Kitten suckling

[LornaJayne]

Hello, I was wondering if I would be able to get some advice on my little f8 kitten. She is 5 months old and absolutely gorgeous but she has developed quite a suckling problem. She is a real lap cat, but as soon as I pick her up she tries to suckle me. She won't suckle on material, just skin, and I am now covered in love bites all over my neck, arms and hands! I don't want to tell her off for it as I think it is for comfort/ her showing affection, sometimes I do try to pull her away but she just then tries suckling my other hand or neck. I was wondering if anyone else has had experience of this and any advice? She wasn't taken away from her mum too soon or hand reared so just wondering if this is normal Savannah behaviour? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place, first post! Thank you.

 

[WitchyWoman]

All 4 of mine did this until around 5-6 months of age. They're all adults now and still do it from time to time. Make sure you are feeding her enough. Sometimes they do this if they're hungry and sometimes for comfort and sometimes for both. Also, she is still teething. You might try getting some nubby chew toys and put one in her mouth when she starts to suckle. I get mine in the dog toy section of pet supply stores. You can also try giving her a raw chicken wing or leg and let her gnaw on that.

 

[LornaJayne]

Hello, thanks for your reply. We always have food out for her, biscuits between meals then raw sachet food in morning and evening. That's a good idea, I will pick up one of them and see if it helps, and next time I have chicken out I will try that too!

 

[Connie P.]

Hello, thanks for your reply. We always have food out for her, biscuits between meals then raw sachet food in morning and evening. That's a good idea, I will pick up one of them and see if it helps, and next time I have chicken out I will try that too!

My 10 mo. old F2 is a suckler too. He just does our arms. It just seems comforting for him; so we just let him suckle. I can see where the neck would be a problem. LOL


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[Patti]

I suspect she may have been weaned at an early age. If she is teething the chew toys may help, but if it is a nursing issue she may just have to grow out of it. Sometime they can be appeased by offering a bottle, but they usually don't adjust well to the nipple at this age.

 

[Patti]

This is similar to a human baby wanting its pacifier, just in this case the pacifier is YOU!