Suckling Issue

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CATherine - 09 Sep 2004 04:24 GMT

A couple months ago a friend of mine acquired a year old female cat
that now occasionally suckles on her one of her own nipples! One day I
lifted her head to make her stop and she became very angry and bit me.
She is quite healthy and very active. Maybe she needs constant
attention? Or maybe she was taken from her mother too early? Or maybe
she misses her former owner? The boy who plays with her is in schooll
all day and his mother is greatly handicapped and can't play with the
cat. She has toys but prefers people playing with her. I wonder why
she suckles and how we can stop it. I wonder if there is something to
put on the nipples that would deter the suckling without harming her.
Suggestions appreciated. TIA.

--
CATherine

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Mary - 09 Sep 2004 04:30 GMT

> A couple months ago a friend of mine acquired a year old female cat
> that now occasionally suckles on her one of her own nipples! One day I
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> --
> CATherine

It's her nipple. What's the problem? Does it embarrass your friend?
At first I was thinking you meant that she sucked on the friend's nipple,
which might really be uncomfortable as well as weird.

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Karen Chuplis - 09 Sep 2004 05:09 GMT

>> A couple months ago a friend of mine acquired a year old female cat
>> that now occasionally suckles on her one of her own nipples! One day I
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> At first I was thinking you meant that she sucked on the friend's nipple,
> which might really be uncomfortable as well as weird.

Problem is that can cause her to get sore. I bet she will grow out of it,
but they could try a bit of bitter apple there. I wonder if she won't start
over grooming though. Is she causing a sore Cat?

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kaeli - 09 Sep 2004 15:23 GMT

> A couple months ago a friend of mine acquired a year old female cat
> that now occasionally suckles on her one of her own nipples! One day I
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> put on the nipples that would deter the suckling without harming her.
> Suggestions appreciated. TIA.

She needs an outlet. If the behavior is causing a rash or sore, put something
on the skin that makes her not like the taste, but also provide her with
something else to suckle, such as a pacifier. Do be careful that she doesn't
chew on it, though, as ingesting the material would be bad. They have
pacifiers for dogs that may be preferable to ones for babies, as they're
sturdier. They may even have them for cats. You usually find them by the
nursing supplies (for babies with no mommies due to death, abandonment, etc).
Check by the milk replacement products.

The pet store in my area has this blue gunk (looks like petroleum jelly) you
can put on the skin to deter them from licking it. It's in the dog section
and it's for heat spots. Non-toxic to dogs and cats. Just tastes bad and
lasts longer than Bitter Apple.

Since you say "occasionally", though, I'm thinking the only thing wrong here
is the human embarrasment of it. Get over it if that's that case and leave
her be.

Signature

--
~kaeli~
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from
many is research.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
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CATherine - 09 Sep 2004 21:34 GMT

>> A couple months ago a friend of mine acquired a year old female cat
>> that now occasionally suckles on her one of her own nipples! One day I
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>is the human embarrasment of it. Get over it if that's that case and leave
>her be.

Thanks, i will check Pet Smart next time I go there. Embarrasment is
not an issue. The possibility of soreness is. The nipple is a little
larger than the other ones. I don't want it to turn into something
bad. I just had a mammary tumor removed from my dog; so maybe I am
overly sensitive about it. But I have never seen this behaviour in all
my 50+ years of owning cats. So i am curious as to the cause. I am
thinking she needs a lot more attention than she gets. She started
this after the boy started school. So maybe she is lonely for him.
What about a catnip baby for her to nuzzle when she is lonely?

--
CATherine

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kaeli - 10 Sep 2004 15:19 GMT

> Thanks, i will check Pet Smart next time I go there. Embarrasment is
> not an issue. The possibility of soreness is. The nipple is a little
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> this after the boy started school. So maybe she is lonely for him.
> What about a catnip baby for her to nuzzle when she is lonely?

If you were lonely, would a stuffed animal do it for you? ;)

I am offering only suggestions for helping cope with the behavior. If the
cause is indeed lonliness, about the only thing that will help STOP the
behavior is company of another living being that she likes/loves.
I am of the opinion that one should have more than one cat whenever possible
so they can have company even when the humans in the home don't have enough
time. If that is feasible, go for it. If not, yes, she needs more human
interaction. A stuffed toy might become her new suckle-buddy, but it won't
stop her lonliness.

It *may* help a bit if she has access to something of her boy's to cuddle,
such as a used, unwashed shirt (nightshirt is great, as it has lots of
scent). She may find his scent comforting.

Signature

--
~kaeli~
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

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IBen Getiner - 18 Sep 2004 11:20 GMT

>Subject: Suckling Issue
>Path:
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reader.com!newsfeed.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp!newsfeed.icl.net!newsfeed.fjserv.n
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>From: CATherine pepsicola5cents@drop.me.bigsandytelco.com
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>--
>CATherine

Strongly chide her with a loud NO every time she starts up with this fetish. Do
not tolerate it and let her know this clearly. Show her that your approval of
her will cease being positive every time she goes at it. Make her look to YOU
as the leader and alpha female. The approval thing I can't stress enough. Our
little Franchester obeys upon command now for just about everything. He vies
for my positive reinforcement just as a much-loved child and has learned that
the price for disobedience is shunning rejection in loud retorts.
Do not allow this nipple fetish to go on. It is a perversion and a rather
twisted one at that, as almost anyone in here will tell you. Good luck.

IBen Getiner

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G_Reaper - 25 Sep 2004 19:58 GMT

> >Subject: Suckling Issue
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> IBen Getin humiliated

**You're just pissed because it's not YOU doing the suckling you
sick, worthless, degenerate, piece of Racist Trash!! Do you hang Black
cats like you say you'd like to do to Black people??**

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