I recently adopted 2 kittens, and the male one aggressively suckles on the female - how do I stop this?

Question

they are old enough to be spayed/neutered - but I am more concerned that this is a life long habit because I don't like it. I am separating them when they sleep at the moment and am wondering how long I should do this for?

Answer 1

It sounds like your kitten wasn't completely weaned before taking it away from its mother. If your kitten is already eating solid food then it's nothing to worry about and eventually your kitten will grow out of it. If you can't wait for that to happen then every time you see it suckling try redirecting the kittens attention. Take it away from your other kitten and put the male kitten in another room. If you give it food or play with it as your distraction, you'll be conditioning the kitten to expect those things to happen when it suckles. For your kitten the suckling is more of a comfort thing (like a baby sucking on a pacifier) then it is an attempt to look for food.

Answer 2

Are they brother and sister? If so, or if they are at the same age in general, just let them figure out their relation and their hierarchy by themselves. Just make sure you neuter/spay them when it is time and that you make sure there are no really violent accidents, I mean injuries when they play rough.

Answer 3

Are they old enough to be spayed/neutered? If so, it may help the male with this aggressiveness greatly. Other than that, anytime you see him doing it- make a loud noise (clap or go "psssstttt" really loud).

Answer 4

This sometime happens when the babies are weaned to early. They need this sucking just like human babies need to suck. Usually as they grow older they will get to busy to have time to suck, but if they do its because they have a emotional need to suck. I had one that sucked my thumb on and off his entire life. If she does not object let her.