I've read all the advice on every website I could find about kittens sucking on each other. Our two sisters (of a litter of 5 kept together at the shelter) are about 15 weeks old and Lyla continues to suckle on Kipper's belly to the point the nipple is red and irritated. To make matters worse, Kipper is suckling on herself at the same place. At first, I thought they would grow out of it, but it's getting worse, not better, as they get older (there was none of this for about 3 weeks when we brought them home from the shelter). They are otherwise healthy, frisky, friendly smart kittens. Does anyone have any advice? I'm beyond thinking this is normal behavior and wonder if it's becoming a bad habit.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
Kittens Suckling
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Sorry for your problem! I would definitely take them to the vet for a check over (rule out any vitamin deficiencies, etc,) and advice. Lousy as it may be, you may have to separate the two until they are a bit older and grow out of whatever this is. Kipper may be suckling himself to try to soothe the area, so maybe (after getting your vet's advice) you can put some sort of ointment on the nipple to both heal it, and hopefully it would also taste bad enough to deter him from the behavior. Maybe a collar of shame :( for a while to keep him from the behavior. Until you can get to the vet though, try separating them and just make sure they have plenty of toys and attention to keep them occupied. Good luck!
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I think also you may have to separate them. If the skin is not broken you could put "Bitter Apple" on him--they hate the taste.
Posted 7 months ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #
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You may want to get or make your kittens some kitty pacifiers. They are seeking the same comfort a human child gets from thumb sucking. Example:
Posted 7 months ago by ailuromaniac #
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DON'T EVER HIT A KITTEN! ESPECIALLY NOT ON THE HEAD!
In fact, don't ever hit any animal, for the same reason you shouldn't hit people. It is cruel and it is dangerous for the animal, especially being hit on the head. There is no point in tapping them either. All it will do is teach them to be afraid of you and afraid of your hands -- and even, eventually, to bite your hands. I would bite a hand, if I saw it coming towards me and I knew what it was going to do.
If your kitten is doing something you don't like, say sternly 'No' and put it out of the room and don't give it any attention. Your kitten craves your love and attention. If you are consistent, it will soon learn that if it does something you don't like, it loses its best playmate until it stops misbehaving.
Ailuromaniac's suggestion of kitty pacifiers, the idea of bitter apple and the idea of separating them when they do this are all good ideas.
Niki, if you ever have problems with your kitty, of any sort, just come here and ask for suggestions on what to do. Hitting anything living is not a good idea.
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Niki, you first said hit - check your post. You can't blame Jcat for being alarmed. And following the advice she gives DOES work, as plenty of people on this site can testify to!
Posted 7 months ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
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Aw, thanks MCW.
Niki, I'm sorry if you feel I overreacted but I just saw the word 'hit' and freaked! Also, tapping sounds as if it should be all right but in fact it's not because some people's tap might be a light soft touch and others 'taps' might be a sharp smack. Cat and kitten skulls are especially fragile spots. And some cats will also learn to bite a hand that taps -- they may not be so afraid of it but it will annoy them and they will have a go, and I don't blame them.
it's not the word 'No' so much (I know what you mean), it's saying it and then withdrawing attention from them. That does work (eventually).
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