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

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?

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.

Methods for transitioning a cat from dry food

Some cats immediately begin to eat natural food with pleasure. But it is often difficult to quickly wean a cat off dry food; he stubbornly refuses the dishes prepared by the owner, and demonstratively symbolically “buries” the offered food with his paw. This is not surprising: after croquettes generously flavored with flavoring additives, natural meat seems bland to the cat, and it takes time for the taste buds to restore sensitivity.

Helpful advice: To make it easier for a cat’s digestive system to adapt to new food, when switching from dry food, at least for the first time, it is recommended to give the animal a probiotic - a bioactive supplement containing lacto- and bifidobacteria. Your veterinarian can tell you which probiotic is best for your pet.

There are several practice-tested methods that can quickly wean a cat off dry food, or at least make this process relatively painless for the animal.

Preparatory stage

It can be easier to wean a cat off dry food if you rid the animal of the addiction syndrome caused by attractants and additives that are included in all croquettes without exception. The amount of these substances in different types of feed differs. To stop the effect of flavoring additives, buy high-quality food that contains less of them. To do this, consult your veterinarian, read the ingredients listed on the label, or decide by simply smelling the kibble. They should not have a sharp, strong odor. Mix the new “drying” with the usual one, gradually replacing the old food over the course of a week until it is completely eliminated.

The hard method: “There will be no more croquettes”

This is the fastest way to wean your cat off dry food. In one day, the entire supply of dry food is removed from the house (not hidden, but removed, because cats have an excellent sense of smell). Homemade food is placed in a bowl. It is replaced several times a day with a fresh portion. It is quite possible that the cat will ignore the new food, and will prefer to remain hungry for a day or two... Then the survival instinct will kick in, and natural food will go with a bang.

But if you are not sure that you and your household will have the courage and perseverance to endure the plaintive moaning of your beloved cat for several days in a row, choose another method. Cats are smart animals, and if your pet makes you indulge her at least once and you give her dry food, she will be sure that she can always achieve her goal and sooner or later get the coveted croquettes.

Gentle method

This method of weaning a cat off dry food involves gradually reducing its amount in the daily diet. For example, you can put only natural food in the feeder in the morning - a hungry cat most likely will not refuse it. And in the afternoon she will receive her favorite “drying”. It is advisable to prepare homemade meals (at least during the adaptation period) from the products that your pet loves most. Food preferences can be easily determined experimentally. Gradually, the amount of dry food should be reduced, and at the final stage, simply place two feeders next to each other, one with a small amount of croquettes, the other with a natural dish. Having not eaten a small portion of “drying”, the animal will be forced to eat the contents of another bowl. This “re-education” may take several weeks, but the owners will be deprived of nervous stress.

Switching to natural food through wet food

All cats enjoy eating delicious canned meat and fish from pouch bags or jars. Over the course of 4-7 days, replace some of the dry food in the feeder with wet food until there are no kibble left in the feeder. Then start mixing pieces of boiled meat into the canned food, then some vegetables, and lastly the porridge. It is important that natural food does not differ in size and consistency from wet food. The period of such a gradual transition can take up to 2 weeks, and there are usually no problems with “declaring a hunger strike”.

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 to do?

Veterinarians recommend weaning a kitten from sucking a cat at the moment when the pet is ready for it. Often, females stop feeding their offspring during teething. To distract your baby from his mother or from sucking other things, you need to buy interesting toys for him. Objects that make noisy sounds are perfect. Pet stores offer a wide selection of such toys, but they are easy to make yourself. In addition, experienced breeders recommend equipping various climbing frames and hammocks for the kitten. The owner can purchase a house for the cat or make it with his own hands. Such a sleeping place will also serve as an excellent refuge where the pet can be alone during times of stress.

At first, the owner can switch the pet’s attention to only one of his fingers.

If an adult cat prefers to suck on blankets, earlobes, or fingers, the owner will need to take a step-by-step approach. Veterinarians recommend allowing your cat to suck only one finger. Then you will need to use a glove made of natural material. When your pet switches to it, gets used to it and begins to consider it his property, he will no longer need to wear it. You will need to place the glove in the animal's house or bed. Despite the fact that the method is unusual, it is effective. Cats that suffered mental trauma in childhood can retain the sucking reflex even up to the age of three. An adult pet can bite through the owner's skin while sucking fingers.

If he is accustomed to the glove, the owner will not interfere with the natural process of weaning off the reflex. The animal will deal with moral trauma using its usual method.

How to cope with physiological problems?

It is important for the owner to understand why the sucking of things did not go away after feeding. If your kitten continues to cling to areas of the neck or blanket before bed, veterinarians recommend reviewing its diet. Some animals simply do not receive enough vitamins and microelements required for their body. In such a situation, cats should be given ready-made complementary foods, which are sold in stores. The owner will need to pay attention to premium and super-premium food segments, which are created for feeding babies. If you suspect a sucking reflex due to the development of pathologies in the body, you need to consult a veterinarian.

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.

Instructions

Not all kittens stop sucking when they grow up. There are times when people take an adult cat, and it begins to suck on their clothes, nose, hands, etc. This is touching, but you need to find ways to wean your cat from sucking. There is a risk that she may become too dependent on her owner, timid and unable to communicate with other cats. This doesn't always happen, but there is a possibility. Here are several options for how to do this: It happens that a cat sucks on one part of the body or an item of clothing. If it's clothing, hide it. Or coat the selected area with mustard, citrus juice or garlic. After a few times, the cat will lose the desire to suck on this place.

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Start playing with her. As in the case of kittens, an adult cat can be weaned from sucking by distracting it with something. Take out her favorite toy, shake it in front of the cat, and throw it on the floor. Most likely, she will run after her and will no longer show interest in sucking. If it doesn't bother you too much, you don't have to do anything. Sucking may be an indication that the kitten has been weaned early and wants to compensate. He seeks warmth and affection from his owners, do not deny him this.

You need to gradually wean your kitten or cat off suckling. Do not use cruel methods under any circumstances: splashing water, loud screams, physical punishment. This can affect the cat’s health and traumatize its psyche.

The sucking reflex in representatives of the cat family is formed in the neonatal period, in the first three to five days after birth. Newborn kittens with colostrum and milk receive basic nutrition and protective antibodies.

Normally, after three to six days they find the nipples on their own, relying on the warmth and smells coming from the mother. Cats stop feeding their cubs when they are two to two and a half months old. But sometimes, after the end of the lactation period, the kitten continues to suck on the nipples out of habit. You can also notice that cats love to suck on things and do this with enviable regularity. Therefore, if you are interested in how to wean a kitten from the sucking reflex, read the tips given in this article.

How to wean a kitten from the sucking reflex

Facts about the sucking reflex

Sucking is an indicator of the newborn's vitality and health, a method of nutrition, as well as the first experience of communication and knowledge of the world. According to zoologists:

An active kitten, barely born, instinctively crawls to the warm mother's belly, independently finds the nipple and greedily sucks in the precious colostrum. Small and weakened babies suck poorly or are not able to suck at all, which indicates their low vitality and possible developmental defects.
Sucking is not only the process of absorbing food, but also the establishment of a strong emotional connection with the mother, and the creation of the first psychological associations. While sucking, the kitten is in a state of peace and comfort and, having had enough, calmly falls asleep.
The warmth of the native nest, licking by the mother's wet tongue, the smell of milk and its taste are included in the complex of first sensations of a baby kitten that has just begun its life's journey. The mother cat and littermates are the first creatures with which the baby interacts and communicates.
Sucking contributes to the development of the kitten’s vestibular apparatus and coordination of movements: just observe what exotic positions the babies take in order to get to the life-giving source on the mother’s stomach. Subsequently, sucking skills are transformed into the ability to capture and hold prey in the mouth, as well as cut it up.
Having opened its eyes and learned to walk, the kitten begins to more actively explore the world around it and does this with the help of its mouth and limbs. Having gently touched the paw pad and made sure that the object is safe, the baby will most likely want to taste it, trying to suck and chew at the same time.

Anatomy of a flea.

The jump height of a flea reaches one third of a meter with a “growth” of two to eight millimeters. The flea's body consists of three parts: head, thorax and peritoneum. Six legs are attached to the chest in three pairs. The last pair is much longer than the others; it is this pair that allows the flea to make jumps many times greater than its own size. Fleas don't have wings. Most flea species are brown to red in color and have a laterally flattened body. Fleas have eyes and antennae that detect shadows, heat, vibration, carbon dioxide and changes in air currents that indicate the presence of potential food nearby.

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:

Why does a teenage kitten continue to exhibit a 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 development. The reasons for a kitten’s prolonged suckling period may be:

. ” When keeping a cat family together, the nurse cat with a developed maternal instinct turns out to be too caring, meekly enduring the attack of energetic teenagers and the unpleasant grabbing of the nipples by toothy mouths. Sometimes a selfless mother continues to feed an over-aged child at the same time as the subsequent newborn offspring.
Early weaning or artificial feeding . In this case, the suckling kitten considers a person to be the closest creature, associating with him not only the provision of food, but also a blessed feeling of security and tranquility. Falling asleep in the owner's bed, a well-fed and satisfied baby can begin to lick and smack any part of the owner's body. Cubs, accustomed to receiving food exclusively from human hands, will stick to their fingers when they feel hungry.
Lack of attention on the part of the owner, frequent loneliness, boredom . Not finding a more suitable object to splash out its emotions, the kitten will cuddle and cling to a soft toy or fur item.
Stress, nervous shock . Instinctive memory indicates that the safest place is next to the mother in her own den, so the fear experienced can psychologically turn a teenage kitten into a three-week-old sucker. Having disconnected from the scary outside world, the baby animal uses the sucking reflex as an effective antidepressant, relaxing with the help of a kind of “self-hypnosis.”
Breed predisposition . It has been noticed that young Siamese, Thai, Persian, Asian cats, as well as their crosses, often suck and chew things.
Underfeeding, lack of vitamins and minerals . Unbalanced feeding can lead to licking, chewing and swallowing of inedible objects. So, experimentally the body tries to compensate for the deficiency of certain ingredients. In particular, if there is a lack of minerals, the cat will choose the walls or taste the soil from flower pots. The desire to suck on woolen items is due to the content of lanolin in them, which has a similar chemical nature to lipids and fatty acids. Naturally, the habit of eating inedible objects has a detrimental effect on the cat’s body, causing clogging of the digestive tract and increasing the likelihood of poisoning.
Disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems . Constant licking and sucking can provoke functional disruptions in the body, leading, for example, to increased salivation and nausea. In turn, this may be a sign of poisoning, internal intoxication, diseases of the oral cavity, teeth, and digestive tract. A persistent desire to lick a part of one’s own body may be associated with dermatitis, a manifestation of a skin allergy caused by a wound.

How to wean a kitten from sucking?

Like human babies, baby kittens, during the first time after separation from their mother, taste objects that interest them.

Normally, the sucking reflex disappears by 5 months of age.

For the correct formation of behavioral stereotypes, it is important:

kitten feeding regimen;
food offered to kittens;
maternal separation program;
psychological atmosphere and stress experienced.

Owner actions. As active measures for weaning tailed babies from the mother's breast and fostering independence, felinology recommends:

Letting 3-week-old babies taste soaked dry food or beef scraper from their fingers, gradually teach them to eat from bowls, breaking the “fingers-food” association. In addition, babies receiving high-calorie complementary foods suckle their mother cat much less.
Starting from 1.5 months, the kittens are isolated from the mother cat for 1-2 hours every day, closing them in the next room. For a variety of leisure activities, the “children’s room” includes a dining room, multi-level shelter houses and a playground. At the same time, to occupy the attention of children, they use various toys and treats.
To re-educate particularly stubborn suckers, it is necessary to put a special blanket on the mother cat that covers the nipples. It is not recommended to use any ointments or products for treating the mammary glands and chemically repelling kittens due to the possibility of poisoning both the cat itself and the cubs when licking.
The minimum age for separation from the mother is 2 months. If the baby came to a new family earlier, then in order to alleviate stress and feelings of loneliness, the owner must surround him with increased attention and care. Monitoring your pet's behavior will help you correct negative habits in time. If you notice an increased urge to suck, it is recommended to hide soft toys and replace them with elastic silicone balls, teasers with feathers and interactive toys that develop the baby’s hunting instinct to attack and grab “prey.”
After 2 months, kittens are completely transferred to solid food, replacing soaked dry food and pates with whole granules or pieces of frozen raw meat. This is how the young animals get used to working with their jaws, reproducing chewing movements instead of sucking ones. Cats are fed exclusively from bowls.
If a persistent habit of clinging to things or gnawing on inedible objects is detected, the pet’s diet is analyzed - perhaps this is a signal of a lack of certain food ingredients. To eliminate this, it is recommended to use high-quality super-premium and premium dry kitten food.
An obsessive sucking reflex, combined with other signs of illness in a growing kitten, is a reason for a visit to the veterinarian. Perhaps then hidden diseases and developmental pathologies will be discovered.
If an over-aged suckler is healthy, then the owner can show severity, expressing his disapproval and scaring off the stubborn one during an unwanted action. A stream of water from a spray bottle, clapping your hands, or the sound of a falling book will shift your attention and distract you from the obsessive process.
The situation when a kitten chews and gnaws on the owner’s things requires measures to change the senses of taste and smell. To do this, items are treated with essential oils of mint, citrus fruits or coniferous plants, sprayed with a solution of lemon juice, vinegar, garlic water, or use special anti-gnaw sprays purchased at a pet store.

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.

Recommendations for the owner

During the process of artificial feeding, the kitten will begin to treat the owner’s hands and their smell as their mother’s. Therefore, in the future he will need a lot of close communication.

If possible, you should spend as much time as possible together to create a positive emotional background for your pets and a painless transition to adulthood.

Of course, for both children and kittens, the ideal option after birth is mother's milk. But some difficulties can make this process impossible, and then the owner has to look for a way out of the situation. The modern pet supply industry has already created everything necessary to make the task of successfully raising newborn kittens without mother's milk as easy as possible.

Why does a cat suck a blanket, blanket, tail or paw?

Owners don’t think about how to wean a cat from sucking a blanket if every morning the pet has a happy face:

jumps on the bed;
paws;
purrs with pleasure.

This behavior is a sign of trust and love between the pet and its owner. Sucking on a blanket saturated with the scent of a person of the highest rank in the family is a recognition of strength and, at the same time, one’s own safety.

If the cat sucks on blankets and other bedding not in the morning, there are several reasons:

Impaired metabolism.
Stressful situation (sucking calms).
The kitten is teething.
The sucking reflex has not faded in a baby or an already mature cat.

Sucking a tail or paw should alert the owner : perhaps the cat is trying to pull out a splinter. If, when you carefully feel the paw, the cat withdraws the limb, you will need the help of a veterinarian. If no pain is observed, he may have been taken away from his mother early or he is experiencing severe stress.