How to teach a cat to suck on his paw

The sucking reflex is an innate skill of baby mammals that ensures their normal functioning during infancy. As they mature and transition to adult food, this reflex usually wears off. However, some teenage kittens do not want to leave childhood and continue to suckle the mother cat or persistently suckle on the owner's fingers, parts of his clothes or foreign objects. What is the reason for such atypical behavior in babies? And can it be corrected?

Why cats trample and bite blankets, and what to do about it

Cats kneading and biting blankets and other soft things are so well known that there are many such memes. While we all laugh at our cats' quirks, one can't help but wonder why cats crumple and bite blankets exactly like that. Is it really safe for them to bite blankets?

Yes! This is normal cat behavior. But what's normal for most cats may not be normal behavior for yours. If your cat has never had a habit of wrinkling blankets, it may be worth paying attention to.

In most cases, it's harmless and doesn't require attention. But if you're worried about your cat, these tips from our certified behavior specialist should reassure you or help you take the right steps.

Why do cats wrinkle and bite blankets?

Self-soothing

The most common reason cats crumple blankets and other soft things is that it begins as a feeding technique that persists into adulthood for self-soothing. When kittens suckle their mother, they crumple the mother's belly with their paws to stimulate milk production.

During feeding, kittens have a complete sense of security, which cats remember by kneading soft things. This is especially likely in cats who also suck on blankets. We see similar habits of complacency in nature, even in human infants "needing" pacifiers.

Demonstrating Comfort or Pleasure

If your cat routinely purrs when she rubs her favorite blanket, pillow, or lap, she is probably trying to show you how pleased she is with your attention. This is one of the most fervent praises you can get from your cat.

Wild Cat Instincts.

Cats have not always been domesticated creatures, and like other domesticated animals, some traits and habits can be passed down from generation to generation. In the wild, cats knead the ground around them to create a softer bed. If your cat kneads the ground before laying down for a nap, that may be the reason.

Wild cats also mark their territory in various ways, and one of them is by releasing pheromones from between their claws as they knead.

Cats have scent glands between their toes and can stomp around to mark their territory. When cats knead, they usually move their paw muscles and extend their claws, which releases the pheromones contained in these glands and signals other cats about them.

Your cat may feel the need to mark her territory this way if there are other cats in the house. She may also do it simply because she has a favorite spot and wants it to smell like her.

Manifestation of the sucking reflex in growing kittens

Gradually, the amount of milk decreases, and, sensing this, the mother cat begins to wean the babies from the breast, running away, hiding and even barking at them. Accordingly, the growing babies switch to adult food and soon completely forget about baby habits. However, you can also observe a picture of atypical behavior when a teenage kitten:

• continues to suckle on the mother's empty teats;
• persistently sucks on fingers, earlobe, hair or skin folds of the owner;
• Sucks, chews and sucks on a cuddly toy or the corner of a fuzzy blanket for a long time;
• Licks, chews, smacks and even swallows other non-edible items such as leather goods, drywall, scraps of wallpaper, cement chips and glued paper books.

Also see video on how to wean a cat from sucking:

Why does a teenage kitten continue to show the sucking reflex?

Brain development in cubs is directly related to mouth movements, and the sucking reflex turns out to be a very important element of psychophysiological formation. The reasons for a prolonged "suckling period" of a kitten may be:

1. Banal reluctance to "get out of childhood". When a feline family is kept together, the cat-feeder with a developed maternal instinct turns out to be overprotective, uncomplainingly enduring the attack of energetic teenagers and the unpleasant grasping of nipples by her toothy mouth. Sometimes a selfless mother continues to nurse a very old child at the same time as the subsequent newborn litter.
2. Early weaning or artificial feeding. In this case, the suckling kitten considers the closest creature to man, associating with him not only the issuance of food, but also a beneficial feeling of security and peace of mind. Falling asleep in the owner's bed, a satisfied and satisfied baby may begin to lick and scratch any part of the body of the owner. Babies that are used to getting food only from human hands, will suckle on fingers, feeling hunger.
3. Attention deficit from owner, frequent loneliness, boredom. Not finding a more suitable object to release their emotions, the kitten will snuggle up and nip at a soft toy or a furry thing.
4. Stress, nervous turmoil .. Instinctive memory indicates that the safest place is next to the mother in the mother's den, so experiencing fear can psychologically turn a teenage kitten into a three-week-old sucker. Disconnected from the scary outside world, the cub uses the sucking reflex as an effective antidepressant, relaxing with a kind of "self-hypnosis."
5. Breed predisposition. It has been observed that young Siamese, Thai, Persian, Asian cats and their mixtures often suck and chew on things.
6. Underfeeding, vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Unbalanced feeding can lead to an urge to lick, chew and swallow inedible objects. In this way, the body tries to compensate for the lack of certain ingredients. In particular, if there is a shortage of minerals, the kitty will nibble on the walls or taste soil from flower pots. The desire to nibble on woolen items is due to their lanolin content, which has a similar chemical nature to lipids and fatty acids. Naturally, the habit of ingesting inedible objects has a detrimental effect on the cat's body, causing clogging of the digestive tract and increasing the chance of poisoning.
7. Organ and system disorders. Constant licking and sucking can provoke functional disorders in the body, leading to, for example, increased salivation and nausea. In turn, this can be a sign of poisoning, internal intoxication, diseases of the mouth, teeth and digestive tract. Unwanted desire to lick part of his own body can be associated with dermatitis, a manifestation of skin allergies, a wound received.

Paw sucking. Who is to blame and what to do?

It must be funny to you. I'm not! The kitten sucks her paw. Her toes on her front paw or her heel on her back paw. It's soooooo loud. I understand that they were weaned early, but I'm pissed off by the sound in the night. She also sets a bad example for others. The second girl also started sucking on a downy handkerchief. The little one is now 2 months old with a little tail.
Questions:
1. Does she have a bald spot on her paw?
2. Should I wean her or will she pass on her own? Or won't it go away?
3. What's the harm, other than my inconvenience?

It won't.
I used to have a big cat, about 6 kilos, sucking on his hind paw with such a smack. And when you scold him, he leaves with a disappointed look and goes sucking
On the paw hair was icicles and nothing else.

She does not touch the pussy, she sucks on her paw or handkerchief, or my T-shirt, for example.

A friend's cat sucks the corner of a duvet cover. for years now. it pisses her off but she can't do anything about it. Was picked up at 4 months old kitty.

The reason for this is psychological, I knew a cat whose paw was broken by a sadistic owner as a child – the cat is defending itself, as if it is falling into childhood.

My cat of 3 years still sucks his paw before going to bed. It sucks on it, salivates all over it, and then falls asleep)).

It's a nervous thing. Like dogs chase their tails. It calms them down. Try sedatives, if your age allows it.

It's not like there's any reason to be nervous. No one hurts them. Plenty of toys and plenty of food worthy. They play, run, purr, have a good appetite, sit on hands, and receive enough affection and attention. They live as if in Christ's bosom. But before going to sleep, they consistently suckle and go to sleep.
The only trauma was an early separation from his mother and spending a cold night outside. So that was three weeks ago. And the sucking started recently.

Anya, I have a German from birth, loved, kissed in all places, good food, expensive vitamins, toys, collars for 2 kopecks. And still nervous. Was born that way. And yes – it is unlikely that the kitten with age will stop sucking the paw – Olga Pin-ka cat is an adult, and the robe Olga sucks

Why the cat sucks his paw. How to wean a cat from a bad habit

Experienced owners of kittens, volunteers and veterinarians, having professional skills in nursing kittens, not without reason believe that the habit of sucking paws mainly remains in individuals who are too early left without maternal care.

✅ By doing this, kittens compensate for their mother cat's love by remembering how cozy it was next to a warm, furry tummy.

✅ Orphan kittens feel safer and more secure when they suck on their paws.

✅ The habit does not go anywhere in a growing kitty, it also experiences a lack of parental attention and tries to make up for it with its manipulations.

✅ An analogy can be made with human babies. If a kitten sucks his paw, a baby can twist a strand of hair on his finger for the same purpose – first his mother's and later his own. Some people, even as adults, rub their earlobe if something bothers them.

✅The paw is not the only thing that can be "touched" by a pet. Many "unattached" cats will nip at the owner's hand or another body part whenever possible. It is very important for them to be near and feel a soul mate near them.

The pet may rub the corner of a pillow, blanket, bathrobe or removed clothing, including worn socks. Perhaps the pet is attracted to the familiar aroma and taste of the owner. Often this is accompanied by the release of claws.

How can we wean the pet from the bad habit?

If the owner is determined, it is worth having patience and acting with love and care.

🐈‍⬛ As soon as the cat "gets down to business", you should distract him with something even more pleasant – pet him, talk to him. This should reassure the cat.

🐈‍⬛ A paw, a blanket or any other object that the cat loves can be replaced with something more suitable, such as a toy. Let a sleepy kitty cuddle and suck it, but not play with it. This object will act as a "sleep medicine".

🐈‍⬛ If such measures do not bring results, you can lubricate the pet's paw with a composition that has a bitter or specific taste. This can be mustard, camphor, aloe juice, wormwood tincture.

Fighting the cat habit, the owner should not be rude or physical. It is undesirable to traumatize a pet that did not receive maternal care in childhood. In addition, it is worth knowing that if the cat is loved and cared for, he himself may forget about the child's addiction.

Causes of the habit

A deviation in the behavior of a pet in which the cat sucks or licks clothes, blankets, carpets, its own hair or the tail of another animal is called "sucking syndrome".
Veterinarians identify the following factors that contribute to the habit:

• The kitten was weaned before 8 weeks of age. The problem occurs due to a lack of care and neglect on the part of the cat.
• Various diseases. These include brain tumors, diabetes, anemia, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, leukemia, immunodeficiency virus.
• Stress suffered by the animal. Separation from the owner, moving to another apartment, the appearance of a child, divorce, unsanitary conditions can lead to this deviation in behavior, even in adults.
• Lack of attention. This way the pet is trying to attract the attention of the owners.
• A sedentary lifestyle. The predilection occurs in cats that do not go outside. Because of the lack of excitement and physical activity, the cat becomes bored and thus seeks care and attention.
• Breed. Scientists have proven that cats of Oriental descent are prone to the bad habit.

What causes the sucking reflex in kittens

The ability to suckle the mother's breast is an unconditioned reflex that ensures the vital functions of the body. A newborn kitten, who can only squeak and suck, chooses its mother's nipple. He takes it in his mouth, strokes it with his tongue, paws over his mother's belly, stimulating lactation, and defends the right to eat, pushing away his sisters and brothers.

Important. Its first teeth appear at 12 days. It's allowed to feed it with raw meat from 3-4 weeks of age. It is cut into thin strips, "worms", which the kitten swallows with a sucking motion – he can't chew yet.

The country or wild cat brings mice, accustoming the cubs to solid food on their own. The transition to the species' usual diet stretches up to 6 months.

People buy one-month-old suckling pups, sometimes a little over a month old. The transition to a host-friendly food is abrupt, in which case the sucking reflex does not subside, but this is the most favorable time to wean a kitten from sucking.

Why a cat sucks his paw. How to wean a cat from a bad habit

Experienced owners of kittens, volunteers and veterinarians, having professional skills in nursing kittens, not without reason believe that the habit of sucking the paw mainly remains in individuals who were left too early without maternal care.

✅ By doing this, kittens compensate for their mother cat's love by remembering how cozy it was next to a warm, furry tummy.

✅ Orphan kittens feel safer and more secure when they suck on their paws.

✅ The habit does not go anywhere in a growing kitty, it also experiences a lack of parental attention and tries to make up for it with its manipulations.

✅ An analogy can be made with human babies. If a kitten sucks its paw, a baby can twist a strand of hair on its finger for the same purpose, first its mother's and later its own. Some people, even as adults, rub their earlobe if something bothers them.

✅The paw is not the only thing that can be "touched" by a pet. Many "under-attached" cats will nip at the hand or other part of the owner's body whenever possible. It is very important for them to be near and feel a soul mate near them.

The pet may rub the corner of a pillow, blanket, bathrobe or removed clothing, including worn socks. Perhaps the pet is attracted to the familiar aroma and taste of the owner. Often this is accompanied by the release of claws.

In fact, such kitty habits look very cute. But if an adult cat does it, the owner should be wary.

When a kitty sucks his paw, a large amount of hair gets into his stomach, which forms lumps. And this, in turn, negatively affects the health of the pet.

What to do with an unpleasant behavioral habit of an animal

How to wean a cat from sucking its paw. Sometimes cat owners call to ignore the kitten's activities, saying that he will grow up and stop. If it becomes an unpleasant habit? And you'll have to watch the whole life as the cat grows up, sucking his paw like a bear?

It's worth remembering that cats are difficult to train. And this comes not from the stupidity of animals, on the contrary, from the self-sufficiency and self-respect of their feline majesty. But you can try to wean your kitten off the habit with some serious patience and love.

• Distract the kitten from his favorite activity, pet him so that he feels your love and calms down.
• Slip him some stuff instead of his favorite paw; animal babies love toys, too! If the kitten wakes up, the toy should be taken away so he doesn't play with it. Let it stay as a sleeping medicine for him.

If these techniques do not work, you can wean the cat from sucking his paw by trying to smear mustard or a special composition on it, perhaps the bitter taste will kick the bad habit forever. Even camphor oil comes in handy for this, your cat will definitely not like the taste of it.

You should not punish the kitten or even beat him for his habit. He is already hiding from his childhood loneliness, why traumatize the baby even more?

Perhaps those who suggest not touching the kitten are right, and the habit will disappear on its own if your cat knows that you love him and will never leave him.

Reasons why a cat may suck on a blanket

Blanket sucking is perfectly normal for a kitten until he reaches the age of 10-12 months. If the blanket sucking doesn't stop during this period, you need to start looking for other possible causes. We have identified five reasons why your cat may be sucking on the blanket.

1. anxiety and stress

Every animal is stressed and anxious in different ways, and some cats simply prefer to suck the blanket to relieve stress. This may remind them of safety when they were babies and laying by their mother's tummy.

Either way, anxiety and stress are the main reasons many cats suck the blanket.

2. Comfort

Everyone has different comfort behaviors, and they don't always make sense. Some cats just feel comfortable when they suck the blanket.

Again, the exact reason for this is unknown, but it may be similar to how many children feel when they are around their favorite stuffed toy.

3. Health Problems

If you can't figure out why your cat is sucking on the blanket, you may want to see your veterinarian. Many illnesses can manifest themselves in strange ways. Since early diagnosis is very important, so take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

It is usually a concern if the cat starts sucking on the blanket at a later age and has never exhibited this behavior before. Keep in mind that the vet will have to run various tests to find out if there is a problem, and this is not always cheap.

4. Rewarding behavior.

It's likely that you cover yourself with a blanket during the day. Perhaps you do this when you sit down to watch a show or just want to relax. This is the perfect time to pet your cat and spend time with it, which is what many owners do.

Your cat may begin to associate the blanket with attention, which can make her see the time spent with the blanket as a reward.

How do I get my cat to stop sucking on the blanket?

If blanket sucking has become a destructive compulsion, there are several things you can do to get her to stop. But before resorting to any of these methods, it is important to rule out any medical causes.

Once the veterinarian has ruled out all possible medical conditions, you can move on to the following options.

1. Remove blankets.

If your cat has a favorite blanket that she likes to suck on, you can quickly solve the problem by getting rid of it. This doesn't always mean throwing it away. you can move it to another room or place the cat doesn't have access to.

But while it may be your favorite blanket, you will save yourself the frustration if you just get rid of it. You may be able to get your cat used to the blanket again in a few months, but there is no guarantee that she won't go back to sucking on it.

2. Redirect the cat

The best thing you can do if your cat sucks the blanket is to redirect her to another activity. This can be something as simple as a toy with a treat inside. If the cat has something else to occupy her mouth with, you can train her to do something else.

But it will take time and persistence to get your cat to stop sucking on the blanket. Every time you see your cat doing this, you have to redirect her, and you have to stick with it.

3. never punish the cat.

To get your cat to stop sucking on the blanket, you must never punish it. While it may seem like negative reinforcement will solve the problem, you will actually create even more problems.

The cat will not outgrow this behavior. most likely, she will just try to hide it from you, and will do so when you are not there.