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Expert: - 1/15/2010


Question
How long will my Siamese/Minx kitten continue with her behavior of kneeding and trying to suckle?
 She is three months old and has been spayed.  I found her through Pets Mart where I am told she and her brother were found abandoned (no mother cat around) at the young age of around 4 weeks.
 She has been with me for one week now and her intence need to kneed and suckle on my neck before she falls alseep(she is with me on my bed) is a mystery to me.  The behavior is strange to me and I try to stop her when she does it.
How long will this behavior last?

Answer
Hi Dysthe.  This is a common occurence in kittens who are weaned too young.  Unfortunately, the behavior can last for the cat's entire life.  However, most cats show great improvement.  It may take them up to a year or 18 months old before they really let go of their desire to suckle, and the behavior may still come out during snuggle time once in a while.  But you should see improvement over the next few months.  The behavior is not harmful to her, but if it bothers you, certainly continue to discourage it.

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Jessica

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The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

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I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

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15 years' hands-on experience

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