begin to feed her soft food then move onto hard food if you'd like.

Good luck!

Answer 6

By the sounds of it,your kitty was weaned from it's mother to early.
Not sure how to correct the problem,but try buying a baby kitty bottle from the pet store and adding milk to give to your kitty then try weaning her from it slowly to train her to eat normally and perhaps the sucking will stop.

Answer 7

i had a kitten that chose to suck on a throw rug i had.i think they were weaned to soon or something.find one thing that is ok for your cat to suck on and leave it alone.she is just different and the milk isnt going to make a difference.

Answer 8

Buy her a chew toy & everytime she goes to suck on you, stick the toy in her mouth.

This may or may not work. Chances are she is teething.

Answer 9

My vet told me to never give milk to animals because it's not good for their digestive system. I know they like it, but I would just give them fresh water.

Answer 10

my cat is well over 3 years old and still suck on everything it is because she or he was never weaned