I was wondering if anyone else's kitten suckles on their clothes. And if so, how long did they do it for? Not complaining or anything because it's so cute and funny. My kitten is nearly six months old and she still does it every day with both me and my husband.
It is infantile behavior that should go away, but some cats will never stop.
True Jan, but factors as to why they do it can help with understanding it.
Some kittens have left mom too early and have not learned to comfort themselves in any other way yet.
Others just do it because it feels good to them, but its not a comfort thing at all.. its a pleasure thing.
Which one does your kitten fall into? If its the former, the behavior should go away as the cat matures, but if its the latter it will likely only go away if they find something else that gives them the same pleasurable experience.
For example!! Cleo (DLH) was taken from her mom at 6 weeks old, she was not properly weaned and would suckle things to comfort herself when stressed. She stopped that habit when she was a year old, but started again when she became the basket-case that she is (she's got anxiety issues and is on meds for it), Cleo is around the 4 or 5 year mark. She stopped the suckling once her anxiety levels went down after she started the meds. White Kitty (DSH) on the other hand, didnt leave mom until she was 10 weeks, and she started suckling again when she was around 6 months old for no apparent reason. She occasionally suckles blankets and other soft things, leaving random huge drool marks on it lol, she's now 9 (will be 10 this year) and will likely continue to do this when she's bored or if she wants the same pleasure she gets out of it. She's not an anxious cat at all, and only suckles here and there. I suspect its because it feels good, and she just wants the "high" that it gives her (that addict
lol)
Blue suckles on the side of our necks, in the early morning. That is the only time he cuddles. It seems to give him comfort, and if that's the case, whatever the reason, we don't mind.
When we brought home our first pair of Ragdolls 18 years ago, they were kittens and loved to suckle my hair! It wasn't so cute during the late night hours while I was trying to sleep, but they eventually outgrew it. Clyde, however, lived to be 18 and until the very end would knead on my neck at night while we settled in. He's been gone now for 9 months and I still miss him terribly.
Aw, that's so cute about your nine year old, BlueSky! Sounds like Gracie, actually.
She was about 3 1/2 months when she left her mum - last in the litter to go.
And she's veeeeerrrrrry relaxed here. Took her about a week to adjust when we brought her home. But now she loves to lay in the middle of the carpet on her back, with her chubby tummy exposed for the world to see. And unless she's in a playful mood, she lets us rub her tummy while she's lying there.
She does suckle on blankets sometimes too, but I've only ever seen here do it when she's very close to me or my husband. When she's on her own on a chair or whatever she doesn't do it.
Every morning when I get up, she is right there squawking at me, waiting for her "suckie time". It lasts for a few minutes and then she scampers off to play. Sometimes she comes for suckles other times in the day too, and after a while she tips her head back, but her tongue is still going. She'll sit like that for 1/2 hr or more sometimes, with her eyes mostly closed. Yep, lol, she looks like she's stoned!
Ragdoll momma Wrote:When we brought home our first pair of Ragdolls 18 years ago, they were kittens and loved to suckle my hair! It wasn't so cute during the late night hours while I was trying to sleep, but they eventually outgrew it. Clyde, however, lived to be 18 and until the very end would knead on my neck at night while we settled in. He's been gone now for 9 months and I still miss him terribly.
Aw, I'm so sorry about your Clyde. He sounds very sweet. :hugs:
My Himalayan cat, Stumpy passed away about a year and a half ago, and I still miss him a lot. It's kinda neat that Gracie has some of his characteristics and reminds me of him in some ways.
It is infantile behavior that gives pleasure and/or comfort. I do not see the distinction you are trying to make. Some kittens outgrow it and others do not. Since it is affection oriented, there is very little that one can do about it, no matter ones theory of the cause and cats that do it seem very intent about it. It may indicate some level of anxiety and it that case the only treatment seems behavior modification medication, which is extreme if there is no serious down side to the behavior. (Some cats will nurse on themselves until they get sores - and then prozac may be appropriate.)
My older cat (Ru) suckled on another cat I had (Bud) when he was little. I think it only lasted for a month or two and then he stopped. And he never suckled on me or anything else. I'm not concerned about Gracie, as it's not destructive behavior that I can tell. And it's really very cute. I was just surprised to see her doing it still, and had assumed she'd stop eventually.