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Why does my kitten suckle constantly and how to stop him biting?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 2 months and 17 days old | 2.9 lbs

I have a 3 month old shelter kitten. Weighs about 3lbs. Went through a biting& scratching stage. I have marks all over. Now he wants to suckle all the time. Help!

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Catherine Stecyk

Answered By Catherine Stecyk

Veterinarian

Published on July 16th, 2018

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!
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