Why does my cat suckle me at night and how can I stop it?

The best way to stop it is to keep Linus out of your room at night. Do that for a few days, and let him back in. If he starts to suckle your skin again, immediately kick him out of your room. You want him to associate not sleeping with you with suckling your skin, and hopefully this will make him stop.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is possible that Han was weaned too early, but we really do not know why some kittens persist in this behavior. Removing the kitten from you is the first step, but you should try to engage the kitten with play when you do so. A laser light or a feather toy for a few minutes might take his mind off of you. Feeder toys, small balls that you can fill with kibble or treats, that a kitten can roll & chase, will engage him, as well. Adopting another kitten is a very good idea. Cats often are thought of as solitary creatures, but they certainly will keep each other entertained throughout the day. Take care.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Kittens are very rambunctious creatures and require A LOT of stimulation to keep them entertained and tire them out. I recommend playing with toys that you can dangle from a distance from Woozy so he can't scratch or bite you. You can also shine a laser pointer around a room and he probably won't be able to resist chasing it. It is also very normal for kittens (and even adult cats) to "suckle" or "make biscuits" as some call it. This is when they bite and suckle on something like a blanket and knead with their paws. There are different theories as to why cats do this. Some think it is because they were weaned too soon. But another, more commonly accepted theory, is that this behavior is very comforting to cats, since it mimics them nursing on their mother. If he wants to suckle on your or your clothing, I recommend just giving him a blanket instead. I hope this is helpful!

What cute kitties! I would discourage this behavior by removing the kitten each time this occurs and trying to distract him with something else- a fun toy or treat. Also giving him some time alone so he develops some independent from his sibling can be helpful. A feliway pheromone diffuser may also be helpful if the suckling is a nervous response. You can also put a little shirt/sweater on the kitten getting suckled to make it tougher for the suckler to get to him!

First, have Pippin examined by your veterinarian to diagnose respiratory infection or inflammatory disease that could be causing the congestion. Redirect her suckling behavior to an object. If she bites or nips you, correct her immediately and provide an alternative. If she persists, discontinue interaction until she settles down. Every time she nips or bites, put her down or remove her from the room. Be firm and consistent.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Finn! This can be a common issue in kittens especially if they were weaned early. You are doing the right thing in moving him away from you when he decides to suckle on your skin. Just gently place him away from you when this occurs. If he is then nursing on himself, you may need to put a little onesie on him to prevent access to his hind end at night time if he is doing it enough to cause irritation to the skin while you sleep, and if you see him do it while you are awake, pick him up and try to engage him in a toy or other distraction.

This is not likely a sign that the cat needs more nutrition but is probably simply a preference. Some kittens want to suckle longer than others for comfort, and some adult cats will continue to try to suckle themselves or other things like blankets. I would think that the momma would put a stop to this pretty quickly, but if you see the cat trying to suckle I would try to intervene so that things between them don’t get out of hand.