ᐉ How to wean a cat or kitten from the sucking reflex: a description of the process, what not to do

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We are amazed at how similar the habits of humans and animals are. And when a cat sucks its paw, it shocks the owners and they start turning to the Internet for advice or going to veterinarians.

Cat owners often wonder why a cat sucks its paw? Many even make videos to surprise their friends, because not every cat constantly starts sucking its paw before going to bed. If you look quietly into the house, you can see how selflessly the kitten licks its fingertips, many of them turn on their internal motor, to the sound of which they themselves fall asleep.

What is the sucking reflex?

Cognition of the world and the first experience of communication occurs in kittens just at the moment of sucking. Zoologists have revealed the following data:

Each kitten, when born, instinctively begins to look for its mother's nipple, and when it finds it, it sucks greedily. Weak babies with developmental defects cannot suckle at their mother’s breasts themselves, and this is a direct indicator of the kittens’ low viability.
For little furry friends, sucking is not only a way of feeding, but also a strong establishment of a psychological and emotional connection with the mother. When kittens suck on nipples, they are in a state of peace and comfort. Having eaten, they quickly and peacefully fall asleep.
The mother cat is the first living creature with which the kittens establish close contact. The smell and taste of milk, licking by the mother, the warmth of her body are important sensations for every little cub.
The sucking reflex helps the young litter develop coordination of movements and the vestibular system. It is enough to watch the kittens at the moment when they are trying to get to the mother's breast. What kind of poses are they ready to take just to fall to the nipple? This skill in the future will be transformed into the ability to hold prey in its mouth and divide it.
As soon as the kittens' eyes open, they begin to actively explore the space around them. The object of interest is first touched with a paw, and then, after making sure of its safety, they taste it.

The mother cat continues feeding until the litter is two months old. After this, the kittens begin to eat adult food and gradually move away from the sucking reflex. There are cases when this reflex is delayed, and then the teenage pet begins to suck:

empty mother's breast;
the owner’s hair, his fingers or folds in clothing;
own tail and nipples.

Why can a cat still have a sucking reflex?

The main reasons why a cat retains the sucking reflex include:

If the kitten was separated from the mother cat early .
If the pet doesn’t get enough attention and affection from the owner . This desire especially appears in the animal during the period of adaptation and socialization. At this moment, he needs to create optimal conditions for the development and acceptance of new circumstances, and get rid of possible stressful situations. It is recommended to purchase interactive toys that allow you to entertain your pet in the absence of the owner.
Sometimes animals are simply bored and, from banal idleness, begin to exhibit a sucking reflex.
There may be a genetic or breed predisposition of the cat to such an activity. In this case, we consider Siamese and Persian cat breeds, including their admixtures. It is these pets that often chew and suck various things and objects.
Severe stress or constant anxiety , emotional overstrain also affect the manifestation of the sucking reflex.
Often, veterinarians note behavioral disorders that lead to a cat's desire to suck things or other objects.
If the kitten is bottle-fed and is underfed . The animal tries to get food on its own. Can suck on woolen things that remind him of his mother. This activity is harmful, since hairballs clog his stomach and can cause gastrointestinal problems.
As an option, systemic functional failures in the animal’s body.

Why does an adult kitten suck on its own nipple?

Below are several reasons why the sucking reflex in teenage kittens may be delayed for several months:

Long-term keeping of cats and kittens together. An overly caring female can continue to feed her grown baby in parallel with the new offspring. And in the future, when a large pet is weaned, he begins to actively look for the nipple, and not finding the mother’s nipple, he happily sucks his own.
Artificial feeding and early weaning. In this case, the small furry pet perceives its owner not only as a source of food, but also as a place of peace and protection. Falling asleep in the master's bed, he begins to suck fingers, earlobe, skin, and hair. If the little pet encounters a ban on sucking these objects, it switches to its own nipple.
Boredom, lack of attention, loneliness, stress. These reasons are the preservation of the delayed sucking reflex. To soothe himself and find a safe place, the teenage pet begins to suck on his own nipples. Having relaxed and protected from the outside world, the pet quickly falls asleep.
Breed predisposition. It is known that Siamese and Persian cats, as well as Sphynx cats and their crosses, most often have a delayed sucking reflex.
Various disorders in organ development. Due to disruptions in the body, the pet may begin to suck on its own nipple. An irresistible desire to lick and suck certain parts of the body may be associated with a rash, allergies, wounds or dermatitis on the skin. In this case, it is recommended to immediately contact a veterinary clinic for qualified help.

Why does a cat suck its paws?

For some, this is just tough. It’s not very pleasant to watch a cat suck its paw; in addition, the wet fur that comes out clogs the kitten’s stomach, forcing it to get rid of the hairballs along with the food through the vomiting process. And if a family pet does this in bed under the owners’ blanket, many people have a desire to wean the pet from this activity as soon as possible.

Why do cats suck their paws? The answer to this question lies in the baby’s early childhood; most likely, he was taken away from the cat early. Before you start fighting an unpleasant habit, you need to understand that the kitten, having lost the protection of its mother, is trying to compensate for her love and paw sucking - just a manifestation of a reflex, a memory of the warm mother’s belly, in which it was so cozy and safe to lie. Just as human cubs begin to twirl a strand of their mother’s hair on their finger or twirl their mother’s warm ear, finding comfort and protection in this.

Sometimes the cat sucks everything that gets into his mouth: a corner of the blanket, the housewife's robe. Some pets try to cling to any part of the owner’s body, just to feel him next to them. Perhaps the kitten likes the owner's smell and taste. And everything would be fine, but at the same time he releases his grown claws.

Now, if an adult cat sucks its paw, this should alert the owner. The reason may be an incorrectly selected diet for your pet.

What causes the sucking reflex in kittens?

The mother’s ability to suckle 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. She grabs it into her mouth, strokes it with her tongue, moves her paws over the mother’s belly, stimulating lactation, and defends the right to food, pushing away her sisters and brothers.

Although the eyes and ears are closed, the sense of smell and touch works:

the nipple is located by smell;
body position is adjusted using thermoregulation and tactile receptors.

Important. The first teeth appear from the 12th day; feeding with raw meat is allowed from 3-4 weeks of age. It is cut into thin strips, “worms”, which the kitten swallows with a sucking movement - it cannot chew yet.

A cat in the village or a wild one brings mice, independently accustoming the cubs to solid food. The transition to a normal diet for the species lasts up to 6 months.

People acquire month-old sucklers, sometimes a little older than a month. The transition to food that is convenient for the owner is abrupt; in this case, the sucking reflex does not subside, but this is the most favorable time to wean the kitten from sucking.

Manifestation of the sucking reflex in older kittens

A mother cat usually feeds her offspring for up to 2-2.5 months.

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

continues to suck on the mother's empty nipples;
persistently sucks the owner's fingers, earlobe, hair or fold of skin;
spends a long time chewing, chewing and sucking on a plush toy or a corner of a fleecy woolen blanket;
licks, chews, smacks and even swallows other inedible objects, for example, genuine leather products, drywall, scraps of wallpaper, cement chips, glued paper books.

Also watch the video on how to stop a cat from sucking:

How to wean a cat

It is recommended to separate kittens from their mother when she is ready for this. Most often this happens during teething in babies. She will become irritable and hide from the children.

To distract kittens older than three months from their mother, you can:

distract with interesting games . Buy noisy toys, or those that have the smell of some kind of delicacy;
During the process of weaning from the mother kittens cannot be rehoused ; it is better to buy a new nest for the cat. The kids will already be nervous, and you will also take away their shelter;
If the cat has become accustomed to sucking your things, you should not leave them in a visible place. Always hide them in a closet or other place inaccessible to your pet. After some time of absence of the object of desire, the animal must forget about its idea;
If the cat prefers to suck parts of the human body: his ears and fingers, it is recommended to proceed gradually. If these are fingers, it is better to let the animal suck only one of your fingers. Others cannot be given. Then put on a leather glove that you don't mind.
You can try coating the item with citrus juice or black pepper . But if this does not help, it is better to choose another option. Such actions do not have a positive effect on the pet. And in our case, a peaceful solution to problems is the best option.

You can try coating the item with pepper or citrus juice.
Animal psychologists say that kittens who received moral trauma in childhood can continue the sucking reflex for up to three years. And it is almost impossible to get rid of this.

When you accustom him to the glove and arrange your pet’s own shelter, be sure to put that same glove inside. Moreover, washing it is strictly prohibited. Over time, the problem will resolve itself.

What not to do during the weaning process

There are things you shouldn't do to avoid harming your cat:

It is often advised to splash water on your pet in the process of weaning off the sucking reflex. This cannot be done, because in this case you create an association in the animal with unpleasant sensations, but also provoke the appearance of fears. The cat may get scared and become very stressed. In addition, against the background of what is happening, real psychological trauma may appear that will accompany the animal throughout its life. It is even possible to have a phobia of water.
You cannot scold the cat or make physical comments . There is a possibility that the animal will misunderstand you and will simply be afraid. And against the backdrop of stress, the desire to suck on things or objects will only increase.
If the kitten is weaned from its mother's breast, you should not smear pepper or anything else on the nipples . This can have a detrimental effect on the female. It is better to consider other options for weaning. For example, gradually separate animals in different rooms for a while. Moreover, it is better to play with the little fidget at this time. You shouldn't leave it alone. Nothing good will come of this.

How to wean a kitten from the sucking reflex

The sucking reflex is an innate skill of young mammals that ensures their normal functioning during infancy. As they grow older and switch to adult foods, this reflex usually weakens. However, some teenage kittens do not want to get out of childhood and continue to suckle the mother cat or persistently stick to the owner’s fingers, areas of his clothing or foreign objects. What is the reason for such atypical behavior in children? And can it be corrected?