my cats are in love with stuffed animals.

Maybe some of you can help me figure this out, because I am totally at a loss as to what this behavior means!

I have two cats, brothers, who are three years old...Bugs and Daffy. They were orphaned at three weeks old, and I've been their momma ever since, with the bottles and fanny-wiping and all that. They were neutered when they were about 7 or 8 months old.

For a while now, they've been fascinated with stuffed animals. They will go up to my daughter's room, get an animal or doll, and drag it downstairs, usually making a "purrp purrp" sounding meow if I talk to them. Then, they hold onto it with their teeth while they stand on it and knead with all four paws. It is kind of a "marching in place" action. (If you've ever seen the Looney Tunes cartoon "Feed The Kitty", it's what Pussyfoot the cat does when she lays down on Marc Anthony's back.) They keep making this "purrp" sound and purring incredibly loudly while they knead their stuffed animal. Then, they'll either lay down on it, or just walk off and leave it where it lies. They don't pee on it, or "stalk" and "kill" it, or do anything violent to it. They just hold it with their teeth and knead it while purring. Of course, they knead me, but not with all four paws. This is different than when they are kneading me.

It doesn't have to be stuffed animals, though....I saw my cat Daffy carry down a pajama top last night, and both Bugs and Daffy have carried down laundry out of the dirty clothes basket. They also like clothes made of wool.

What are they doing? They seem happy while they're doing it. I very gently tugged at the pajamas Daffy had last night and he was adamant about those being HIS pajamas now! He didn't growl or become unhappy, he just didn't want to let go.

Any thoughts? I have not a clue what they are doing!

I'm not completely sure why they are doing it, but I just wanted to let you know that your cats aren't the only ones that do it. Pixie had a favorite blanket that she would drag all around our old house and had the same sort of behavior. It was her blanket, nobody else's.

Originally Posted by milopixie

I'm not completely sure why they are doing it, but I just wanted to let you know that your cats aren't the only ones that do it. Pixie had a favorite blanket that she would drag all around our old house and had the same sort of behavior. It was her blanket, nobody else's.

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Thanks! Glad my cats aren't the only ones. It really isn't disrupting or annoying, other than having to pick up their clutter that they leave all over the place.

I certainly hope someone can tell me just why my cats are doing this!

From all the posts I have read on here, a lot of times kittens that were seperated from their moms before 12 weeks will have this behavior because they weren't allowed enought time to be weaned... because of that kittens will sometimes have this behavior.
There are many here that have far more knowledge then I - but that's my thoughts. How old were they when you got them/they were seperated from their mom?

Mooch and Noodles love a sweater that I have. I've found Mooch trying to suckle off it. They also like to drag my underwear around....

Originally Posted by MyLilScout

From all the posts I have read on here, a lot of times kittens that were seperated from their moms before 12 weeks will have this behavior because they weren't allowed enought time to be weaned... because of that kittens will sometimes have this behavior.
There are many here that have far more knowledge then I - but that's my thoughts. How old were they when you got them/they were seperated from their mom?

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I got them when they were three weeks old. Their momma had died over the weekend, as did both siblings, and by the time they were discovered they'd been without food since at least sometime Friday night (this was Monday morning). They were bloated and dead by the time I got to them. Their bodies were turning against them, turning toxic from all the waste buildup inside from not being able to evacuate their bowels or urine.

I fed them with an eyedropper and a bottle, wiped their fannies, taught them the litterbox, taught them to eat...I'm their momma. They knead and suckle on me too, but they like to drag around these animals, as I described in the opening post.

I've often wondered if perhaps the trauma of being seperated from their mother at such a young age might have something to do with it.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

Mooch and Noodles love a sweater that I have. I've found Mooch trying to suckle off it. They also like to drag my underwear around....

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My daughter has a wool sweater that the cats love....she has to keep it practically under lock and key.

You arent the only one./.. Zoey takes Gigi ( my yorkies stuffed(babies) animals as her own... some of these toys weigh a lb or more

If their behavior is disruptive to the household, you can try buying them a Snugglepet so they have a clear outlet for their "affection".

Originally Posted by MyLilScout

From all the posts I have read on here, a lot of times kittens that were seperated from their moms before 12 weeks will have this behavior because they weren't allowed enought time to be weaned... because of that kittens will sometimes have this behavior.
There are many here that have far more knowledge then I - but that's my thoughts. How old were they when you got them/they were seperated from their mom?

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I echo exactly what mylilscout says. They were taken away when they were 3 weeks old. They're basically "nursing." I think it makes them feel comforted. Kind of like sucking one's thumb years after they shouldn't be. Bless their hearts, it makes them feel secure, I'm pretty sure. I'm no expert, but I would bet money on it. Simmy does that every night to my leg. And he's not declawed, lol. Nunny used to do it to my HEAD! Until one day I had my hair highlighted, and it was all over from then on. He was just horrified at the smell.

It's not abnormal imo. In my family, we call it "Voodining."

awwww that is such a cute thing for them to do

congratulations on saving these poor kittens, i also think it was because you got them so young, maybe they think the stuffed toys are a mother figure or something?

pandy was young when taken away from her mother (three weeks) and suckles on my faux fur blanket every night, she even bites me because she gets so excited about this..damn she's cute

goodluck



love,

felicia