Hi there! I’ve got a bit of a worry. It’s been a week since our little kitten, Souris, joined the family! The problem is that she keeps suckling on Bandit, my 3-year-old neutered male. He’s taken to her really well – he grooms her and has shown her where the litter trays are, so all that’s going great. I’m just wondering why Souris is suckling on Bandit. He lets her get on with it for 5 or 10 minutes, but then he hisses at her. Souris is already eating and drinking by herself, though.
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Yes, I’m meeting a lady who runs a local rescue and I’m going to give her the tin of milk with the feeding bottle and the three teats. Last night they were playing and then Bandit came onto the sofa for a nap; Souris was bothering him a bit, so Bandit ended up grooming her again! And she fell fast asleep!!! I’m still keeping an eye on them though, because Bandit can be a bit rough with her sometimes!!!! It’s true that Bandit does like his peace and quiet!!! It’s quite a change for him with the little one around! But they eat together and, on the whole, everything is going well.
Same here! My male kitten used to try and suckle from my adult male when I first adopted him. He was already weaned and eating wet food by then.
He basically just thinks the older cat is a female; he goes looking but obviously doesn't find anything. You have to remember he’s only 3 months old and has spent his whole life up until now nursing from his mum.
It’s nothing to worry about. Mine is an adult now and hasn't tried to do that for ages. It is quite funny to watch though, seeing him try to nurse from the male.
One thing though: for his own safety, don’t leave him alone with the older cat without supervision. They aren't the same size and the adult is much stronger. That’s what I used to do, as the bigger one can get a bit rough when they play.
A shame about the kitten milk and the bottle 😀😀😀 you can always donate them to a local animal rescue, but as we’ve all told you, it’s got nothing to do with food... it’s all about comfort and reassurance. As @Del mentioned, it can go on for years when they do it to their humans... my Bandit is 4 and still does it... although not as often now.
Regarding the little scraps between your two cats, just let them sort it out themselves... your cat will set his own boundaries, for instance, a quick swat to let her know he’s had enough playing and wants a nap... by doing that, he’s finishing her socialisation, laying down the law, and the little one will understand and follow suit. You can keep an eye on them, but considering how they get on, I really don’t think you have anything to worry about...
Evening, thanks for your replies. So, yesterday I rushed to the chemist to get some kitten milk and a bottle, but Souris isn't interested! Souris is 3 months old. Yes, Bandit is very affectionate with his "little sister"—he’s constantly grooming her and they play together, so everything is going well. It's just that Souris pesters him when he's sleeping on the sofa, so sometimes he gives her a little swat! I’m just worried he might hurt her though, as she lets out a little squeal sometimes.
The little one was most likely weaned too early. Suckling on her "big brother" is a comfort to her. Don't worry — when he's truly had enough, he'll make it clear to her. Don't intervene, even if he's a bit rough with her; she needs to learn that when it's enough, it's enough!
Hi,
How old was Souris when you got her?
This is a behaviour often seen in kittens who were separated from their mothers too early. The urge to suckle is still there, but it’s more for comfort and relaxation than for actual feeding. In fact, if it hadn't been for your other cat, she probably would have picked your hair, your clothes, or a fleece blanket...
This behaviour can last for years with humans or fabrics, but since she’s with your other cat (and she’s lucky to have them), it should pass in a few weeks. She’s basically finishing the weaning process; her mother would also have shooed her away after a few minutes.
See you soon
Evening!
Just to share my story, I’ve got a little rascal of my own at home, a ginger tom 😀😀.
That being said, I also had a kitten once who used to suckle on one of my dogs, so it’s really nothing to worry about, especially since your boy knows exactly how to tell her "enough" when he’s had his fill.
I’m not sure how old your little one is, but if she was adopted quite young (before she was 3 months old)... it’s almost certainly linked to missing out on that time with her mum. Some cats suckle on clothes (my Bandit does it with a fleece), and they often purr and knead at the same time... it must remind them of when they were nursing.
It should settle down as she gets older. You could always move her away when you see her doing it, but Bandit seems to be handling things just fine on his own!
