Mollie - suckling?

[Molliesmum]

Hello,

Our kitten, Mollie is just over 11 weeks old. I have noticed over the past few weeks that, occasionally when she is settling down for a nap, she will try and suckle on something, often my trousers, or a blanket she's on, but most of the time, it's her toe. Should I be discouraging this, or is it just like children sucking their thumbs?

She's so sweet when she does it, but obviously I don't want to let her go on doing it when she really shouldn't be!

[davet]

i would not regard this as a problem, our cat did it for about a year on the chenile (sp) bedspread) its not going to hurt her.....

[ArizonaLisa]

My kitten, Seti, does this. He is 13 weeks old. I have a big quilt that has little yarn things sticking out of it. He will find one and start suckling/kneading his paws. I think it is sweet! Having nursed 4 of my own babies, this is a totally natural thing to me. I'm sure he'll outgrow it when he's ready.

[jennymae]

Both of my cats...7 years old and 1 year old do it...I have been told by a vet that it is called "wool sucking" she said that only Simeese cats do it...neither of my cats are...some one else told me that cats do it when they are content and relaxed...It seems to me that it would go back to the days that they nursed from their mother....