Nursing behaviour

temperpolk

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I have a kitten that I got when he was very young (too young I know) but I got him from my vet at 5 weeks. He is perfectly healthy, eats great, plays like crazy and bonded to my spayed 3 year old female immediately. Just yesterday and today I started noticing a new behaviour though. He will snuggle up to her sometimes, purrs really loudly and seems to be suckling on her belly. She tolerates it quite well and he seems to fall asleep, but I am just curious why he is showing this behaviour now at almost 9 weeks. I do realize that he was way to young when I first got him, but his mom had died, and he never exhibited this behaviour until yesterday, that I noticed. Has anyone ever seen a kitten this old reverting back to suckling? He has perfectly normal and very active behaviour otherwise
 

StefanZ

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Yes this behavour is not at all unusual. Dont worry, be happy. At least as long he doesnt overdo it, and his pal get sore or such.

So, in 99% is it a nice pastime for both, but you must look out for the last percent...


Very good this kitten got an adult friend. She could surely help him gain some cat wisdom, and perhaps also some feeling of comfort, both before - and now.


Tx for helping out this little guy!

Good luck!
 

p&r

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It's normal and if the older kitty wants him to stop they'd let it be known, lol. Alice (my kitten who passed) came to us at 8 weeks and 2 weeks after that she started nursing off my dogs (Sasha who had several litters before we rescued her and Scarlett who had just barely turned one and never had a litter) they didn't mind much. Zoey just recently started trying to nurse off Rosalie (Zoeys 2.5 months Rosalie's 4 months!).
 
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