Please explain, 12 week old suckling off her blankey.

stacie gray

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Please explain!

We rescued this lovely girl (her name is Little Miss Kitten) who was found in a drain pipe around 6 weeks old. She has been with us for 6 weeks now putting her at around 12 weeks. She has adapted so well and is such a lovely and playful girl.

Although she seems to be effected by being away from her mummy cat too early and has this strange habit of "suckling" off her blanket when she is tired/comfy/sleepy.

I have the major cat mum guilts and am wondering if there is something I should have done or should be doing be doing to comfort her? Will she grow out of this? 

All advice is greatly appreciated.

A video of what I'm talking about here:


 

raysmyheart

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Oh God, she is so precious!  My friend at work has a cat who does this all the time, especially if he is sleepy.  I think it is comforting kind of like the kneading behavior some cats have.  I think  it reminds them of their mummy.  Some other members will have more knowledge of this than I do.  Little Miss Kitten has melted my heart and she sounds like she has a wonderful fur-ever home now.
 

jennyr

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Don't worry - this is very normal behaviour and lots of kittens do it, especially if they have lost their mother. Even human babies suck on blankets sometimes. Most grow out of it eventually. As she is an orphan kitty and is probably missing her mom, you could give her a stuffed toy, the furrier the better, to cuddle up against. That will comfort her. Well done taking her in and looking after her.
 

misterwhiskers

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Yep, very normal, especially in kittens separated from their moms early. My RB kitty Tootsie used to drive me nuts...I was 20 and just wanted to sleep on a blanket that wasn't kept soaking wet lol. My mom said--you'll miss this, some day. And I do.

Tootsie had a favorite, too--a fuzzy old bathrobe, though any blanket worked in a pinch. It's adorable. Some cats suckle hair, ear lobes, etc so I guess a blanket doesn't seem so bad, huh?

I've heard of buying a baby-proof teddy bear and getting the kitten to suckle on that instead of a blanket.
 

raysmyheart

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I love these stuffed toy ideas like suggested from @misterwhiskers  and @JennyR.  I even know they sell little "blankies" , it is a soft little toy for a baby (like Little Miss Kitten)! with a square soft hankerchief-shaped piece attached to it, kind of a blanket material.
 

Anne

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Welcome to TCS! It is common and usually shouldn't be a problem. We actually have an article on this -

 [article="22418"]Wool Sucking Cats​[/article]  
 

feralvr

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One of my cats suckled fleece and my neck :lol3: till he was almost 10 months old. Then it became less and less. I never stopped him from doing so. Although with the neck suckling - I would try to redirect him to his favorite blankie. I didn't want kitten suck marks on my neck :lol3:. Anyway - This is very common and not always from them being taken away too early. My Presley and his siblings were all with their momma till they were almost 10 weeks old. He still had this suckling behavior. So don't feel too bad. You have given your ADORABLE Little Miss Kitten a wonderful home and saved her life. She is really CUTE !!! Just let her suckle the blankets - by pulling it away or distracting her too many times may make her more anxious and more obsessed with this behavior. She will most likely outgrow it!! :wavey:
 
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ohlolalou

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Aww. My Lola started off trying to do that to my shirts. I "weaned" her into a blanket that looks oddly like that!
 

Sarthur2

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I had a cat who I rescued at 5 weeks old. She lived to be 21. She sucked on a blue terrycloth bathrobe I owned for a couple of years.

I had another cat I rescued as a kitten who tried to suck on me. I gave her a teddy bear, and she made little "nipples" like I see your cat doing in the video, and kneaded and suckled all over that bear her entire life. She never outgrew it.

It's a comfort thing and no cause for concern. I love your cat's fantastic purring :).
 

peppers mama

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I've had pepper now for 3 yrs, I got him when he was a little kitten, he also sucks his blanket. it seems the only time he sucks the blanket is when {as my husband calls it some lovings} thats when pepper needs some pettens. so what my husband does is he puts peppers blanket on his chest and {when he's laying in bed ] pepper will climb up and as soon as my husband starts petting him thats when pepper starts purring and sucks his blanket. alot of times pepper will let us know when he needs his blanket time,he does this little dance. but no i really don't think that cats who suck blankets do grow out of it, i don't know who enjoys the blanket time more my husband or my cat
 

qtgonewild

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My cat has done that since I got her at 6 weeks old. She sucks on the end strings of throw blankets. Shes 1.5 years now and still does it. I surely hope she never outgrows it as I find it to be the cutest thing ever. She purrs so loudly and does pushy pullys while she sucks. I love her to death and she is now 63 days pregnant today!!!! planned pregnancy! cant wait for babies!!!
 

feralvr

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Adding in here about my :rbheart: Pipsqueak - he never got over his need to suckle like Presley did. He did this consistently for the whole 8 1/2 years of his life. Pip loved fleece blankets and he suckled most times in the early mornings on the bed or just as we were going to bed at night. He was a Siamese mix - and a bit high strung so I think that helped to soothe him and calm him a bit. He was a very, very unique little fellow and he never did anything by the "book" cat-wise anyway. I still think most kittens do eventually give up this behavior unless they are the Pipsqueak types. :lol:
 
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eet3861

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My cat does this as well. I found her on the side of the highway when she was about 6 weeks old. She's 3 years old now and still does it. The only difference is she only suckles the carpet we have in front of our bathroom sink. And the only time she does it is when I'm in the bathroom standing on the carpet when I'm straightening my hair or brushing my teeth. 
 

mschilders

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I rescued Charley from my engine in November @ six weeks old and she was feral. Wanted nothing to do with my husband or I. Eventually, she has become a ball of love, and as she falls asleep while I'm in the recliner, Charley will suck on my hair while kneading my neck and purring. While my hair may hope she grows out of it, I hope my kitten keeps that bit of baby forever.
 
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