Expert: Jessica - 10/15/2010

Question
Hi Jessica,
I have two stray kittens. I have been feeding them because they came to our yard very thin. Both are tinny. One is slightly bigger then the other and they both look like they are kittens. I went out to see them laying together and the smaller one was suckling the other. I thought this was very weird. Is this something a kitten would do to another if it wasn't the mother or didn't have milk?
Winter is coming and I want them to have a warm home. I don't have the money to have them fixed and really I don't want to take on the responsibility of owning a cat. But having said, that I can't just ignore them either. They still need care even if I can't do it. Are there places that will neuter and spay cats for free? I am sure I could find a good home for them if they were spayed or neutered.
Thank you in advance for your time,
Bobbie

Answer
Hi Bobbie,

Yes, the suckling behavior is very common.  Kittens will suckle on litter mates, or unrelated cats, male or female.  They'll even suckle on animals of another species if they bond closely with them, and some kittens are known to suckle on their own paws, tails, or on blankets, etc.  This is usually the result of being separated from mom before they were fully weaned.  Most kittens will grow out of the behavior over time, just as a child outgrows sucking his thumb.

As for the spaying and neutering, there are some places in some areas that will do it for free.  I recommend that you check out the links provided below to see if you can find anything in your area.  Also, ask your local shelter if there are any clinics that do free or low-cost spays and neuters.  Most shelters will also offer financial assistance to those who qualify (you will need to fill out an application).  Call around to local vets as well, and explain that you have a couple of strays.  Some offer discounts for rescues.  But also ask if they work with a trap-neuter-return (TNR) organization that they could put you in touch with.  A TNR org will probably be your best chance at getting no-cost neuters done on these little ones, because this is precisely why they are in existence - to spay and neuter strays.  The kittens will probably have to have their ears tipped if they are neutered through an organization like this.  This means the tip of one ear is cut off to show the cat has been neutered.  Hopefully prospective owners wouldn't mind that.

For free and low-cost clinics, see:

www.neuterspay.org
www.spayusa.org
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html

Good luck!

Jessica