eleezybeth
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Sept 13, 2017 16:03:51 GMT
LOL! This poor baby. She was found on the streets at about 3-4 weeks of age. Lived in a foster home for a bit and then back at the shelter. We got her a few days ago and they said she is about 5-6 months old. I'm cold blooded so whenever I sit down on the couch, I have a blanket on me. Nothing special a fluffy fleece one of standard issue from Kohls. Well this cat lays herself flat out, sticks her head into my side and starts sucking on the blanket. Her little paws just going to town kneading me and the blanket. Eventually, she'll work herself up to sitting on my chest, the closer to my chin the better. I'm certainly her human... We got her because our old kitty died in January. This kitty looks exactly like her- so much so that I burst into tears in the middle of the shelter. DH knew she was coming home at that point.  But this sucking is weird. She has water, food and clearly knows where both are. I've never witnessed cats nursing but she is completely flat just sucking away. Her vet check is next Monday so hopefully this isn't a sign that something is wrong. |
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Post by scrapmaven on Sept 13, 2017 16:08:02 GMT
Congratulations on your new kitty. I just adopted a rescue kitten a few days ago, as well.
When they knead that's a form of feeling safe and it's a way of showing affection toward their human. I'm not sure what is causing your kitty to suck on the blanket. I wonder if he/she needs some chew toys? Do you have a vet that you can call for advice? Though I'll bet someone here will have answers for you. Enjoy your new furry friend.
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Post by Skellinton on Sept 13, 2017 16:12:25 GMT
We have a cat that used to do that too. She was also abandoned around 3 weeks of age. That is EXTREMELY young for a kitten to be taken from their mother, so I think the nursing/suckling is a result of that. Kit did that for several years, but doesn't do it anymore.
I really don't think it is anything to worry about, just enjoy it and be happy she loves you so much she thinks you are her biological momma!
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JustCallMeMommy
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Sept 13, 2017 16:13:36 GMT
Too sweet. When my cats were kittens, they did this to the dog's ears. Sweet pup humored them and let them suck on his ears, and they still try occasionally. I think it is just a comfort thing, but I've never heard of a pacifier for cats.
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Post by busy on Sept 13, 2017 16:17:59 GMT
It's very very common for kittens that were weaned too young. Some cats grow out of it, some don't. It is generally not a sign that there is anything wrong. and um... pictures???
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Post by gillyp on Sept 13, 2017 16:19:49 GMT
We took on a pair of feral kittens and one loved to sleep on a fluffy radiator hammock. He was forever sucking at it. It made me a little sad that he felt the need to do this. He was always a timid little soul.
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Post by MichyM on Sept 13, 2017 16:24:00 GMT
I have 2, 4 1/2 YO feral rescues. One of them does this still. Nothing wrong with her....it's just a thing that she does, likely due to being weaned too soon.
If you don't like it then set her on the floor when she does it. For me it's just another endearing quality that my Pandora has.
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Sept 13, 2017 16:25:49 GMT
I had to bottle raise a kitten whose mother died when he was less than a week old. For the longest time time he like to suck on a pinky finger, kneading away. I currently have a dog that is over a year and a half. She was also bottled raised and still like to puff up a certain blanket and suck on it. She falls asleep with it in her mouth
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Sept 13, 2017 16:54:35 GMT
This thread is useless without pictures!
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Post by Zee on Sept 13, 2017 17:01:56 GMT
I had a cat that was taken away from his mother too soon, and he used to try to nurse. He quit when he was about a year old but he was forever a kneader.
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smartypants71
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Post by smartypants71 on Sept 13, 2017 17:09:17 GMT
My cat was rescued from an animal hoarder. The hoarder refused to give up mama cat, but he let go of the kittens. I'm not sure how old my cat was when it happened, but it was too young.
He loves to suck on fleece blankets. It drives me crazy because it makes the blanket wet! He's 7yo now and he STILL does it. I've tried other alternatives to get him to quit including buying this knobby rug from Ikea (i thought maybe he would see it as a bunch of little cat nipples LOL), but no. He prefers fleece blankets.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 13, 2017 17:19:08 GMT
OMG, I NEEEEEEEEED to see pictures of your darling kitten sucking on the blanket, and of the dog who falls asleep with his blanky in his mouth!!
my sister's first cat was gotten very young, and for his entire life, when she carried him over her shoulder (kind of like you'd carry a baby), he would suck on her earlobe. It grossed my mom out whenever she would see him doing it.
One of my current cats drools a LOT when she kneads the blanket, and she will lick it, but no sucking. (The dogs like to lick, a LOT, but I don't think that's related to anything other than they're weird. LOL.)
I wonder if you COULD get a kitten to suck on a pacifier? now that would be cute!
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scrappert
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Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Sept 13, 2017 17:40:14 GMT
Ya, seriously, where are the pictures?
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Mary Kay Lady
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Sept 13, 2017 17:59:49 GMT
The things we learn because of the Peas! LOL!! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a cat pacifier. But, here it is!! It doesn't say how much they cost. And, I agree, this thread us useless without pictures! |
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Post by idahomom on Sept 13, 2017 18:12:02 GMT
One of my kitties does this. My vet calls it wool sucking and compared it to thumb sucking. Linus has done this since he was a kitten and still does it every time he goes to sleep (he's just over 1 year old now). I was happy to know it wasn't something sexual because he just seems to be in pure ecstasy. And yes, he has extra toes - lots of extra toes. Linus Wool Sucking |
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Post by craftedbys on Sept 13, 2017 18:25:30 GMT
We once got a kitten who was probably weaned from mama too soon. The first time I saw her suck on a blanket I went out an bought some soft black fabric and some black shaggy fabric and sewed her her own blankie. Made it about 20 inches square. I would sit with it on my lap and she loved to lay on my lap and suck her blanket and make biscuits until she fell asleep.
Izzie-bella is now almost 5 years old and still loves to lay on her blanket. No more sucking though.
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Post by teri on Sept 13, 2017 18:32:35 GMT
yup, I've got a sucker too... LOL
Got Topanga when she was super tiny (rescued from the engine compartment of a car in our shop)
At night she would sleep with us and I would wake up to her suckling the bottom of my tshirt.
She still does the kneeding but no more suckling. She's about 13 now
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Post by Sassenach on Sept 13, 2017 20:34:21 GMT
My kitten did this for a few months (on a fuzzy blanket) but eventually stopped. He's a little over a year old now and hasn't done it in quite a while.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Sept 13, 2017 22:45:27 GMT
When I adopted 3 brother kittens, one of them nursed on a furry blanket quite a bit. He doesn't do it anymore (5 years old now) but he does like to lick people. Like, if you are cuddling him, he will lick your arm constantly. Scratchy!
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Post by pb on Sept 13, 2017 22:47:36 GMT
I've got one of those as well. She has a special fleece blanket with a distinct nap. And she suckles that, preferably on a lap. And purrs mightily.
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Post by gale w on Sept 13, 2017 23:15:51 GMT
We once got a kitten who was probably weaned from mama too soon. The first time I saw her suck on a blanket I went out an bought some soft black fabric and some black shaggy fabric and sewed her her own blankie. Made it about 20 inches square. I would sit with it on my lap and she loved to lay on my lap and suck her blanket and make biscuits until she fell asleep.Izzie-bella is now almost 5 years old and still loves to lay on her blanket. No more sucking though. We say "make biscuits" too. People look at us like we're crazy. lol. I had a kitten once that I suspect was weaned early. She would suck on a blanket, which didn't bother me, but if you weren't careful, she would also suck on you. On your arm, your neck, etc. Wherever she could. I didn't like that. |
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eleezybeth
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Sept 13, 2017 23:43:30 GMT
The things we learn because of the Peas! LOL!! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a cat pacifier. But, here it is!! It doesn't say how much they cost. And, I agree, this thread us useless without pictures! No way!!! I didn't think there was actually such a thing as a cat pacifier! I didn't even think to googling it because no way it exists! LMAO! There it is. It is hard to get her picture doing it because as her human, both hands must be free to love her. She was sucking on my neck the other night. |
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Post by birukitty on Sept 15, 2017 4:17:22 GMT
My Siamese cat Jesse does this. He's 18 months old. He likes to do it on my shirts when I'm holding him in my lap. He's been that way since we brought him home from the breeder at 9 weeks old. One article I read said that the Asian breeds, including Siamese, for some reason are prone to this. I usually slip on my light fleece jacket that I wear around the house when he wants to "nurse" so he doesn't get my shirts soaking wet. Fleece dries really fast.
For him it's a comfort thing. I know he was weaned at the right time, but that article said even after they are weaned they like to nurse on their mother's for comfort reasons for an additional 6-8 weeks. If I don't let him do it he has a tendency to seek out plastic bags and lick those. Which we've learned to keep far from him. He only does it once every few days so I've decided since he needs it for comfort it's okay. He's needed it less and less the older he gets.
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Deleted
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Jul 1, 2024 13:25:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 5:09:10 GMT
I believe she is sucking because she was weaned too soon. The kneading is what the kittens fo to get their mother to release milk. It is also a sign that sge deelks comfortabkke, happy and content with you. You are her mom and she loves you.
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uksue
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Post by uksue on Sept 15, 2017 10:41:20 GMT
It's very very common for kittens that were weaned too young. Some cats grow out of it, some don't. It is generally not a sign that there is anything wrong. and um... pictures??? Yes- I have read it is caused from the emotional immaturity caused by being taken from the mother too soon. It's a little like an anxiety disorder. I have a friend with a 2 yr old cat who still sucks and bakes biscuits at the same time , I doubt he'll grow out if it . |
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Post by cannmom on Sept 15, 2017 10:50:36 GMT
One of our full grown cats sucks the tip of his tail and kneads. He had done it since he was a kitten.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 15, 2017 16:26:40 GMT
One of our full grown cats sucks the tip of his tail and kneads. He had done it since he was a kitten. cuuuuute! |
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Post by gavinsmom on Sept 15, 2017 19:19:19 GMT
Some cats are suckers. I had one 😬
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Post by annabella on Sept 15, 2017 19:27:20 GMT
The things we learn because of the Peas! LOL!! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a cat pacifier. But, here it is!! It doesn't say how much they cost. And, I agree, this thread us useless without pictures! OMG this looks like a sex toy for cats. lol |
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Post by leannec on Sept 15, 2017 19:33:19 GMT
It's very very common for kittens that were weaned too young. Some cats grow out of it, some don't. It is generally not a sign that there is anything wrong. and um... pictures???  I volunteer at an animal rescue group and there are always cats that want to suck on my earlobes or shirt ... they just do it for comfort and it is usually because they were taken away from mum too early ... |
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I volunteer at an animal rescue group and there are always cats that want to suck on my earlobes or shirt ... they just do it for comfort and it is usually because they were taken away from mum too early ...