Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Kitten sucking own penis

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/7/2008


Question
QUESTION: Two weeks ago, my wife and I adopted 2 rescue kittens from a shelter. We were told they were bottle fed by volunteers when we got them at an estimated age of 9 weeks.  We took them to our vet within a week and they are healthy.  They are delightful kitties but we have a problem. The male kitten sucks his own penis periodically and occasionally his sister's vagina.  We are concerned that he might damage himself.  What can we do? We bought a kitten nursing bottle but we're concerned about causing a new behavioral problem.

Thank you.

ANSWER: Hal,

That is more common that you would think. It is because the babies were weaned too early or lost their mom at birth. It is a comfort behavior which they will grow out of. If it caused pain he wouldn't do it, and if it caused her pain and not comfort she wouldn't allow it. It may be offensive to us, but it is not unusual animal behavior.

You may want to try PetSmart, Petco, etc. for something very soft (like a mama cat), that would be safe for him to transfer his suckling to.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, here's my concern: One of our kitties, sadly now deceased, licked his tail until we had to have 1 or 2 vertebrae amputated. And then he got around the Elizabethan collar somehow and ripped out the stitches. So they will do these things to the point at which they damage themselves.  I'm not offended by his behavior, I'm worried that he may injure himself.

Answer
Hal,

Licking constantly is an emotional problem that some cats have. It's called Psychogenic Alopecia. It is the result of being overstressed, grieving, etc.

I can see your concern, but a kitten as young as yours is doing it for comfort because of being weaned too early. There is a wide range of their own body parts, people's body parts, other animals, clothing, blankets, etc. that kittens have chose to suck on for comfort. They usually do grow out of it as they mature.

If you still have concerns, I would contact your vet and ask this question of him/her.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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