Oh the suckling!

What can I give my baby kit to suckle on??? He's 17 days old and is alone (no sibbling, no mommy) and after he drinks, he needs to suckle on someone. Lately, it's been my bottom lip and I let do it because he loves it so much but he's sucking so hard that tonight my lip is completely swollen and tender! I can't let him do that anymore.
Any ideas??

Originally Posted by zabby27

What can I give my baby kit to suckle on??? He's 17 days old and is alone (no sibbling, no mommy) and after he drinks, he needs to suckle on someone. Lately, it's been my bottom lip and I let do it because he loves it so much but he's sucking so hard that tonight my lip is completely swollen and tender! I can't let him do that anymore.
Any ideas??

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Give him a stuffed toy that he can suckle on instead.

Take a small piece of soft cloth, bunch it up and tie it tightly with some cotton string so it stays bunched up. Make sure there is no excess string hanging down that the kitten could choke on. Dip the cloth in a solution made with warm water and a little honey mixed together. Squeeze out the excess water well and place this next to the kitten for him to suckle on.

Have you got a small stuffed toy he could have? Or a plastic peg (as long as he can't get it open and clamped on himself)?

Good luck with the little one!! I know how you feel, I have been hand rearing a little white girl who is now 5 weeks old!! I got her when she was just 3 days old!!!

It is amazing watching them grow up before your eyes!!

Don't forget to take photos and show us on here!

zabby, I let my kittens suckle on my lip too and my friends and family know when I have tinies from the state of my bottom lip!



The best thing to do is limit the suckling time to just a few minutes after he's had his bottle. That way, he gets to suckle but your lip is saved. Do try the bunched up cloth idea too.

Tania!!! That's hilarious! I'll have to take a picture like that too! We're having a pet picture contest at my work in a few weeks; this could be good! lol

And I will try to honey and bunched up cloth too...

What a bond you must have with this baby.

Bijou was/is a suckler too. He chose the left side of my neck and still (about 5 out of 7 nights per week) has to have his suckle before he settles down to sleep on my pillow facing me or with his face on my cheek. He won't suckle anywhere else, not the right side of my neck, arm, nothing, just the left side of my neck.

I love the idea of the rag with milk and honey for the baby.

I'd love to see pictures.

Yosemite, that's adorable. Mika and Bijou are beautiful by the way. Des chats sublimes!

Kiddie (or Kiddo or Kits for close friends) will be 3 weeks old in a few days and I am amazed at how close I feel to him. He's growing so fast! He's even figured out a way of getting out of his box... I had to remove this big bunny he always snuggles up to because he would climb over it to get on the other side of the box... and it's a big box! He's wonderful. I took some pictures a few days ago. I'll post them as soon as I can.

Originally Posted by zabby27

Yosemite, that's adorable. Mika and Bijou are beautiful by the way. Des chats sublimes!

Kiddie (or Kiddo or Kits for close friends) will be 3 weeks old in a few days and I am amazed at how close I feel to him. He's growing so fast! He's even figured out a way of getting out of his box... I had to remove this big bunny he always snuggles up to because he would climb over it to get on the other side of the box... and it's a big box! He's wonderful. I took some pictures a few days ago. I'll post them as soon as I can.

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Thank you. Bijou owns us and Mika owns our daughter and they are full brother and sister but from different litters. They also have a full sister Tia (Carolcat's little girl here on TCS). Tia was shipped from Canada to Carol in California the first week of July and she looks very much like Bijou at the same age. (For the first time in 28 years I see my husband totally ga-ga over a cat. He absolutely adores Bijou and spends half his time talking to the cat and Bijou talks back to him. BUT, Bijou only suckles mommy! )

Your baby sounds wonderful. I'll be looking for pictures of him in the Fur Pictures forum. I'm excited to see him already.

Originally Posted by Kumbulu

zabby, I let my kittens suckle on my lip too and my friends and family know when I have tinies from the state of my bottom lip!

The best thing to do is limit the suckling time to just a few minutes after he's had his bottle. That way, he gets to suckle but your lip is saved. Do try the bunched up cloth idea too.

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OMG!! That is precious!! Although it can get a bit annoying...savor those special moments of "kittenhood"

Originally Posted by leesali

savor those special moments of "kittenhood"

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I am very lucky. I have been able to savor those special moments almost 200 times already with more kittens to come this season.

That is so cute! I am glad Kiddie is doing so well. I'm no help with the suckling since one of mine still gives my kitten hickies regularly.