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Post by wrongwayfeldman on Apr 17, 2024 13:53:58 GMT
 I love my kitty like my baby, but this is getting a bit ridiculous! I have a ragdoll cat, and he's almost 6 months old. He was with his sweet Mama until 13 weeks, and had good attachment and care. We tote him around in our arms alot since he's just the cuddliest animal I've ever had, but he also gets plenty of floor time and time alone. We an older orange cat who keeps him on his toes and they play together quite a bit. I work at home with a family day care, and he interacts with me and the kids all day long, so I know he's not lonely or bored. At night, every night, every single night, he crawls into bed with me and my hubby and immediately makes a beeline for my neck. He snuggles in really close to me, purring, and almost immediately he starts to suckle on my skin. When it first started, I thought he missed nursing, but he had been weaned for quite some time. I assumed he missed his mama, and I tolerated it for a bit before I'd push him off, only to have him nuzzle right back in. He would leave little tiny marks on my neck that looked like little hickies. Pretty quickly, he stopped "chewing" as much and using his teeth, but would still make little sucking sounds and attach onto my skin. I pull him off almost immediately and started moving him toward the bend in my arm, and we would suck on that part of my skin for awhile, but almost always still tries to inch his way up to my neck. Lately, he's sucking less and basically attaching himself, while he purrs and makes biscuits with all four of his paws. It's honestly equally sweet AND annoying. The sound creeps out my husband, and honestly it creeps me out as well, but he's just so sweet and I don't want to lock him out of our room. I've tried pushing him off, setting him on the end of the bed, putting him on the floor, and tossing him over to my hubby, but each time he pushes his head over to me to try again. I bought a little suckling blanket from ETSY, which was basically a cotton, quilted square with 4 tiny nipples sewn into it, but he basically laughed in my face! It was a little weird, and I ended up tossing it out after he totally refused to go near it. I'll admit, it was a little strange. Some nights I leave him outside of our room, and he's obviously fine, but the very next day, when I pick him up to cuddle him, he roots that nose right into my neck all over again. My family thinks it's hilarious, and it is sweet that he has this attachment to me, but it's getting old and I'd like it to stop. Have any other kitty parents had this happen? |
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Post by Tearisci on Apr 17, 2024 14:00:16 GMT
No advice but that sounds adorable!
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Post by katlady on Apr 17, 2024 15:08:40 GMT
Her behavior is not unusual at all. The cat really loves you! When we had a cat, she used to make biscuits on me when she was young. I missed it when she eventually stopped as she got older. The sucking on your neck will eventually stop too as she gets older. She is young, and just showing you her love. Now, the sleeping on the neck may never stop. Cats like to sleep on top of their favorite humans. Your neck/body is a source of warmth for them. You are also a source of comfort to her. She may be overwhelmed in her new home.
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,017 
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Post by mimima on Apr 17, 2024 16:40:38 GMT
My cat would do that just on me (not Dh) up to his death at nearly 10.
I would try to get a blanket for him, but often it was on my sleeve.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Apr 17, 2024 17:03:05 GMT
My cats have been doing this to my dog since they were little kittens, also on his neck. They are 8 now and still do it sometimes! I joke that they think he is their mama. I'm positive it is a comfort thing.
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Post by scrapcat on Apr 17, 2024 18:38:44 GMT
Aww, honestly sounds cute, but I could see the problem too! He sounds like my baby, who is also part ragdoll and exhibits some of the same behavior. He likes to nibble/suckle on hands when he's getting tired, but doesn't continue it. He is 2 now and still acts very much like a baby - so you may be in the long hull! I am pretty sure he imprinted on me after his momma, so probably same with you.
I think you need to find him something that works? Like try different stuffed animals, blankets, etc, until he can latch onto something? Did you try putting it in the same place as your neck?
I've had cats in the past that also like to sleep on necks and faces. I think it's a combo of heart beat, and breath, like that comforting noise. I've heard things like putting hot water bottle in blanket or tick-tock clocks wrapped in blanket to sooth puppies.
My step daughter's black lab does the suckling thing to soothe himself at night too. He uses a blanket or a big stuffed animal. (he's 8!)
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Post by Zee on Apr 17, 2024 18:59:51 GMT
My cat did that when he was a kitten but he outgrew it by about a year. He did continue to snuggle me at bedtime and did the kneading and purring, his whole life, but the nursing behavior stopped.
I always just figured it was self-soothing and he was particularly attached to me. Unlike your kitty, though, he was taken from his mother too young (per my aunt, who got him from a co-worker).
He was the love of my life ❤️
Our little motherless orphan we got a couple years ago was just the opposite, fierce and ready to brawl from the beginning! Now he's totally chill all the time. They're all so different!
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Post by wrongwayfeldman on Apr 17, 2024 22:30:59 GMT
Thank you for all the support. He really is the sweetest cat I think I've ever known. He just clearly loves us all and I feel a little guilty that I feel a little annoyed with all his attention, but reading these comments, I'm thinking I should consider myself lucky that he loves me so much to have chosen me for his little habit. I really do hope he settles down a bit-most mornings I wake up looking like I had quite the wild night!
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Post by katlady on Apr 18, 2024 0:06:55 GMT
Ahh! So cute!! Yes, you are the chosen one! lol! It will get easier as he gets older, let’s hope! lol!
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Post by Lexica on Apr 18, 2024 1:40:35 GMT
OMG, that is the cutest kitty. Those expressive eyes! I would do my best to tolerate the behavior because I know that is the cat’s way to express their affection for you. The sucking in my skin, nope. That would bug me, but the kneading would be fine.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 18, 2024 2:26:43 GMT
One of our cats frequently slept and napped on my neck until he passed. If not my neck, if I was on my back the furthest he would usually wander was my chest. I slept on my stomach so when I woke up he was either in the curve of my arms by my head, my back, or between my legs. I miss that little ahole.  |
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samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
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Post by samantha25 on Apr 18, 2024 2:37:09 GMT
This is one of the most beautiful kitties I've seen. What's his name?
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Post by wrongwayfeldman on Apr 18, 2024 3:08:15 GMT
This is one of the most beautiful kitties I've seen. What's his name? His name is Gus. He is pretty much perfect and he’s brought us so much joy ❤️ |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Apr 18, 2024 5:09:51 GMT
My 14yo cat doesn’t suckle but he is stuck to me if I’m sitting or laying down. He kneads and purrs and snuggles in as close to me as he can get. At night he’s either right against my side, laying on my chest or sleeping on my pillow. In the past year he finally decided that being under a blanket is nice and will lay under my sheets against me sometimes.
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Post by lainey on Apr 18, 2024 8:05:01 GMT
Gus is adorable, that face  |
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Post by tmarschall on Apr 18, 2024 12:42:34 GMT
That face...give the baby whatever he wants! 🥰
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,760
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Apr 18, 2024 12:43:47 GMT
Oh that face!!
No advice...but come on! He's so sweet.
I have a cat that DOES NOT want to be picked up and cuddled.
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Post by disneypal on Apr 18, 2024 15:39:07 GMT
It is actually very sweet but I can see when you are trying to sleep how it could be a bit annoying. Basically, it is a way of soothing himself, just let making biscuits is a way of soothing himself. It's also generally a sign that your cat is happy, feels safe but may want attention. Even though it seems he gets plenty of attention, at night when you are trying to sleep, he isn't getting the attention he wants.
Unfortunately, I don't really have any advice on what to do to make him stop. He is still a bit young, so perhaps he will grow out of it.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,621
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Post by craftymom101 on Apr 18, 2024 18:09:14 GMT
Gus is absolutely gorgeous! I don't have any advice, but he is darling... I would probably let him snuggle on me all night long!
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Post by scrapcat on Apr 18, 2024 20:30:46 GMT
Omg - I cannot with that photo! He's adorable. He needs a social media account!
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Post by Tearisci on Apr 18, 2024 21:16:06 GMT
He's adorable and has a great name!
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,544
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Post by Just T on Apr 19, 2024 13:38:59 GMT
When I first got my kitty, she was only 5 weeks old, taken from her mama way too early. My daughter was living with us at the time and had a dog. Our cat latched onto that dog, and would do exactly what you are describing to the dog. The dog was so patient and just let her do it, but sometimes, the look on the dogs face was hysterical, like what is happening here? LOL The kitten did it for a LONG time, I want to say close to a year.
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I love my kitty like my baby, but this is getting a bit ridiculous!
