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Cats/female kitten nursing on adult male
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Question
Our female adult cat had 5 kittens back in august after escaping the house while in heat. We found homes for all but one, and our adult female got out of the house unfortunately again (we recently had a death in the family and with people in and out of the home it's hard when people aren't vigilant) and we haven't been able to find her anywhere. We've put up signs and told neighbors but it's been a few weeks so we've somewhat given up home that she'll be back. So, we decided to keep her kitten. She was old enough to be without her mother and she's very healthy. However, we also have a 4 year old neutered male cat who's very loving and is actually her momma's brother, and he has somewhat taken her under his wing. I noticed yesterday though that's he's allowing her to "nurse" on him and he's cuddling and cleaning her like her momma used to. I was just wondering if there's anything wrong with this and if I should discourage it. He doesn't seem to mind it, he actually seems to like it, and they cuddle together at night. Is this detrimental in anyway, or is it alright to let her/him do?
Laura,
Maybe this kitten is missing mom so I would see absolutely nothing wrong with allowing the male cat to take over her care and you may actually even find that he begins to lactate...I normally recommend that kittens stay with their mother and siblings for a minimum of 10-12 weeks in order to learn important lessons and gain as much in the way of antibodies as possible before being exposed to the world. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the special bond that these kitties are sharing, enjoy it! Not all cats can have this degree of closeness- cats are like people, some click, some don't.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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