How to Keep My Kittens From Nursing on Each Other

Protect the health of your kittens by stopping them from dry-nursing on each other. Dry-nursing -- the act of suckling on anything that does not produce milk -- sometimes happens when kittens have been separated from their mother too early. Adorable as the behavior might seem, it is dangerous to the kittens and should be corrected immediately. Such nursing can irritate the skin of the kitten being nursed on, and it can also harm the mouth of the kitten doing the nursing. In some cases, lesions and infection occur.

Things You'll Need

  • Shoeboxes
  • Cloth or bedding
  • Space heater
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate the kittens whenever they suckle one another. Gently pull the kittens apart, being careful not to squeeze them too tightly. Keep them from holding onto one another with their claws.

    • 2

      Put each kitten in an open container with bedding in a well-heated area. Use this method whenever you are not able to monitor the kittens personally. A shoebox without the lid is a big enough sleeping space for each kitten. Push the boxes next to one another so that the kittens can hear their siblings. Depending on the kittens' mobility, you might need deeper containers.

    • 3

      Repeat the separation process until the kittens have grown out of dry-nursing or learned to avoid it.