Kitten suckling on my other male cat's genitals

Hi everyone! I’m having the same issue with a 3-week-old kitten who has started sucking on his brother! I noticed the "victim" had a red, swollen and irritated willy for a few days, and I realised why this morning! He clearly thinks it's a teat! It was an abandoned litter found outside, seemingly on the day they were born, and only 2 out of the 4 survived. I've been bottle-feeding them since I rescued them—their eyes were still closed and their umbilical cords were still attached... I tried to make a little nappy, but the little lad fights like mad! I tried a bandage too, but they just pull it off... For now, I’ve had to separate them, but it breaks my heart because they’re still so tiny (barely 0.35 lbs) and they really need each other... so if anyone has any ideas...?

Try it without sugar at first if you like. Adding a tiny bit of sugar would have only been to make the bottle more tempting for the cat.

Hi again Helyos, I’ve just thought of something: if the little one has an overwhelming urge to suckle, the solution might be to offer him a small feeding bottle—with a soft teat, of course—filled with a bit of sugary milk mixed with water. Give it to him as soon as he starts going for the older cat's bits. If the kitten is still young, he can still digest milk and will find it very tempting. Alternatively, you could get some proper kitten milk from the chemist or a pet shop. I don’t think shutting him away in a room is the answer; he’d feel like he was being punished when he hasn’t done anything wrong. A cone is very distressing for cats, so that’s not a solution either. And there’s no need to put anything on the older cat’s private parts. Please keep us posted. But isn't giving him sugar like that a bad idea?

Hello again @Helyos, I’ve just had a thought: if the little one has a desperate urge to suckle, the solution might be to offer him a small bottle—with a soft teat, of course—containing a bit of kitten milk. Offer it to him as soon as he starts going for the older one’s bits. If the kitten is still young, he’ll still be able to digest milk and will find it very appealing. You can get special kitten milk from the vet or a pet shop. I don’t think shutting him in a room is the answer; he’d feel like he was being punished when he hasn’t done anything wrong. A buster collar is really stressful for cats, so that’s not a good solution. There's no reason to put anything on the older one's bits, either. Please keep us updated!

Replying to your messages, I’ve tried "isolating" him, but he just meows non-stop and it upsets my older boy, who just wants to get back to him. I haven’t tried pheromones yet; I’ll have to have a word with my vet about that. And maybe I could try a Buster collar? I’m willing to give anything a go! I’ve even thought about putting some pet pants on my older cat like breeders do, but I’m not always there to keep an eye on him, and it’s not going to work if he needs to use the litter tray. Or perhaps I could put something on his bits that has a smell or taste the kitten won't like but is safe for the skin? It’s a bit of a sensitive area, though, and I’m not sure what I’d use... plus it’s a double-edged sword because then my cat might not be able to groom himself. Thanks for your help!

Could it be a sign of submission? Have you tried pheromones? Maybe try putting a cone on him, so he can't get to the older cat's bits? Just until they grow out of the habit? If it’s hurting your older cat, you’ve got to find a way to stop them. I know my mum’s dogs used to do it. It was the daughter who would suck on the father’s bits. I thought it was gross because obviously, some fluid would come out, but it didn't seem to bother them. They stopped eventually, well I think so anyway... I don't live with them anymore.

I reckon the little one has found himself a bit of a substitute teat there, and the older one seems to be enjoying it too, but it’s probably best to nip this habit in the bud before it really takes hold. Could you separate the little one for a few weeks by keeping him in a different room (the bathroom, for instance) until he grows out of it?

My two cats are both boys, and the older one has been neutered. Unfortunately, he keeps suckling on the kitten's willy while purring away, and eventually falls asleep in that position. It’s 3:30 am and I’ve just had to stop him again. I can see that the pressure from the suckling makes his bits pop out a little... You’re right, if he was really in pain he’d let me know, but I’m mainly worried that the sores will get deeper and won’t heal if this carries on. Until I find a solution, I’m just moving him away every time he starts (luckily, you can hear it when a kitten is suckling) in the hope that he’ll break the habit, but I’m exhausted from getting up several times a night. It’s really taking its toll, but I’m just getting on with it. Anyway, thanks for your reply ☺