My cat sucks on blankets and paws at it like he is feeding from his momma. Its cute but i want to make sure he is ok..anybody heard of this?
2007-08-23 17:04:02 · 14 answers · asked by Faiths Momma 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
It's actually fairly normal - and not really harmful...
It usually occurs when the kitten is taken away from it's mother too soon - and thus does this as a "self-soothing" method. To put it in "human" terms - it's EXACTLY like a kid who sucks their thumb looooooooong after they stop breastfeeding ;);););)
2007-08-23 17:27:11 · answer #1 · answered by kr_toronto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few years ago I got two stray kittens of about 6 weeks old. ( a friend had found them 2 weeks earlier, but couldn't cope with them.) They both used to suck on blankets and my clothing as well. They would even try to suck on some of my older cats. Nothing I did helped, so I eventually just gave up, and made sure there was nothing fluffy around, and let the older cats handle their problem themselves. The "kittens" are now 7 years old, and although they have stopped it to a large degree, they still go through their little sucking routine every night as soon as they come to bed. My vet says it is probably because they were taken from their mother at too young an age. It can be rather annoying, especially as I still have to ensure that there is nothing fluffy on my bed. I don't really mind them having a go at the duvet cover, since there is nothing there that can get into their throats, and, as you say, it is kinds cute at times! Just make sure that whatever he sucks on is not going to be able to give off any fibres that can get lodged in his throat, and you can carry on enjoying the cute little show for a long time!
2007-08-24 04:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by sparrow 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, very normal, sometimes happens when a cat stopped nursing from its momma too early or just a habit, some cats don't stop, my cat does it on certain really soft fabrics, he doesn't suck on them but my old cat did, personally i think its cute, as long he doesn't ruin anything important to you its perfectly fine, also the pawing is called kneading, like you would knead bread dough, hope this helps!!
2007-08-24 01:15:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normal. Some cats just have a strong nursing instinct and will keep doing it on substitutes (blankets, people, toys, etc). Some cats will do it all their lives, others outgrow it after a year or two. Just make sure he's not trying to 'nurse' on anything that can come apart or choke him. Blankets, towels and soft toys are all good things to let him do that on.
2007-08-24 00:13:01 · answer #4 · answered by Katasha 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no problem..I was cat-sitting someones cat for a month and he ended up sucking on my shirt that I'm wearing for ten minutes ,don't worry he just missses drinkin milk from his momma and soon he will stop
2007-08-24 04:04:13 · answer #5 · answered by Louie™ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hehe theres nothing wrong with this..
My newest member of the family gyspie does this too...I have a fur blanket (fake fur of course..) and she will suck on it and knead it..
This is normal for a cat though...When they suck on the blanket and knead it..its because it is an old habbit from when she fed from her mother...When they do this to you though...like knead you..it mean that he thinks of you as his mother and loves you very much and respects you...If he licks you it means he thinks of you as his companion as well...and when he kisses you this is very rare and it means he deeply loves you and theres no seperating ya from him!
But I dont think him sucking on the blanket will hurt him though...because when Gyspie does this she just falls right to sleep...and when shes done she just prancies off and goes to do some other cat buisness...
2007-08-24 01:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by Wakishea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a kitten who will suck on our ears. Another one would suck on your hand or on her own paw. It is a comfort type thing, like a pacifier. Usually when they do this, they do it a few minutes, purring and kneading, then go to sleep. It is much the same as a baby with a pacifier. Don't worry about it.
2007-08-24 00:10:42 · answer #7 · answered by monkeylady5656 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no problem..I was cat-sitting someones cat for a month and he ended up sucking on my shirt that I'm wearing for ten minutes before he went to sleep at night.
2007-08-24 00:23:12 · answer #8 · answered by 2hot2bamom 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One of my three cats does this all the time. She wants to kneed on specific blanket, but only if it is on my lap. I had another cat that did that when he was young, but grew out of it. This one is 3 and still does it. It is fine and harmless.
2007-08-24 00:13:43 · answer #9 · answered by mrslititia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES! My cat does that all the time, but not to a blanket...TO MY SHIRT! We found him when he was very young, and I guess he was seperated from his mom too early.
2007-08-24 00:12:37 · answer #10 · answered by da dude 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋