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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: N/A
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Skipton, UK
Posts: 32
26-08-2012, 05:55 PM   #1

cat is trying to suckle from me


what do i do, he's 10 weeks old tomorrow and is coming on me and licking my cheek or hand and then sucking and clawing me.
So confused.



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Shelley123's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Preston UK
Posts: 6,968
26-08-2012, 06:59 PM   #2

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


Your kitten is probably just trying to comfort itself, the sucking will no doubt remind him of mum.
I don't know if you should discourage this behaviour or not to be honest. Perhaps someone else can help.
I did have a cat that liked to suck cream coloured jumpers worn by people. I always thought that maybe her mum had a cream tum ?



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: N/A
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Skipton, UK
Posts: 32
26-08-2012, 07:18 PM   #3

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelley123
Your kitten is probably just trying to comfort itself, the sucking will no doubt remind him of mum.
I don't know if you should discourage this behaviour or not to be honest. Perhaps someone else can help.
I did have a cat that liked to suck cream coloured jumpers worn by people. I always thought that maybe her mum had a cream tum ?
Aw thanks, I think it's sweet




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Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: dsh
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 1,590
27-08-2012, 07:56 AM   #4

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


My first cat did this, but he was found as a stray kitten aged about 4 weeks so I put it down to the fact he was taken from mum too early. We never discouraged it because he seemed to get a feeling of security from it. Don't know if it was the right thing to do.



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angieh's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
27-08-2012, 10:22 AM   #5

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


It's certainly a security thing and your kitten may grow out of this behaviour naturally. If it doesn't hurt you and he gets comfort from it I would tend to neither encourage nor discourage it but maybe try and distract him and see if that works, using a toy or a bit of string ........ gentle distraction is what I'd recommend but don't push it, I am sure it's because he left his mum too early.



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Velvet's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 5 DSH. 2 DLH
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nth Ireland - UK
Posts: 3,605
27-08-2012, 11:38 AM   #6

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


Agree with Angie x



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Moggies
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Preston, Lancs
Posts: 90
27-08-2012, 01:00 PM   #7

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


I have 4 cats....2 that left mum at appox 4 weeks (abandoned), and 2 that were found in a field at approx 10-12 weeks.

The ones who were found at 10-12 weeks suckle and always have done (approx 1 year old now), the other 2 don't!
They love fleece blankets to suckle on!



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: N/A
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Skipton, UK
Posts: 32
27-08-2012, 02:41 PM   #8

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


Quote:
Originally Posted by Hevvur
I have 4 cats....2 that left mum at appox 4 weeks (abandoned), and 2 that were found in a field at approx 10-12 weeks.

The ones who were found at 10-12 weeks suckle and always have done (approx 1 year old now), the other 2 don't!
They love fleece blankets to suckle on!
he's 10 weeks today! I presume it's still normal for kittens to miss their mums?



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calismum's Avatar
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Cats owned: Two Tabby Girls
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Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 5,052
28-08-2012, 11:13 PM   #9

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


My Izzi who is 2yrs suckles on my fluffy dressing gown - usually when I'm trying to drink a mug of coffee - it doesn't seem to do her any harm. Although she was born outdoors she has been around people all her life and was weaned at right time etc. I agree it is nothing to worry about.



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alexgirl73's Avatar
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Cats owned: 2 lovely boys and a beautiful girl
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Telford UK
Posts: 10,652
29-08-2012, 01:06 PM   #10

Re: cat is trying to suckle from me


My Broxi used to do this a lot! He's 7 now, and still occasionally does it to a fleece blanket. He still kneads a lot, expecially if I am wearing a fluffy jumper



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