Cat Sucking After Weaning

I have a 12-week-old kitten that constantly sucks on everyone. We have had him since 7 weeks old, but he did not start this for about 1-2 weeks later.

I understand the not-enough-mommy-cat-time thing, but is there anything I can do to make him stop?

Also, will he grow out of it? He is very healthy, a big-pawed, strong half-siamese & tabby.

Thanks,
Allion


Hi, Allion,

While some kittens suck on things because they were taken away from Mom too soon, I think the fact that your kitten is half Siamese is more significant.

Siamese cats are known for being "wool-suckers".
It's genetic and difficult to change. There are some things you can try.

Try to remove temptation. You did not say what he is sucking on, but if includes socks, blankets, other clothing, anything made of wool, but other fabrics as well, then you need to keep fabrics away from him as much as possible. Even if there are items you would "allow" him to chew or suck on, there is a danger of him suffering from an intestinal obstruction from thread or pieces of the material.

Sometimes, safe toys that can be chewed on, but are not destructible can be helpful. Providing your cat with plenty of toys to chew on may prevent him from going for your important clothes or other fabrics and may be safer for him.

Some owners have had success by adding fiber to their kitten's diet. A dry kibble cat food is higher in fiber than canned cat food. Also, there are special high-fiber diets you can get from your vet. You can also try tearing up a leaf lettuce as an alternative.

There is believed to be a connection between anxiety and sucking. Therefore, the product Feliway has been used with some success. Also, in serious cases, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs.

Because there might be a connection between kittens weaned too early and wool sucking behavior, there is still a chance that your kitten will just outgrow this. I hope this is the case, but if not, I hope I have given you some useful suggestions.

Thank you for writing,
Dr. Neely