Nursing on humans

[little4b]

I have had my little Kitty for 3 weeks and she is 11 weeks old. I am having a problem with her trying to nurse on me. Can anyone guide me in the right direction to properly train her? I can't be mean to her because she is so cute, but I do not want her to nurse on me.

Bob

[Tina B and crew]

Does she actually try to suckle or is she simply "kneading" on you? She might have been weaned too soon. I'd recommend just removing her when she does this. You don't want to deprive her of attention though...so be sure to give her lots of pets and lap time, just put her down when she starts suckling.

[Sara]

I have that problem with an adult. I rescued her as an older kitten, I found her in a hotel. I am not sure what her background is or when whe was weaned or anything. I your cat orange and white by any chance? Mine is an angora type, Turkish Van type, with long fine orange and white fur. I sometimes wonder if certain colors and similar characteristics. Now mine does not suck but she puts her wet nose against me and kneeds and salivates. This is hard to deal with because she pulls blankets and clothing that I might have with her claws. I have not been able to get her to stop and I doubt she ever will. On a bright note she is the cuddliest most dedicated cat. She sleeps with me every night. I Just have to turn my back and she will settle down and curl up and go to sleep. While I am on the couch I constantly have to change her position so her back is to be. You just have to keep moving them. Try to nip it in the bud now though. Just move her so she is not in that kneeding position and try and pet her and get her comfy in another position. I wonder if bottle feeding them milk while they are still young would work? I did not think of this until it was too late and mine was older than yours. But if early weaning causes this would bottle feeding remedy that? Will they even bottle feed? What about milk in a bowl? I would be very interested to see if anybody knows if this can be fixed at an early age. It's either early weaning or just something built into their genes. I know of a tortie that does the same thing. This tortie was a rescue who was near death when found. I hope you get some answers. I think it's too late for mine. Also, mine does not like my other cats very well.

I once rescued 7 abandoned new borns, kept 3, two of them nurse off their adopted brother who was a few weeks older than them, they do it all the time but than goodness they don't do it to me ever. I think he thinks he is their Mom, he lays there while they purr and kneed and suckle a tiny piece of fur. I bottle fed them until they refused the bottle. Since he was the only non new born out of the bunch I think they sort of looked to him for guidance and how to eat and use the litter box etc. It was a godsend that he was in the bunch, he helped them learn how to be cats. But he was tiny as well, but old enough that he probably just started eating and drinking on his own. The others had the eyes closed, umbilical cords hanging, they were soooo tiny. Luckily they all grew up to be excellent, well adjusted cats... Outside of this wierd nursing thing they do with Negrito. I might add he is black, and most black cats are Motherly.