Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have the sweetest little kitten who was deceitfully taken away from her mom WAY too early. The woman said she was the runt and was about 7 weeks old. . .she was about 4-5 weeks old. We taught her how to eat and use the litter box. . .she is doing well with one exception.. . .she nurses on EVERYTHING. Anyone know how to get her to stop? She will sometimes do it almost all night and it is soaking everything and driving us nuts.

Thanks!!

Kym

About the only solution I can think of is to get a kitten nursing bottle and let her nurse a dilute solution of Kitten Milk Replacement and water and hope that this will ease the other nursing behaviors. If you can limit her to one "sucky" object that would also help.

There is a product called Bitter Apple or Bitter End which will make things taste rather icky if applied. You might do that to the bedding or wherever she does nurse. The odor is not unpleasant to humans - at least not to me.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Kym,
I think you should let her have her own personal blanket or sucky object like Madame said. and if she starts nursing on your shirt or clothing put her on the floor and tell her no. If she goes after the kids tell them to do the same thing.
BTW is she totally house broke yet? What do you think about Gabby as a name for baby cat?
jame

One very important point to remember is that this is not a "misbehavior." Your kitten is doing exactly what kittens are meant to do. The sucking reflex is hard-wired into every kitten, and they simply must do it, just as they must eat and sleep.

Madame Alto's recommendation of a kitten nursing bottle is great for a few reasons. The bottle will help satisfy both her suckling and her nutritional needs. She will be rewarded by sucking on the bottle because her empty belly will become full. (Kittens hate hunger pangs. ) Bottle feeding also helps to strenthen the cat-human emotional bond.

I also like Jame's recommendation for a special blanket, but have a cheaper version. Because your kitten seems to like to suck on fabrics, you might find a few dish or hand towels that are extra sturdy and can't be yanked apart by baby kitten teeth. During the day, for example when you're at home watching television or sitting to do some other activity, put a small towel on your lap. At night when you sleep, lay one next to your body or perhaps over your feet. If given the choice, your kitten is going to prefer sucking on something that is placed on or next to you rather than in another room. By doing this, she can feel the warmth of your body while she's suckling, just as she would if her mom-cat were still around. (This is why sucking on your pajamas while you're wearing them is probably more desirable to her than sucking on a piece of clothing in the hamper.) Once she gets used to the idea of sucking on the towel, she will probably chose to suck on that at night while you're sleeping, as long as it's close enough so that she can feel you at the same time.

If she ever starts sucking on your fingers or toes, withdraw them immediately and give her a gentle, "No." Although this is a cute and sweet activity for a very young kitten, you don't want it to become a habit. Adult cat teeth can hurt a lot.

Good luck with this kitten. Please give us an update and let us know how she's doing.
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PHCurious
Cat Chat Host

That was Bubba's thing too. He was 4 weeks old and didn't want to eat anything solid or drink milk from a dish. I had to start teaching him to eat by letting him suck drops of formula off my skin, he would only suckle off of skin. Then I gradually taught him the the stuff in the bowl was just as good (by sticking my hand in the formula, ick)...

Anyway, (got sidetracked) he'd suck on my blankets and clothes, (anything that smelled like me, constantly). Then, after a few weeks he started adding Mike's clothes and blankets to his sucking domain. But he grew out of it He slowly stopped and now doesn't seem to remember how to do it, he just licks blankets now. I'll always remember little 6 month old Bubba sucking on my blanket when we were all falling asleep....and then pulling the "suck spot" into my face! EEWWWW!!! That I will not miss, getting soaked in Bubba spit. Oh so gross!

Anyway, the point is, we used to try to get Bubba to stop when he was little but it never worked. Nothing worked. We just let him grow out of it and he did. He stopped doing it at about a year old or so. Your baby may be different, but I figure if they want to suck on something, let em!

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-Martha
Kuma
Bubba, formerly known as "Ducky"
and
Macaroni

thank you for your story and advice. Trixie has been doing it a little less, but she still does it quite a bit. She looks like she is in Heaven when she is suckling. Like you. . .I don't like pulling to "suckie" spot into my face at night. . .but she is so snuggly that I can't bear to toss her off the bed.

thanks!!

Kym

>>thank you for your story and advice. Trixie has been doing it a little less, but she still does it quite a bit. She looks like she is in Heaven when she is suckling. Like you. . .I don't like pulling to "suckie" spot into my face at night. . .but she is so snuggly that I can't bear to toss her off the bed.

This is one of the toughest aspects of discipline. Sometimes those "misbehaviors" are just too cute and adorable that we can't bear to discourage them. (I think they know this too. ) Unless a cat's safety is at risk, you don't really have to discourage them.

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PHCurious
Cat Chat Host

I won't tell you what my male kitten started nursing on when we first got him, but he too was taken away from his mom way too early. He'll be 10 next month and he still nurses from time to time, but I don't mind because it's out special bond. Anyway, they do grow out of it for the most part. The others gave you some good advice too, so hopefully you will be dry very soon.
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Dottie
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