Yummy Finger!

So Shorty has this weird habit of chewing/sucking on our fingers. We've tried to supplement our fingers with toys, yummy treats, straws... nothing, however, seems to satisfy him like our yummy fingers. Particularly our thumbs and index fingers. He'll even go at them when we're sleeping.. We've learned to sleep with clenched fists

Anyhoo, I thoought I'd share some pics of Shorty having a BALL, at my fingers expense

Better start "discouraging" the habit or there's painful days ahead!

I know!! We NEED to put a stop to it, but everytime he comes at us, purring like CRAZY, we say "ok, just this one more time!" It's just so hard to say no.. especially when he just seems to take SO much pleasure in it We are definitely going to try to put an end to the habit... preferably before he gets any bigger

Does he bite hard? Or is it more like gumming?

Ooooh! Ouch!

Mmmm he is so cute and that is one tasty finger by the looks of things!

Originally Posted by jane_vernon

Does he bite hard? Or is it more like gumming?

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He doesn't really bite hard. It more like gumming. Occasionally the finger will be caught by the back teeth, which hurts a tad, but we usually pull away at that point.
I think we're partly at fault that he developed the habit. We are new to cats, and when he was a baby someone told us it was probably teething. We bought him teething toys but he still went for the fingers, so we let him, thinking it was the only way we could help him relieve the pain. Now he still does it, all adult teeth in place!

bad habit, but omg shorty is sooo cute & beautiful!

How could you deny such a cutie a little tasty finger? He is adorable!

Oh what a cutie!! How could you say no to a sweet face like that?!

adorable..Maybe he does it now as a sign of affection. He sure looks happy doing it!

It looks so sweet!!!

Does he do it to others or just you? Cause if it was just me and my SO, then I'd let him do it! As long as it doesn't hurt too much - He just looks like he is enjoying it sooooo much! Its like a kid sucking its thumb!

Originally Posted by Mugsy

He doesn't really bite hard. It more like gumming. Occasionally the finger will be caught by the back teeth, which hurts a tad, but we usually pull away at that point.
I think we're partly at fault that he developed the habit. We are new to cats, and when he was a baby someone told us it was probably teething. We bought him teething toys but he still went for the fingers, so we let him, thinking it was the only way we could help him relieve the pain. Now he still does it, all adult teeth in place!

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I did the same thing with my Trent when he was teething. Since there is no such thing as a kitten teething ring, the finger worked the best for him. (Not that I would recommend it, I just didn't know any better and he was SO CUTE!!) Well, he doesn't do it much any more, only occassionally, and only to me. He doesn't chew on hubby's fingers. But every so often he will still chew on me. I still can't say no to him!

Shorty sure is cute! And he has that "look of love" while he's chewing on your finger. So sweet!

Originally Posted by jane_vernon

It looks so sweet!!!

Does he do it to others or just you? Cause if it was just me and my SO, then I'd let him do it!

As long as it doesn't hurt too much - He just looks like he is enjoying it sooooo much! Its like a kid sucking its thumb!

Click to expand...

He'll do it to my boyfriend every so often, but mainly to me... A LOT I sure hope it's a sign of affection!

Oh, did that pic bring back memories!! My RB Shasta did that. She preferred thumb and forefinger, but would do the whole hand, back and forth, and sometimes she did get carried away and bite too hard. When that happened, I took the hand away. She'd have started on the other if I'd let her.

I'm just trying to think how long that went on. It had to be several years, but she did eventually grow out of it. Uncomfortable as it was for the human, it was rather sweet, and she never did it to anyone but me.

Sweet pic. Shorty obviously loves his Mum.

Awww! Iris likes to do that too, but she's a little rougher. We know she doesn't mean to be but she gets carried away. She purrs too.

Aww he justs looks so content in those photos. Who could deny him?

How cute!

So glad to find this post! My 2 year old cat JUST NOW started doing this to my fingers! He starts out by licking my finger tips and fingernails very thoroughly, then moving on to the chewing. Just like you say, it's more of a gumming than actual chewing. Sometimes I do get caught by his back teeth, but if I squeal out in pain, he adjusts. And then he always wants to move to the other hand. He's extremely happy while it's going on and he only does it to me. At night, he'll sometimes dig under the blankets for my hand so he can lick/chew my fingers. I'm just glad to see I'm not alone! It seemed a little odd since he just now started doing it and he's well past teething!

He's so cute