Suckling is a normal action by kittens when feeding on their mothers, but some cats will continue to suckle after being weaned. That often happens when kittens are weaned too early, so the kitten looks for other things to suckle on, which can include their own paws, other kittens or animals, people, or soft objects such as blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows.
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Diagnosis
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Make sure the cat is suckling and not just chewing an object. The cat should look like a baby or small animal nursing on its mother and it will usually knead the object with its paws while purring. Some cats will chew on wool or other similar cloth. That is more common among Oriental and Siamese cats. If the cat is chewing and ingesting cloth, that can cause serious medical problems.
When To Intervene
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If the cat is not hurting itself or others with its suckling, there is no need to prevent the behavior. That is just the cat's way of comforting itself. Many times, a young cat will grow out of the behavior. If the cat's suckling on itself begins to cause hair loss or sores on its paws, you will want to look for ways to change the behavior. Also, kittens may sometimes suckle on the genitals of other kittens. That, of course, must be prevented. If they are doing any harm to other animals, people or objects, then it is time to intervene. Also, you don't want to let your cat chew or eat any type of cloth.
Causes
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If the cat continues to suckle or the behavior becomes worse, it is likely caused by stress. Suckling is a way for a cat to comfort itself, so it is looking for a way to relieve the stress. This stress can come from boredom, changes in its daily routine, a lack of attention from people, or changes in the home environment. Do not punish a cat for suckling, because that will only increase the stress for the cat and cause it to suckle even more.
Behavior Modification
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The first step to stopping, or at least reducing, suckling is to look for events that seem to trigger the behavior. If you can figure out what is stressing out your cat, then you are more likely to be successful in stopping the suckling. If the behavior started when guests came to your house, it will probably end not too long after the guests leave.
Make sure you are not paying attention to the cat when it is suckling. That only reinforces the behavior. Make sure you are spending some time each day with your cat when it is not suckling. Petting and playing with your cat will prevent it from being bored and lonely, which causes stress. Also, make sure you are emptying the cat's litter box at a consistent time each day, as well as feeding it at consistent times each day. Cats thrive on routine and any change will cause stress.
Discouragement
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One way to discourage a cat from suckling on a specific item is to coat it with a substance that does not taste good. Make sure it is safe for cats to ingest. There are numerous products made just for that purpose sold at pet stores. Bitter apple spray is a common product that has proven to be effective.
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