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Kitten sucking her paw

post #1 of 7
5/15/10 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
I have a 11 week old kitten that seems to suckkle on her paw. Am wondering if this is normal as I have never come across a kitten that does this.
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post #2 of 7
5/16/10 at 12:36am
Hi Natalie,

It's good to see another Aussie around on the forum ;]
So, lets get down to business:

The paw sucking is a nursing behavior, and some cats find these activities comforting well into adulthood. I don't think you have anything to worry about unless your cat's paw begins to look sore or swollen.

If you'd like to distract her from the behavior, just pick her up for a cuddle when the paw goes in the mouth. A little extra affection may make her forget all about it.

Hope this helps,
Jackz, Jazzy & Ginga.
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post #3 of 7
5/16/10 at 11:48am
I had 3 siblings growing up that suckled on different things:

Mouse: ears, if you where sitting on the couch, and he was tired he'd suck on your ear.
Spanky: when he was tired he sucked on hair.
Spaz: she sucked on her tail and her siblings tails.

sometimes some of the cats i fostered have suckled on blankies or stuffies that i give them. Its a security thing makes them feel at ease.
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post #4 of 7
5/16/10 at 11:51am
Awwwwwwww, that's sweet! Just like a baby sucking its thumb!
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post #5 of 7
5/16/10 at 6:14pm
Unless she's damaging herself then it's just like a baby sucking it's thumb, it's a comfort thing. I'd love to see a picture of this sounds so cute. I remember Attitude when she was little sucking and biting my fingers(it didn't hurt, she didn't have all of her itty bitty teeth yet) before she was weaned. Now she just bites my fingers with her adult teeth and that doesn't always feel too good, but it's the same thing even though she no longer sucks it's the same behavior and it's a comfort thing.

Like I said unless she is doing it to the point she is causing damage to herself let her do it.

Taryn
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post #6 of 7
5/16/10 at 8:36pm
Fastnoc - a member here - went through this with an orphaned cat he adopted. Wilbur, and his sister Tinker, came to live with him when their semi feral mom was killed. Wil sucked his paw. I am pretty sure he outgrew it.
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post #7 of 7
5/16/10 at 11:35pm
Thread Starter 
thanks its good to know it is nothing to worry about
it was very sweet to watch and the noises she made while doing it was really cute. i took her back to the rspca today as she was one of my foster kittens (am going to miss her)
i do have a picture of it and will upload it when i work out how to do so
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