2 Kittens--nursing behavior???

HI!

We are fostering (possibly adopting) 2 female kittens. They were born (they think) around 4/8/02. My friend had been feeding their mom (a stray) and she finally brought the kittens to her when they were about 5 weeks old.

We've brought them home.THey are eating fine. THey are VERY shy and don't want to be picked up or held much---they comfort each other. One of them is continually "nursing" from the other--to the point that one kitty is always soaking wet from the other trying to nurse. As far as I know this is new since we brought them home as my friend didn't notice this.

Is this a problem? Normal behavior? THe one being nursed from doesn't seem to mind~~~but I want to find out why they are doing this..Does anyone have any advice??

Thanks!
Joellen
Mommy to Tahia (5), Tariq (2), Nikiia (10 year old kitty), Blue Kitty---12 wonderful years with our very best friend--Died 6/25/02 after a long bout with lymphosarcoma--We miss him alot.

Some people think this behaviour is "cute" I have one friend who thought so to and her cat grew up sucking so much on the tip of her tail that she no longer has a tip of a tail! I try to stop this behaviour but it is happening because the kittens were taken to early from mom. I have a pound puppy that I use and when I see a kitten sucking on it's brother or sister, I gently seperate them and give the sucking kitty the stuffed toy instead. My one pound puppy has been sucked on a lot, but it saves the siblings from having to deal with having their fur sucked off them. Ideally, kittens should stay with mom till 12 weeks of age.

Hissy's right. Kittens who don't get enough time with mother can keep up this behavior into adulthood, sucking on your arm or a blanket. It's common belief that kittens can leave their mothers at 6-8 weeks, but those who really know tell you to wait until 12 weeks. I have tried a kitty nursing bottle, and that didn't work. It's not the milk they need; it's the love and "kneading" on soft and furry mother.