Why does my cat suck blankets before sleep? Is it unhealthy?

Sometimes this can be a sign that the kitten was weaned to early or that it is feeling stress. Kneading and sucking on fabric is a way to soothe themselves. The kneading shouldn't pose a health hazard, but the sucking can certainly lead to ingestion of too much foreign material which can lead to an intestinal obstruction. If you find that Ollie prefers one blanket or type of material, try to keep that away from him. You may want to also give him some extra one-on-one time or extra exercise in the form of play to keep him occupied. Here is a good article with a few more tips: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/wool-sucking/

Kittens, particularly those as young as Freddy, continue to emulate behaviors they performed on their mother's when they nursed. The kneading is the physical movement kittens must make on the teats of the queen in order to get the milk. The suckling on the blanket is the same in that they are emulating nursing behaviors. It is also possible there is something on the blanket that tastes good! There is nothing to worry about in my opinion so long as Freddy is a healthy, happy kitten otherwise.

Suckling/biting and kneading a blanket can be a stress-relief response or natural soothing response in some cats. It often looks like and mimics suckling behavior seen by kittens nursing their mothers. It is possible that Kittu is feeling a bit stressed out by something (new pets, new people, new things in the home, etc), or is just doing it because it is enjoyable. If you are worried about the blanket being ruined, you can try to divert her attention with a comforting petting or brushing session, or even have some fun with a toy as a distraction instead. If Kittu seems stressed out, pheromone diffusers/collars can also help reduce stress and tension.

Many times cats that exhibit this behavior were taken from their mothers too early and were not properly weaned. It is generally a comforting behavior for Nova. There’s not much you can do to stop the behavior beyond removing the blankets. You may try a pheromone diffuser such as Feliway as it can also cause the pet to feel comfortable. Most cats seem to outgrow this behavior. I hope this helps!

This is a common thing in kittens that were weaned a little too early. They find it comforting since it is similar to nursing. Most kittens will outgrow it; make sure Jojo has plenty of play time and interaction with other cats or humans. Here is some more information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/fabric-eating-wool-sucking-in-cats/

Yes, this sounds like normal behaviors, especially given their young age. While I can’t see them to be sure, your kittens are likely soothing themselves and performing behaviors similar to what they would do while nursing from their mother.

Yes, ive seen this in several dogs. I’ve found that the ones that were separated from their mother at a young age to do this more. Most dogs do grow out of this behavior after they are adults. Giving soft toys for them to cuddle and suck on will prevent some of this behavior on your blankets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sprocket.