Nursing on my dressing gown?

Zoe.K · 11-16-2011, 03:50 AM

Hi all,

I just wanted to get some points of view on this really as I've had six cats in the past and none of them have done this. I have two kitties, one boy and one girl, now almost 5 months old.

When they first came to live with me occasionally they would suckle on one of my cuddly toys, loudly and purrrr like crazy.

It got a bit much so I moved the toy away from my bed so they could still suckle but not make noise when I try to sleep.

Well for the past few months now they have taken to nursing on my dressing gown, more so when I'm wearing it and it's cute but I just wondered if this behaviour was normal.

They both seem happy and I just assumed it was like a child sucking it's thumb so hopefully it is.. any thoughts?

Thanks
Zoe
x

**doodlebug** · 11-16-2011, 08:43 AM

Sounds like they were separated from mom too early.

MowMow · 11-16-2011, 09:31 AM

MowMOw has a cuddle bear and a few blankets he does that with. Kneads and suckles (and drools a LOT), it seems to send him to his 'happy place'. I agree with Doodlebug, I chock it up to weaning too early.

wondercat · 11-16-2011, 09:32 AM

My Max does this also, sometimes I see his mouth moving even when he is not sucking on anything, he does it to me, the blankets etc. I hope it does go away eventually, i think he was separated from mommy way to early also.

Dorky_GiGi · 11-16-2011, 10:00 AM

It does sound like they were separated from mom too early.

However, that isn’t always the case. When I got Nigel, he was properly weaned and aged to go his new home…but he has this habit of snuggling up on me and suckling my earlobe. The first time he did it, I know he was trying to suckle and it was the sweetest thing (although my soggy ear didn’t agree). He would try and do this all of the time, but as he got a little older, it subsided. Right now, he’s almost 2 years old and every now and then he’ll try to do it. Last night, as a matter of fact, he climbed up on me for a snuggle and tried going for the earlobe again.

MowMow · 11-16-2011, 10:52 AM

Ugh! MowMow goes for the earlobe all the time too. I probably wouldn't mind but he's SUCH a drooler and it's gross.

I try to let him use that as a stress reliever though. When he seems really stressed or fretting about something it settles him down and gets him purring and sleepy in no time.

Dorky_GiGi · 11-16-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MowMow

Ugh! MowMow goes for the earlobe all the time too. I probably wouldn't mind but he's SUCH a drooler and it's gross.

I try to let him use that as a stress reliever though. When he seems really stressed or fretting about something it settles him down and gets him purring and sleepy in no time.

Yes! Me, too. People think it's weird to let him do that...but if he's stressed, I let him do it. When Archie came home, Nigel especially wanted to do it. The only thing that grosses me out is the amount of drool they leave behind.

I do, however, find the amplied suckling noises to be a riot.

WhisperingWind56 · 11-16-2011, 05:31 PM

My mom's gray tabby, Sarah, used to do that. Even when she grew up, if she saw that nightie lying on the bed, she'd pounce on it and start suckling like crazy.

bkitty · 11-16-2011, 06:21 PM

Awww You're the mama. I';ve got a couple that nurse on me. Methos and PuddyWow get competetive about it. And yes most of my guys were bottle babies.

Susan · 11-16-2011, 11:28 PM

When she was a kitten, Muffs used to suckle on a fuzzy blanket and knead at the same time. I adopted her at 12 weeks, prior to which she was with her Mom and littermates, so her suckling wasn't related to being removed from her Mom too early. I don't know why she did it, although she seemed so happy that I never tried to stop her. She essentially outgrew the habit when she was around 6 months old. She still does it now, but only rarely (maybe once every 3 or 4 months).

11-16-2011, 03:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Zoe.K Kitten Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 9	Nursing on my dressing gown? Hi all, I just wanted to get some points of view on this really as I've had six cats in the past and none of them have done this. I have two kitties, one boy and one girl, now almost 5 months old. When they first came to live with me occasionally they would suckle on one of my cuddly toys, loudly and purrrr like crazy. It got a bit much so I moved the toy away from my bed so they could still suckle but not make noise when I try to sleep. Well for the past few months now they have taken to nursing on my dressing gown, more so when I'm wearing it and it's cute but I just wondered if this behaviour was normal. They both seem happy and I just assumed it was like a child sucking it's thumb so hopefully it is.. any thoughts? Thanks Zoe x

11-16-2011, 08:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 17,697	Sounds like they were separated from mom too early. __________________ Onyx & Callie May forever in my heart.

11-16-2011, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
MowMow Premier Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 5,643	MowMOw has a cuddle bear and a few blankets he does that with. Kneads and suckles (and drools a LOT), it seems to send him to his 'happy place'. I agree with Doodlebug, I chock it up to weaning too early. __________________

11-16-2011, 10:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dorky_GiGi Cat Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Parma, Ohio Posts: 133	It does sound like they were separated from mom too early. However, that isn’t always the case. When I got Nigel, he was properly weaned and aged to go his new home…but he has this habit of snuggling up on me and suckling my earlobe. The first time he did it, I know he was trying to suckle and it was the sweetest thing (although my soggy ear didn’t agree). He would try and do this all of the time, but as he got a little older, it subsided. Right now, he’s almost 2 years old and every now and then he’ll try to do it. Last night, as a matter of fact, he climbed up on me for a snuggle and tried going for the earlobe again. __________________ GiGi Cat slave...erm, I mean owner. Last edited by marie73; 11-16-2011 at 09:07 PM. Reason: font size

11-16-2011, 10:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
MowMow Premier Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 5,643	Ugh! MowMow goes for the earlobe all the time too. I probably wouldn't mind but he's SUCH a drooler and it's gross. I try to let him use that as a stress reliever though. When he seems really stressed or fretting about something it settles him down and gets him purring and sleepy in no time. __________________

11-16-2011, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
wondercat Cat Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 223	My Max does this also, sometimes I see his mouth moving even when he is not sucking on anything, he does it to me, the blankets etc. I hope it does go away eventually, i think he was separated from mommy way to early also.

11-16-2011, 05:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
WhisperingWind56 Jr. Cat Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 71	My mom's gray tabby, Sarah, used to do that. Even when she grew up, if she saw that nightie lying on the bed, she'd pounce on it and start suckling like crazy.

11-16-2011, 06:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
bkitty Tom Cat Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 376	Awww You're the mama. I';ve got a couple that nurse on me. Methos and PuddyWow get competetive about it. And yes most of my guys were bottle babies.

11-16-2011, 11:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Susan Premier Cat Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,632	When she was a kitten, Muffs used to suckle on a fuzzy blanket and knead at the same time. I adopted her at 12 weeks, prior to which she was with her Mom and littermates, so her suckling wasn't related to being removed from her Mom too early. I don't know why she did it, although she seemed so happy that I never tried to stop her. She essentially outgrew the habit when she was around 6 months old. She still does it now, but only rarely (maybe once every 3 or 4 months). __________________ Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

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