Getting
Started - Suckling behaviors
Kitten suckling
Nutritional suckling is normal kitten behavior. Suckling continues
until kittens are weaned from their mother's milk. After weaning,
some kittens continue suckling to relax. Think of this as a baby
with a pacifier.
Some
kittens continue this behavior longer than others just like some
children continue sucking a thumb longer than others. Some stop
the suckling but continue the kneading and purring.
Kittens may knead and purr with suckling just as they did when
feeding from mom cat. Some kittens cope with anxiety by suckling. If kittens are very
stressed, suckling may become an obsessive compulsive
disorder.
Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) are behaviors that
are repeated over and over, also called, repetitive behaviors. OCD
behaviors are hard to interrupt. Sometimes, suckling results in
self-inflicted wounds. Kittens may lick the body until raw or pulling out
fur. Ignore this and all other inappropriate behaviors.
In these cases, a veterinary exam and consultation with a
veterinary behaviorist is in order to see if medications and
behavior therapy are indicated.
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