wondering how to comfort suckling kitten

nyzki · Jul 11, 2005

I need some advice, I have a new kitten. He is a mo old and sweet as can be except when it comes to wanting to lick and suck on my face or almost (ahem) anywhere else he can. It seems to soothe him when I allow this but it does get a bit icky sometime. He purrs when he is doing this so i assume that it isnt harmful, Will he grow out of this behavior? He seems to need to do this all the time is he normal? His name is osiris

Nyzki

renny · Jul 11, 2005

Congrats on your new kitten!

The suckling behaviour is a natural kitten behaviour (often if the kitten was taken too early from the mom) and is of great comfort to them. From stories I've heard, your kitten might never grow out of the behaviour. My kitten rambo is a suckler and he's 5 months old now. He would also try and suckle all over the place and in some inappropriate places. I've discovered that I can redirect the suckling off of me and onto one of my old shirts (the more it smells like you the better) and he will use that to comfort himself. The only thing to check (vet told me) is that the kitten doesn't get sores in their mouth from trying to suckle too much or on harsher fabrics.

Hope this helps some....

momofmany · Jul 11, 2005

I've used this trick with orphaned kittens or ones taken from their mom too young: I give them little kisses over and over again very rapidly. I'm not sure if it is the close contact, or the noise that it makes (sounds like a mom cat cleaning her kittens), but it calms them right down. I have 3 adult cats in the house that were former orphans. I didn't use this trick on the oldest and she still suckles at 4 years old (we give her the t-shirt to suckle on). I used this with the 2 younger ones and they have never trie to suckle (but I admit that I still give them little kisses all the time).

Worked for me, may want to try it on yours. The worst that can happen is that they develop a stronger bond with you.

petnurse2265 · Jul 11, 2005

Originally Posted by Momofmany

I've used this trick with orphaned kittens or ones taken from their mom too young: I give them little kisses over and over again very rapidly. I'm not sure if it is the close contact, or the noise that it makes (sounds like a mom cat cleaning her kittens), but it calms them right down. I have 3 adult cats in the house that were former orphans. I didn't use this trick on the oldest and she still suckles at 4 years old (we give her the t-shirt to suckle on). I used this with the 2 younger ones and they have never trie to suckle (but I admit that I still give them little kisses all the time).

Worked for me, may want to try it on yours. The worst that can happen is that they develop a stronger bond with you.

That's funny because the more quick kisses I give Sturgis around the head and face the more he wants to suckle. Sturgis turned 2 in May and still sucks on earlobes every night to put himself to sleep. Sturgis was about 5 weeks old and about 2 days from dead from starvation when he was found in the street, he had a rough beginning and truly thinks me and my husband are his parents (we decided not to tell him he is adopted).

yosemite · Jul 11, 2005

How timely! Bijou (1 1/2 yrs. old) has to suckle every night before bed and he is telling me it is bedtime right now as he is in front of the screen (I can barely see) and trying to get on my chest to suckle. He kneads my face and neck and suckles and purrs. It seems to be his way of loving and being calm so I let him do it - no big deal.

sharky · Jul 11, 2005

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

That's funny because the more quick kisses I give Sturgis around the head and face the more he wants to suckle. Sturgis turned 2 in May and still sucks on earlobes every night to put himself to sleep. Sturgis was about 5 weeks old and about 2 days from dead from starvation when he was found in the street, he had a rough beginning and truly thinks me and my husband are his parents (we decided not to tell him he is adopted).

I havent told Zoey she is adopted either

I had a suckler once I bought a baby bottle and well let him suckle it ...

maherwoman · Jul 11, 2005

My kitties outgrew this one. We brought them home when they were about 4 weeks old, and they loved to suckle on our fingers (and even tried on my husband's nipples once!! LOL...needless to say, he was a little freaked out by this one!). We just let them suckle our fingers until they no longer felt the need, and they eventually outgrew it.

nyzki · Jul 11, 2005

I just wanted to say how beautiful Bijou is what remarkable blue eyes I also have a mixed color sealpoint more grey but she also has those blue eyes good job of care
Nyzki

millyanddaisy · Jul 12, 2005

I have a cat who was seven yesterday, she still suckles, but we have weaned her off our clothing, and she has 'adopted' an old shirt of mine that now lives on our bed. I often stroke her along the back of her head & neck with just one finger, while she is suckling, to imitate a mother cat's tongue washing her, she seems to like this. You may never break the suckling habit, you may not even want to if it becomes part of your cat's personality quirks.

Sue

yosemite · Jul 12, 2005

Originally Posted by nyzki

I just wanted to say how beautiful Bijou is what remarkable blue eyes I also have a mixed color sealpoint more grey but she also has those blue eyes good job of care
Nyzki

Thank you. Bijou is the lilac-point I always dreamed of having. He is a wonderful, good-natured and affectionate, friendly cat.

Bijou has turned my husband into a cat person. He adores Bijou and Bijou loves him too. We also have Bijou's sister Mika who is a beautiful Blue-cream point. Both are from the same breeder and have wonderful dispositions.

wondering how to comfort suckling kitten

nyzki

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renny

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momofmany

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petnurse2265

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yosemite

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sharky

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maherwoman

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nyzki

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millyanddaisy

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yosemite

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