Expert: Jessica - 8/13/2009

Question
I've read all the letters about kittens sucking on each other.  Our two sisters (of a litter of 5) are about 15 weeks old and Lyla continues to suckle on Kipper's belly to the point it the nipple is red and irritated. To make matters worse, Kipper is suckling on herself at the same place. At first, I thought they would grow out of it, but it's getting worse, not better, as they get older (there was none of this for about 3 weeks when we brought them home from the shelter).  They are otherwise healthy, frisky, friendly, smart kittens. Do you have any advice? I'm beyond thinking this is normal behavior and wonder if it's becoming a bad habit.

Answer
Hi Judy.  This is a difficult problem to address.  Sometimes it's best to just separate the kittens for a good part of the day to allow the "sucklee" to get some relief, especially when you're not there to supervise and break things up if Lyla becomes a nuisance.  This doesn’t do any good when Kipper is suckling on herself, of course.

Some people find it helpful to fit cats with snuggly fitting shirts that cover areas that they aren’t supposed to be sucking or licking, and this may be an idea that could be helpful.  People have used tube socks with the toes cut off as a belly cover on small kittens, but your girls may be too big for this by now.  The sleeves or legs of thermal underwear could do.  You just need to cut two small holes for the front legs and try to leave the “shirt” long enough to cover the whole belly.  Garments like these are sometimes used to help reluctant moms to wean their kittens.  Some cats absolutely despise wearing clothes and will wiggle their way out of them, but others don’t seem to mind them at all, so it may be worth a try.

Other people try to control unacceptable licking and suckling behavior by using sprays or strips that taste badly applied to the area.  Some of these include Bitter Apple spray and Anti-Lick Strips.  While generally safe, people have mixed results.  The strips can be more effective because you don’t have to reapply, but a determined kitten may work her way around them or remove the strips.  There is also the argument that the kitten may stop grooming the area altogether, and this is true, at least while the product is in use.  Nonetheless, you could still give either of these products a try.

When you do notice that either is trying to suckle, try to distract them with play.  If the situation continues to intensify, you should consult a veterinarian with an interest in feline behavior.  Some cats, especially those with any Siamese in their lineage, are prone to obsessive suckling that is most likely rooted in anxiety.  I think at this point, the little ones are probably just having some difficulty getting past a hasty weaning, but a behaviorist may need to weigh in on things if the situation doesn’t improve soon.  The rough tongues of the kitties can cause skin ulcerations that can lead to skin infections if incessant suckling persists.

Good luck!

Jessica