Licking and Sucking
Dr. Jeff Nichol, DVM, IAABC Veterinary Behaviorist
Littermates suckling on one another is a common unintended consequence of our meddling with Mother Nature.
- Free-living (feral) litters don’t usually leave for college until they’re 16 weeks old, while most home raised kittens are sent packing at the tender age of 6-8 weeks.
- Babies need their parents.
Many mature beyond this habit.
- Even as adults some cats habitually suck on their owner’s ear lobes or hair.
- There is no cure for this behavior, but you can interrupt an adult cat with a short blast from a compressed air can.
- The good news is that suckling is harmless. I suggest you ignore kittens when they do this.
A word about physical punishment:
- Whether it’s a tail sucking kitten, a wool chewing Siamese, a bored teenager, or a confused feline senior spanking, yelling, and other forms of harassment are a waste of energy that only drives the problem underground as it damages the bond you share with your pet.
- Get the right answers so you can do the right thing.
Related Posts
About the author
Dr. Jeff Nichol, DVM, IAABC is a residency trained veterinary behaviorist whose practice is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of behavior disorders of dogs and cats. With extensive experience in general practice and behavior medicine, he works with pet parents to tailor practical, individualized treatment plans to improve the well-being of pets and their people.
Dr. Nichol regularly writes about the treatment of behavior problems, including anxiety, aggression, fear, separation, house soiling, and other common concerns in companion pets.
