Just looking for some input here! So Jack likes to suckle / lick my lips, which he is quickly being broken of. Davy I noticed tries to "suckle" my neck, only he doesn't suckle at all, just kind of holds some of my skin in his mouth...
Now I've noticed Sao having some suckling issues! (Funny how the girls are the ok [so far- knock on wood!] ones!)
He likes to suckle his sister, Tortuga. So my first question, why do you think he suckles her? My husband seems to think it's because she looks the most like mom (both torties). Do cats / kittens think like that? She is the only one he suckles, and he suckles under both her arm pits. I don't agree with hubby, so would love a tie-breaker opinion on this!
My other question is, upon doing a search, I read a lot of people have cats that suckles themselves, blankets/toys, or their brother's privates. In the case of themselves and blankets/toys, the general consensus is to allow it, as long as they are not hurting themselves (no rashes, redness, swellening). Of course, if it's a brother's privates they are suckling, they must be separated. But, I didn't see anything saying if the kitten is suckling like Sao is, and not on privates and with no sign of irritation. Tortuga lets him- she just sits or lays there- and so far, her skin looks fine. So my conclusion would be to not separate them, because he isn't hurting her, but to check constantly and if it ever shows sign of irritating her, to separate them.
So my second question is, would you all agree with that? Or is it better to be safe than sorry and separate them anyway?
Thanks!!
Now I've noticed Sao having some suckling issues! (Funny how the girls are the ok [so far- knock on wood!] ones!)
He likes to suckle his sister, Tortuga. So my first question, why do you think he suckles her? My husband seems to think it's because she looks the most like mom (both torties). Do cats / kittens think like that? She is the only one he suckles, and he suckles under both her arm pits. I don't agree with hubby, so would love a tie-breaker opinion on this!
My other question is, upon doing a search, I read a lot of people have cats that suckles themselves, blankets/toys, or their brother's privates. In the case of themselves and blankets/toys, the general consensus is to allow it, as long as they are not hurting themselves (no rashes, redness, swellening). Of course, if it's a brother's privates they are suckling, they must be separated. But, I didn't see anything saying if the kitten is suckling like Sao is, and not on privates and with no sign of irritation. Tortuga lets him- she just sits or lays there- and so far, her skin looks fine. So my conclusion would be to not separate them, because he isn't hurting her, but to check constantly and if it ever shows sign of irritating her, to separate them.
So my second question is, would you all agree with that? Or is it better to be safe than sorry and separate them anyway?
Thanks!!