New Kittens & Suckeling

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Andi u - 10 Jun 2005 05:32 GMT

Hi! Hi just adopted 2 kittens (now about 9 wks old) a male and female.
About a week after I got them the female kitten started suckeling on her
brothers chest and neck. Once in awhile he will try and fight her off but
usually he just gives in and goes to sleep while she does it. I'm
wondering if I should be doing something about this or be concerned at all.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Andie

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M.C. Mullen - 10 Jun 2005 16:56 GMT

: Hi! Hi just adopted 2 kittens (now about 9 wks old) a male and female.
: About a week after I got them the female kitten started suckeling on her
: brothers chest and neck. Once in awhile he will try and fight her off but
: usually he just gives in and goes to sleep while she does it. I'm
: wondering if I should be doing something about this or be concerned at all.
: Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Andie

The kitten does this because it has been separated from the mother too
early.
The best time is when the kittens are 12 weeks old.

Carola

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Rhonda - 12 Jun 2005 07:43 GMT

Hmmm, our kittens stayed with their mother -- and continued to do this
off and on until they were over a year old! Their brother, who we placed
in another home at 4 months old, tried to suckle from his new
companion's tummy.

I think that mom's belly (or a substitute in some cases) is a place of
comfort.

Rhonda

> The kitten does this because it has been separated from the mother too
> early.
> The best time is when the kittens are 12 weeks old.
>
> Carola

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M.C. Mullen - 12 Jun 2005 12:44 GMT

: Hmmm, our kittens stayed with their mother -- and continued to do this
: off and on until they were over a year old! Their brother, who we placed
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
: >
: > Carola

Yes, maybe, but I've noticed that all the cats we got after 12 weeks old
don't neither suckle nor knead - coincidence?

Carola

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Rhonda - 13 Jun 2005 05:41 GMT

Don't know -- but our whole litter did it until a year old, and only one
was separate from mom (and that at 16 weeks.)

Rhonda

> : Hmmm, our kittens stayed with their mother -- and continued to do this
> : off and on until they were over a year old! Their brother, who we placed
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> :
> : Rhonda

> Yes, maybe, but I've noticed that all the cats we got after 12 weeks old
> don't neither suckle nor knead - coincidence?
>
> Carola

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