Kittens often engage in nursing for a variety of reasons, including because they have been weaned early or are comforting. This is a fairly normal behavior in kittens, but sometimes it continues into a cat’s adulthood, and while the behavior may be cute in kittens, it’s not so cute in cats. adult cat. While this may not be an entirely unusual behavior for cats, regardless of their age, having an adult cat nursing can be stressful for some cat parents.
But is this something you can prevent your cat from continuing? There are ways you can help your kitten stop this habit if you want it to stop, although it may take some time and patience. Here’s a look at why cats suck and the steps you can take to help stop your favorite cat from this behavior.
What is Cat Breastfeeding?
Cat weaning is simply what happens when your cat starts sucking on something. Usually, something is a soft object, like a blanket, but sucking can also happen on toys or even your fingers. In many cases, this sucking is accompanied by loud purrs and kneading.
While it may be strange to see your adult cat engage in nursing, this is just an instinct left over from being a kitten, as this is what kittens do when nursing. So, it’s really nothing to worry about, and there are several reasons why your adult cat engages in this behavior.
Why Do Cats Suck?
Cats continue to nurse into adulthood for some reason, and this is rarely a behavior that indicates something untoward is going on. Here are the top reasons why adult cats nurse.
Genetics
This behavior may be due to genetics, as some cat breeds are more likely to engage in breastfeeding than others. Compulsive sucking is often found in breeds such as:
It is not clear why some cat breeds have this trait while others do not, but since many of them are Oriental breeds, there is a theory that they originally took more time for the mating process. wean than breeds that come from places like Europe or North America. That means these breeds are now weaned earlier than before, which may make them more likely to engage in breastfeeding throughout their lives.
Weaning Too Early
Have you adopted a stray cat, and were they particularly young when you found them? Then, the cat may be prematurely on their mother’s milk. When weaning occurs earlier than it should, suckling can occur as cats look for a substitute for mom’s milk. Although this behavior occurs more often in kittenhood, it can continue into adulthood, partly because cats that are weaned too early may develop inappropriate sucking behavior.
consolation
Convenience is another reason some cats engage in breastfeeding. Sucking is a leftover behavior from being a kitten, when a cat is nursing, so it’s a natural habit. But breastfeeding during nursing is not only done to feed; it also allows the kitten and mama cat to bond, making the kitten feel safe and comfortable. So, if an adult cat is nursing, they may be seeking comfort, making nursing a soothing behavior.
If a cat is often nursing as a soothing behavior, it can be a sign that the cat is stressed. So, if your cat is constantly sucking on things, it could be a sign of anxiety.
Health Issues
Rarely, a cat engaging in sucking may be due to an underlying health issue. If this is the case, the health problem is likely related to the cat’s digestive system or teeth. A cat nursing because she’s not feeling well will show other signs of illness, and a visit to the vet should help.
Sucking can also be a more compulsive behavior in cats at times, similar to compulsive disorders in humans. Cats dealing with compulsive behavior will be tied down and determined to suck on objects no matter what; in this situation, it is best to talk to your veterinarian.
The 6 Steps to Stop a Cat from Sucking
While it’s normal for a cat to nurse, it can lead to your pet eating things they shouldn’t or cause you stress because the cat won’t stop sucking on your favorite blanket or pillow. The best way to stop a cat from sucking is to determine why they are engaging in the behavior in the first place so you know which steps will work best to prevent the behavior from happening to them. Here are 6 preventative steps you can take when you find out why your cat keeps sucking.
1. Offer your cat a reward.
If your pet continues to suck on a wool toy, offer them a non-wool toy. If they love a particular blanket, give them something else that’s also luxurious that they might not enjoy sucking on as much.
2. Always use positive reinforcement.
Praise your cat when they don’t suck! Give them pets or let them eat; whatever you do, it’s important to recognize when your cat is avoiding sucking and reinforce this avoidance with something positive.
3. Make sure your pet has enough resources.
This step is good for stressed kittens, because sometimes cats get stressed when there aren’t enough toys or food to go around. So, make sure your pet gets enough to eat and has enough toys to share with other animals in the house. Also, if you have multiple cats in your home, make sure you have enough litter boxes for everyone to use! The general rule is one litter box per cat, so if you don’t have enough, it can cause fighting and stress for your cats.
4. Lower stress levels.
Your cat may be stressed for reasons other than insufficient resources. If you think your pet is stressed and can find the stressor, remove it. If not, try using calming sprays that mimic pheromones to help your kitty stay relaxed rather than agitated.
5. Provide plenty of mental stimulation.
People don’t always realize that cats need a lot of mental stimulation, or they will become bored. And boredom can lead to behaviors like sucking (or just plain chaos). So, make sure your cat has things around the house to keep them entertained, like cat towers and scratching posts. Also, engage your kitten in play sessions throughout the day. Not only will this make them happy, but it can also help redirect their attention away from something they are considering breastfeeding.
6. Visit your vet.
If nothing else helps, it may be time to visit your vet. Your cat’s sucking behavior may be compulsive or due to an underlying health issue, so discussing options with your veterinarian, such as whether medication can help, is the best way to get your cat to stop breastfeeding
Final Thoughts
Breastfeeding is uncommon in cats but more commonly seen in kittens, so it can be disturbing or stressful to see your adult cat engage in breastfeeding. If you see your pet sucking on things and you want to stop them, your first step is to determine why exactly they are sucking. Then, you can use the steps above to prevent the behavior from happening again.
Featured Image Credit: KanphotoSS, Shutterstock
