Kitten Self Nursing! PLEASE HELP!!!!

[catlover4ever]

My a adopted a kitten and her foster mother.

The kitten was close to being weaned when i got the adorable pair. (8 weeks)

I realized I couldnt handle two, so after my vet said it would be safe, at 11 weeks,

a gave the foster mom to my bestfriend. At first my kitten, (Cleo) was confuzed.

She called to her for at least 3 days. She would howl at the front window.

(The foster mom's favorite spot) I felt terrible, but acording to my friend, the mother cat was fine, and pregnant again.

I felt horrible for Cleo. She ate, and as far as i knew, she was healthy.

Then, I came home one night after work, to find her NURSING ON HERSELF!!!

I tried to make her stop! But she wont, I talked to my vet about reuniting them, but she said it would be too much of a risk since

Kyla (foster mom) was pregnant. Everytime I see Cleo nursing herself, i try to stop her.

But she wont!! To make things worse, her stomach gets dirty, and brown from her suckling herself so offten.

I'm begining to SERIOUSLY worry! Please help me!!!

 

[p3 and the king]

This is a behavior and psychological problem.  I don't even know where to begin?  Wow.  Let me see what a couple of others think and I'll get back to you!

 

[catlover4ever]

ok. thank u, yes, i know, my baby is messed up. But i luv her.

 

[p3 and the king]

I understand! 

  Have you tried the Calming Collar or Feliway?  I would use them both in combination.  Here are some links....

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3446914

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755197

I will try to get some more professional perspectives on this issue.  But it can't hurt to look into these products.

 

[catlover4ever]

I have tried both, she pulls them off, and nurses.

she's nursing on my lap as i type this.

Everyword a have to push her muzzel away from her nipples.

 

[p3 and the king]

Morgan Bartell, Ed.M., is a cat behavior expert and manager of behavior and training for the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. She says it is somewhat common for cats to suck or nurse on things to comfort themselves. That could be themselves, other animals, people or even soft items such as bedding or clothing. She says cats tend to practice this behavior if they are orphaned or weaned early. (Ideally, kittens should stay with their mother and littermates until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. When they're separated earlier, they're likelier to develop this behavior.)

"When cats nurse on themselves, they often purr and knead at the same time," says Bartell. "This is often a self-rewarding behavior (meaning: it feels good for the cat), so it can be hard to stop. It is also something cats tend to do reassure themselves, either in stressful situations or just as a source of comfort, like a child sucking her thumb."

If your cat's suckling is limited to herself and causes no physical harm, there may be no reason to stop it. "While it might be annoying," says Bartell, "if the behavior is not causing any physical problems, it won't hurt your cat to continue. As she ages, your cat may even discontinue the suckling, though many cats continue for life."

However, Bartell warns that for some cats the behavior becomes a very serious habit that may become a response to any stressful situation, at which point it may be compared to human obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If your cat nurses to the point of significant hair loss, open sores or other body trauma, or if the cat starts eating items she sucks, it is time to intervene and you should seek the help of a veterinary behaviorist. These specialists are trained to treat compulsive or anxiety-based behaviors with medication. For less serious cases, you can take some steps that may not stop the behavior completely, but should help limit or discourage it.

First, try to identify what triggers the behavior. This may help determine whether the suckling is stress-related. If you can make a connection, then it may be possible to eliminate or at least manage the stress factor. "For example," says Bartell, "maybe the suckling happens more when children come to visit, or perhaps when another cat in the home is nearby, or when the cat hasn't received a lot of attention."

If the behavior seems stress-related, limit your cat's exposure to the stress. If visitors bother her, make sure she has a safe place to retreat when you have guests. Bartell also says spending more time with your cat, providing alternative activities and offering an enriched environment with interactive toys, climbing surfaces and more are all good ways to relieve kitty stress.

Perhaps most important, "Never punish a cat for this behavior," Bartell warns. "Punishment will only increase stress levels and may even intensify the suckling."

She advises you to evaluate whether or not you could be unknowingly reinforcing your cat's suckling. Do you pay lots of attention to your cat when she's doing this? If so, try ignoring her when she suckles. If she receives no external reinforcement, the cat may show less interest in the behavior.

Bartell says it may also be possible to transition your cat from nursing on herself to suckling on a substitute item, such as a blanket or teddy bear. Make sure you pick an item that won't shed pieces your cat could ingest. While this won't eliminate the behavior, it could prevent your cat from suckling herself to the point of trauma.

Please note, there have been cases of cats that actually eat blankets, socks and other items while suckling. This can be a life-threatening situation, so before you try this method, evaluate the level of your cat's suckling. If your cat is eating her own fur when sucking, do not use this method. Other warning signs to look for are holes starting to appear in blankets or clothing, missing items such as socks, chewed ends to curtains or towels, etc.

Lastly, if your cat tends to nurse on one part of her body, you can put something there that tastes unpleasant. Make sure it is something approved for use on cats! There are anti-chew formulas on the market. Be careful to place it only on the exact spots the cat suckles, so you don't discourage her normal grooming.

Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/columnists/theberge/article_0498ff4a-f0c1-5eba-8af2-4c0e52387c67.html#ixzz1m7y8IKoN

 

[catlover4ever]

thank you! I will try this! I am so excited, I am going to Petsmart NOW!!! and i'm taking her with me!

I'll tell you what happens when i get back! Thanks again!

 

[catlover4ever]

ok. So.....I am back. The petsmart worker said she had NEVER seen a cat like her,

So she precribed a thing for my babies nipples.

We are home. WE walked in the door, i sat here on my lap.

5 minutes later, she tried to nurse. So i didnt put the stuff on immeadiotly.

i gave her alot of praise when she didnt nurse, but then she started, so i out her down, she jumped back up.

we did this 5 times, and she wanted to snuggle so when she hopped up like the 7th time, she didnt nurse,

i have a fuzzy blanket on, she she kneaded my lap, didnt nurse on it, but snuggled close to my chest.

she is so cute when she is not.....nurseing disturbingly.. thank u. will give u report of the night tommorow.

 

[Anne]

I'm not sure why you're trying to curb this particular behavior? It's fairly common and quite harmless. The one thing you do absolutely have to do is get her spayed, before she goes into heat. Spaying her before her first heat cycle will significantly reduce her risk of cancer down the road.

Please take a minute to read this article -

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/spay-and-neuter-your-cats

Thank you!

 

[carolina]

I'm not sure why you're trying to curb this particular behavior? It's fairly common and quite harmless. The one thing you do absolutely have to do is get her spayed, before she goes into heat. Spaying her before her first heat cycle will significantly reduce her risk of cancer down the road.

Please take a minute to read this article -
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/spay-and-neuter-your-cats

Thank you!

and on that note.... please tell your best friend to spay the mom cat too so she doesn't keep getting pregnant again and again

She called to her for at least 3 days. She would howl at the front window.
(The foster mom's favorite spot) I felt terrible, but acording to my friend, the mother cat was fine, and pregnant again.

 

[StefanZ]

and on that note.... please tell your best friend to spay the mom cat too so she doesn't keep getting pregnant again and again

She called to her for at least 3 days. She would howl at the front window.
(The foster mom's favorite spot) I felt terrible, but acording to my friend, the mother cat was fine, and pregnant again.

Right!  As you TS didnt noticed anything, so it must be a fresh  pregnancy.  (Did it started at your place?  How? ).

So you and your friend may perhaps even consider spaying NOW?   Medically speaking, this is no big deal for a vet.

There are even veterinarian handbooks who do advice to get the cat pregnant and spay, so not to risk sapying when they are in heat...

 

[carolina]

There are even veterinarian handbooks who do advice to get the cat pregnant and spay, so not to risk sapying when they are in heat...

Hope was caught as a stray, and she was pregnant.... She had a pregnant spay and was just fine..... I am glad she had the procedure and no kittens ended up in the shelter :nod:

 

[StefanZ]

I'm not sure why you're trying to curb this particular behavior? It's fairly common and quite harmless.

Right!  Too much nursing is not so good for the health, so its good you are trying to turn the attention for something else, where she cant hurt herself with excessive self nursing.

. Keep also with the Feliway diffuser.   Sometimes it kicks in firstly after some week.

But you seems to revolt against the self though your pretty sweetie pie nurses on herself...  THAT in itself isnt nothing especial, like Anne says.

Good luck!

 

[p3 and the king]

As you saw from the article I found, most experts agree it's normal and a self gratifying thing.  Don't punish her.  Just ignore it.  There are things you can do to curb it but unless she starts hurting herself, I wouldn't bother wasting your energy or money.  True, it's disturbing but just deal with it is probably the best advice!  Haha!  Get her spayed, if she is not already- you don't need more kittens and she definately couldn't handle it with her stress.  That is most important.  And on the Feliway, if after a month or more of uneffectiveness, I would say it doesn't work for you.  It never has for me and no sense wasting your money hoping it will magically kick in.  I've heard of people using the Calming Collar and Feliway together and them having results when they didn't before but it doesn't work for every cat.  Just and FYI. 

 

[ruthyb]

My Candy does this,I posted my concerns on here as I had never seen it before but I have since learnt that it is a comfort thing like someone sucking thrir thumb. I wouldn't stop candy from doing it she isn't doing any harm so why would you want to stop this?x

 

[catlover4ever]

Well i would spay Cleo, but i want her to have 1 liter before i spay here.

Do u think, her nursing her self, when she's pregnant ALONG with the kits nursing, will be a problem?

And i called my friend, and she says she will not spay Kyla.

 

[StefanZ]

And i called my friend, and she says she will not spay Kyla.

Ah so, did she possibly mentioned why not?

 

[StefanZ]

Well i would spay Cleo, but i want her to have 1 liter before i spay here.

Aha.  May I ask why?   I can imagine several reasons, but I dont want to guess when you can tell yourself.  

 

[catlover4ever]

No. she didnt say why, i would insume bcuz she loves the kittens, but.....

i dont have to wirry about them ending up on the street of anything,

she has raised cat's all her life with her mom who is a sertifyed breeder.

 

[catlover4ever]

and i belive every she-cat should have the experiance.

if there is like a liter of 3, i will keep them all.

But over 5, i will only keep one, and find the other's good homes.