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besheer Sep 07, 2006 10:45 PM

I have an 8 year old neutered cat who loves to suck on blankets. I know about pica or whatever it's called, but this guy gets into a trance when he's sucking. He gets a very strange and serious look on his face, and he kind of moves his hips almost like he's trying to hump the blanket. He pushes with both his front and hind legs, and maybe that's what makes it look like he's humping. This lasts for about 15 minutes, during which he keeps getting up and repositioning himself. He twists the blanket several times by the time he's done. He also makes ridiculous sounds and gets extremely annoyed if we try to touch him or push him while he's doing it. He looks like he could get very violent if we try hard enough. We end up just clapping or something and he takes off running.

My girlfriend grosses out when he does it and has to wash the blanket if he as much as sniffs it because she thinks it's something sexual. It sure as hell looks like he's getting himself off, but he's fixed. I've had it with washing blankets every day. Is this what cats do when they suck on wool? Or is he doing something a little different?

Replies (3)

PHKitkat Sep 08, 2006 11:06 AM

Hi There,

This isn't pica, since your cat isn't actually eating anything. It's not all that strange as far as feline behavior goes, either.

You probably know that cats knead when they are happy. Some cats also suck on things. This is a carry-over from kittenhood, when kittens knead while they are nursing from mom. In some cases, adult cats that knead a lot lost their moms early in life.

Some male cats will go a step further. They start by kneading and sucking on something but also become aroused. This happens even in neutered cats. In fact, one of my boys will regularly mount a stuffed animal. I have another cat that loves to knead and suck on my shirt. To put a stop to this behavior, you would have to stop the kneading and sucking as well.

I personally would just let the cat be. To me it isn't a big deal, just a behavioral thing in some cats.

Take care,
PHKitkat

besheer Sep 09, 2006 12:30 AM

Thanks for the reply, PHKitkat! We are pretty much letting him be. He even has his own "sexy blanket" now to do whatever he wants with it. We try to keep the bedroom door closed when we're away so he can't get to our blankets. My only goal was to try to convince my girlfriend that there's nothing gross/sexual about it. My argument was that since he's fixed, he can't get aroused. Apparently, I was wrong

Hopefully, I'm right in assuming he's not secreting any bodily fluids?

PHKitkat Sep 10, 2006 05:46 PM

Hi,

I would say that the origin of his "bodily fluids" has been removed.......LOL

Your girlfriend can relax a bit now

Regards,
PHKitkat

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