Two and a half month old suckles constantly.

MistyDawn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
398
Purraise
670
Hey, so, since the last time I posted, during a routine vet visit, I overheard a woman handing off a litter of babies to the to be euthanized. They had nothing wrong with them other than a little upper respiratory infection. The woman was just killing them because she couldn't bother rehoming them! Well, I stepped in and volunteered to take them home with me. There were 5, four 2 week olds and (don't ask why - I can only assume she is related somehow) one 4 week old. I bottlefed everyone and nursed them back to health. They are all doing great. Soon they will ready to go to furever homes, besides the oldest one, who cemented her place in my home the moment i saw her trying to care for those tiny babies that no one else cared about, even though she was sick and barely older than them.

But one of the younger kittens, despite being weened now at 10 weeks, will not quit nursing on me. It was cute at first but it is making it rather difficult for me to do anything if I'm within her reach. I am also worried for her well being as she is very fussy and demanding about it, like the compulsion is strong enough to be unhealthy. She tries to suckle nonstop and won't even let me sleep at night. I mean, it's all she wants to do if she isn't eating, drinking, or using the litter box. I have seen sucklers before, but never one so extreme. I don't get whers this came from either. Theh were weened very gradually and I have really done my best to make this a smooth process for them.

Anyway, is there anything I can do to encourage a healthier, less bothersome behavior? I have tried to redirect her nursing to a blanket or a towel with my scent, but she is a smart baby girl. She knows they're not me and wants no part of them. I even tried putting her with Hex, my neutered tom that I posted about before who absolutely lives to nurture kittens (and who has earned my complete trust with them). I thought his fur might comfort her instead. She completely ignored him. She seems very stubborn about this and I worry that she is not developing well psychologically. The other kittens are all exploring and playing, but all this one wants to do is nurse and stick close by me. I am really at my wits' end here. Any ideas?

As you can see, she is adorable. I really want to help her, and maybe get myself a little peace and quiet in the meantime.

Kind Hex, snuggling with another one from the litter.
 

donutte

Professional cat sitter extraordinaire!
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
Messages
5,775
Purraise
2,554
Location
Northern suburbs of Chicago
Omigosh, how adorable!

I want to say first and foremost what a wonderful human being you are for taking these little ones in and nursing them to health. That's truly just amazing and warms my hear more than you know. 

My little Oscar suckled a lot on his brother. He still does, to some extent, but a lot less now (he's six months old now). I honestly haven't figured out a good way to do it, other than constantly pushing them away, which is what I ended up doing a lot. They sleep in my bed and hearing *suck suck suck* all night long drove me bonkers. 

Ironically, I tried to get him to suckle on my finger instead, but he wasn't having any part of that. The only other one he ever tried that with was his "uncle" Lucky (who was 16 years old) and Lucky promptly told him to cut it out.
 

Columbine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
12,921
Purraise
6,224
Location
The kitty playground
Have you tried offering her a small pillow covered in a worn, unwashed item of your clothing (a t-shirt you worked out in or slept in is ideal), or maybe a balled up pair of worn, unwashed socks? If the redirection object smells really strongly of you she might be more willing to accept it as a mommy-substitute. I've never tried it myself, but it's worth a go. Good luck, and thank you for saving these gorgeous babies :heart3:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

MistyDawn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
398
Purraise
670
Have you tried offering her a small pillow covered in a worn, unwashed item of your clothing (a t-shirt you worked out in or slept in is ideal), or maybe a balled up pair of worn, unwashed socks? If the redirection object smells really strongly of you she might be more willing to accept it as a mommy-substitute. I've never tried it myself, but it's worth a go. Good luck, and thank you for saving these gorgeous babies :heart3:
Yeah, I have tried giving her my blanket. It will distract her for a few seconds but she quickly seems to catch on and realize it isn't on me, so she doesn't want it. She is only interested in suckling anything if it is on me.
 

cinqchats

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 8, 2015
Messages
394
Purraise
62
Maybe tough love time- separate her from you for short periods so she literally can't suckle? 
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,986
Purraise
17,676
Location
Sunny Florida
She's only 10 weeks old. Many kittens will nurse mom for much longer, months even. She's just not ready to stop suckling yet, and you are her "mom".

A cloth with a corner soaked in kitten milk that she can suck on may help.
 

ellag

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
Messages
424
Purraise
227
Hey, it's certainly worth a try. I could probably encourage her by having it on me the first few times.
if it works let me know. i have a 7 month old boy who still suckles on me all the time! he doesn't wake me up at night though.. i've heard some cats never completely outgrow it but it does get better..
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,173
Purraise
67,765
Location
North Carolina
SNORTLE...it actually has a name, it is called, of all things, "Smurgling."  There are three components to smurgling.  The first is the kneading motion, or "making biscuits" as many call it.  The second is the nuzzling, rooting, nursing component (I refer to that part as "rootlling"), and the third is copious drooling.  They may do any combination, or all.  It is common in kittens, and, for the most part, they do outgrow it.  Being left mama-less so young, it's prolly gonna take awhile.  I'm waiting for Hekitty to outgrow it.  She'll be eight years old in April of next year.  Yes, sadly, some never outgrow it. 

Generally, it can be discouraged by repeatedly pushing the cat away, but you know how persistent they can be.  And your kitten is still very young, and an orphan, to boot.  I'd try the catsifier.  He still needs the comfort and reassurance that the smurgling brings.

Why didn't I break Hekitty of it?  Well, she was a very skittish, stand-off-ish kitten, and the only time she really interacted with me was when she wanted to smurgle.  I allowed it, and still allow it,  because it is one more thing that bonds us.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

MistyDawn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
398
Purraise
670
Yeah, I am definitely picking up a catsifier as an early "Christmas present" for the babies. The others root a little but not like Penguin, the little black and white one, does. I think they will all enjoy having something meant for them to smurgle on (that is the best word ever!), and I am sure this won't be the last time I end up fostering a litter of orphans too, so this may be a useful tool for years to come. Heck, maybe I'll get two of them.
 

zed xyzed

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 10, 2015
Messages
3,786
Purraise
3,740
Location
Toronto Canada
There is a special place in heaven for people like you, thank god you overheard that conversation. Thank you for saving those beautiful little souls
 

Espalia

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
Messages
112
Purraise
96
Oh gosh, is it possible that this is particularly bad with tuxie kittens?! My little black and white kitten (also an orphan, but I did not bottle feed him myself) does the same thing - and another poster with a black and white kitten has been talking about it too... the evidence builds....
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,986
Purraise
17,676
Location
Sunny Florida
It's a needy kitten thing. I had an orange kitten who suckled on a teddy bear her entire life.
 

lacy2000

Windy City Fosters
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
434
Purraise
319
Location
Chicago Suburbs
I’m currently having the same problem. I bottle fed him from two weeks and now he is 12 weeks and won’t stop trying to suck on my finger and it hurts with those tiny razor teeth!
 
Top