My kitten constantly kneads and sucks blankets. Is it harmful?

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.

I see that Kiki is still a young kitten. This behavior is thought to be a carryover from nursing, especially if the kitten is taken from him mother too soon. Many cats tend to outgrow the behavior by the time they are a year old. It's not bad for his health, and he should hopefully outgrow it.

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.

There is a condition we see in cats commonly called wool sucking. It is an OCD type of behavior, so treatment involves behavioral modification (environmental enrichment and providing alternative outlets), but often also includes medications from your veterinarian. I have attached a link below with additional ideas for environmental enrichment. It should also include alternative items to chew and suck, multiple small meals with treat balls and puzzles as feeders (https://docandphoebe.com), and increased social enrichment (play, reward training), combined with an environment where she can be housed comfortably in an enriched and comfortable space (e.g. room, pen) within the home away from potential targets. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Good luck! Thanks for using PetCoach.

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/

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!

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.