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Cats/kitten nurses on male cat

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Expert: - 3/1/2009


Question
i recently adopted a kitten about 1 and a half month old
and its just strange that she nurses on my 2 year old male cat, and my male cat doesn't seem to mind it at all. What does this mean, do male cats have milk? is this bad for my male cat, the kitten nursing on him?

Answer
Barbie,

It's perfectly normal for 6 week old kittens to still be nursing - their mothers usually haven't weaned them by that age because they aren't ready to be away from their mom and siblings and they still need the antibodies in mom's milk to protect them from illness. I see no problem with the kitten nursing on your male cat, he may actually produce milk in response to the nursing but it won't cause either cat any harm. Your male cat has simply taken over caring for this kitten and he will mother her and teach her how to be a cat. This isn't uncommon, especially if the cat is neutered and there are no ill effects from such situations. At this point in time the male cat is probably acting as a security blanket for your kitten who was unfortunately removed from her mother prematurely.

In future I'd recommend that you adopt a weaned kitten, I usually suggest that kittens stay with their mother and siblings for a minimum of 10-12 weeks as these first weeks are very important in terms of socialization, nursing and weaning and of course learning how to be a cat and important skills that go along with that such as bite inhibition. Unlike dogs mother cats don't need human help to wean their babies, they generally do so in the first 12 weeks of a kitten's life sometimes earlier, sometimes later depending on the size of the litter, the temperament of the queen and whether or not there are adequate resources in terms of food.

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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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