Cat like baby
Table of Contents
It is not specifically a question here of telling the story of the different cats since the category of cat breeds already evokes the origin of each one, nor of telling the little misadventures of cats on a daily basis and even less of making you read tales on cats.
Why does my cat suckle like a baby?
You may have observed that your cat, although an adult, sometimes starts
suckling like a baby. He suckles on a fabric or an object and kneads a soft
support like a blanket or your belly with his paws, all while purring. This
behavior, resulting from a reflex of his childhood and maternal
breastfeeding, has the function of helping him to calm down, to reassure
himself and to comfort himself.
Why is this behavior observed?
Not all cats adopt this behavior reminiscent of kitten suckling, but some
need to practice it even if they have been weaned for years. This
phenomenon seems to be linked to the need for appeasement that the cat
feels, because it is clearly observed that the tomcat purrs, sucks on a
fabric or an object and kneads its surface as in evocation to his earliest
childhood, when he suckled his mother. to feed, comfort and soothe. Thus,
if the cat has the image of a zen animal capable of calming the human, he
too may need to be comforted.
Why does my adult cat suckle like a baby?
How to identify suckling in cats?
We are talking here about the behavior of the cat who suckles like the
kitten does with its mother. The little feline is then calm and kneads the
suckling surface of its paws as it does on its mother's belly to stimulate
milk production. It is not uncommon for the cat to purr, because this
practice gives him pleasure and a feeling of well-being.
This attitude, which recalls the kitten clinging to the mother's teats, is
to be dissociated from the cat which pinches and tramples more aggressively,
even truly brutally. In this case, it is not a feeding, but a simulation of
a sexual act that pushes the cat to prepare for mating with a female.
Indeed, the animal seizes the nape of the cat's neck and pinches it before
trampling the ground to balance itself in order to mate. This is an
instinctive behavior present in some uncastrated males and it is necessary
to stop. Firmly push the animal back and say “no!” ". No need to be brutal,
because the cat would not understand and could instead develop abnormal
behavior. On the other hand, the repetition of your refusals will help him
to break this habit.
But why such a need?
Early weaning: some put forward the idea of too early separation and weaning
with the mother. When the little tomcat is adopted too early or separated
from its mother before the age of ten to twelve weeks, it has not yet been
properly weaned and it has not had time to acquise the behavioral codes that
it he had to learn. This hasty separation can lead the adult cat to continue
this reassuring suckling behavior that takes him back to his childhood and
brings back happy mémoriels.
The benefits of sucking: the sucking of the cat is compared by some to the
sucking of the thumb practiced by the small child. This suction leads to the
secretion of endorphins, hormones of pleasure and appeasement. There is
therefore nothing abnormal in the fact that the cat suckles to relax and
calm down.
A remedy for stress: this idea derives from the previous ones, because it
seems that this phenomenon is more important when the animal feels stressed
or anxious. Breastfeeding allows him to calm down in the event of a change
or in any other difficult situation to live with (moving house, arrival in
the home of a new child or a new animal, loss of a loved one, etc.) . In
this case, if sucking can be dangerous – especially if he sucks on objects
that could hurt him – and if he has certain behavioral problems such as
pulling out hair, consult your veterinarian to put in place a suitable
solution.
Prédisposer breeds: it seems that certain breeds of cats are predisposed to
the practice of this behavior. The Balinese, the Siamese or the Tonkinese
are particularly more inclined to suckle in this way. These breeds of cat
experience a later weaning, around 12 to 15 weeks. Maybe this is a lead?
What should I do if my cat suckles like a baby?
This behavior, which evokes the kitten, is practiced by the adult cat in a
desire to appease. This is a reflex attitude that should not worry you too
much. Do not punish your animal, scold it, humiliate it or bully it.
Violence has no place in his upbringing and it would seem particularly
unfair to your little companion, in addition to being counterproductive.
Apart from losing the trust of your feline, you will have nothing to
gain.There is nothing you can do to stop this behavior if it bothers you.
Your cat will stop itself if it wants to. However, you can help him feel
more peaceful by identifying the source of his stress or anxiety and
correcting it. Do not hesitate to provide him with a more serene environment
and to devote time to him for cuddles and play to help him calm down, feel
comforted and entertained. Offer him a quality and well-balanced diet,
preferably purchased from the veterinarian or pet store to ensure that his
nutritional needs are met and avoid deficiencies that can lead to stress and
various diseasesIf you don't like this behavior,leave the room, but let your
animal satisfy this need, which does not hurt anyone. On the other hand,
remain vigilant, because your cat can begin to suckle or knead dangerous
surfaces, likely to injure him, or fabrics and objects that he can ingest
and which risk causing an intestinal obstruction.
Moreover, if this behavior proves to be too repeated and your pet develops
certain disorders such as excessive licking, do not hesitate to consult the
veterinarian, because he can then suffer from significant stress, or even
depression. Do not underestimate their consequences, because depression can
lead the animal to let itself die. If in doubt, seek the advice and advice
of your veterinarian.
Watch the video Is it ok to carry a cat like a baby?
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