Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/15/2009

Question
I adopted a kitten from the shelter.  She was weaned but 5 wks old.  I thought they had to be at least 6 wks.  She is a companion to my year old cat, who I got at 2.5 weeks.  She does all the things mentioned by others.  I bought formula that she laps (she has other food).  Do I need a bottle to satisfy her suckling need?  What an I do to meet her needs rather than stop the behavior?

Answer
Mary,

Ideally a kitten should be with it's mother until it is at least 8 weeks old. Then from 8-12 weeks old, the mother cat teaches the kitten 'about life'...such as using the litter box, how to fight, how rough to play, etc. A kitten weaned too early misses out learning those things from it's mom which can affect the kitten's emotional development and future behavior.

No, I wouldn't give her a bottle. At her age doing so may cause the bottle to become a 'crutch' and a habit and if that happens you may still be giving the 'kitten' a bottle when she is 15 pounds and 5 years old!

Suckling is a comfort action for a kitten who has some emotional issues from being weaned too young along with being separated from it's littermates and mom. Usually the behavior is exhibited by sensitive and affectionate kittens more others, probably because they are more 'needy'.

Suckling is a harmless behavior and the kitten should grow out of it after a while when it matures a bit. If the kitten is suckling on the year old cat, and the year old cat is allowing it, then both of them are drawing comfort from it. If the year old cat doesn't like it, or doesn't want the kitten to attempt it, the older cat will 'school' the kitten and not allow it.

You may want to go to a fabric store and get a piece of fake fluffy fur, velour, or similar soft material, to give to the kitten to lay on. They usually love it and will knead on it to their heart's content. That may change the suckling to kneading for comfort and contentment.

When the kitten starts suckling try distracting her with a toy, pulling a shoestring around, or food to get her mind going in another direction. But I wouldn't worry too much about her behavior unless she suckles on something toxic or dangerous. Personally I think a person can do more damage emotionally to a kitten by trying to prevent it. If it makes the little thing happy....what the heck, let her do it.

Tabbi