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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / February 2006

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kitten nursing his brother

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QuiltsWithCatFur - 24 Feb 2006 02:03 GMT
Well, he's 4 months old and nursing on his brother's fur and his spayed
mother's tummy fur where her nipls are.
Should I worry, separate them or will he grow out of it?  Will this behavior
cause psychological illness in the poor host cat?  The kitty/leech is not
stopped or dissuaded by either the host brother or mother.  Everyone
involved seems to be okay with it except for us human onlookers.  I have
heard of kittens trying to nurse human earlobes, but not each other.  advice
appreciated.
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) - 24 Feb 2006 02:37 GMT
> Well, he's 4 months old and nursing on his brother's fur and his spayed
> mother's tummy fur where her nipls are.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> heard of kittens trying to nurse human earlobes, but not each other.  advice
> appreciated.

He was probably weaned too early.  Better he nurse on the
other cats than on you.  It's very hard to explain the
resulting hickies with "My cat did that!"
meee - 24 Feb 2006 02:46 GMT
> Well, he's 4 months old and nursing on his brother's fur and his spayed
> mother's tummy fur where her nipls are.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> onlookers.  I have heard of kittens trying to nurse human earlobes, but
> not each other.  advice appreciated.

Well I've got 4 month old kittens who are still nursing once a day. If he's
still that young, he is probably just 'comfort sucking'. Some babies take a
little longer to wean than others.I wouldn't worry about it, the mother will
eventually decide it's time for him to grow up and kick him off. I really
don't think you have to worry about psychological damage, if his brother and
mum get sick of it, they will get up and walk off. Is the one sucking the
younger/runt kitten?
jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net - 24 Feb 2006 03:20 GMT
> Well, he's 4 months old and nursing on his brother's fur and his
> spayed mother's tummy fur where her nipls are. Should I worry,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Everyone involved seems to be okay with it except for us human
> onlookers.

It's totally normal behavior at that age - in fact, many domestic
cats never fully outgrow it. Please don't worry about it - if either
the mother cat or the brother get annoyed by it, they'll let him know!

They certainly won't suffer any psychological damage. Animals don't
have the same kind of body hangups that humans often have. To a cat,
getting annoyed by a suckling brother is no different from being
annoyed by another cat trying to clean its ears at the wrong time.
They'll just let him know, in a nice way (by leaving) or a not-so-nice
way (by hissing or bapping him on the head, etc, if he doesn't get
the hint).

You nailed it on the head - nobody seems to mind except the human
onlookers, who worry about these things! :)

Your babies sound really sweet.

Joyce

PS - I like your ID!
Mathew Kagis - 24 Feb 2006 08:22 GMT
<SNIP>

> You nailed it on the head - nobody seems to mind except the human
> onlookers, who worry about these things! :)
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> PS - I like your ID!

What they said.... Your hoolikitten may never outgrow it, I had a cat as a
kid, who sucked on necks & earlobes till he was 6 yrs old.  With some cats,
like my Chablis, they replaxce it with the 'kneading' behavior.  Not sure
which one I preffer.... the suckling left fewer wounds......  But the claws
are less 'embarrasing'.
Signature

Mathew
Butler to 3 cats:  Chablis, Muscat & Sage
En Vino Veritas

 
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