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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Kitten suckling on dog

15 replies

Fiona1984 · 20/10/2017 20:21

We have a 9 week old kitten. When he's tired he likes to try and nurse on the (male) dog. Cat will find one of his nipples and get stuck in. The dog pulls a funny face but doesn't seem to mind too much. He was even licking the kitten while he was doing it earlier.
It's really cute, but I don't know if I should stop the kitten from doing it. I've been distracting him with some food, but I don't want to over feed him lol.

OP posts:
retirednow · 20/10/2017 20:33

no. I would leave the kitten to suckle if the dog doesn't mind. the kitten doesn't know it's a dog or a male and it's just showing normal suckling behaviour. it sounds really lovely, if it bothers you and it is only happening when the kitten is tired then I guess you could just pick it up and stoke it instead, put it in its bed. let's hope they remain the best of friends. do post a pic if you have one.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/10/2017 20:43

What harm can it do? It gives him comfort.

AuntyElle · 20/10/2017 20:45

Oh please post a photo! Smile

Original poster
Fiona1984 · 20/10/2017 20:51

The kitten does cuddle up with me but when he spots the dog at the other end of the sofa he's off burrowing under his belly.

OP posts:
DanHumphreyIsA · 20/10/2017 20:53

Oh my, that sounds like the sweetest thing.
Yes photo is required so we can give you proper advice Grin

retirednow · 20/10/2017 20:55

Maybe you should buy yourself a dog themed onesie!

SleepFreeZone · 20/10/2017 20:55

This has reminded me that I had kittens as a teenager that used to suckle my ear lobes. I thought it was exceptionally cute and used to encourage it 😳

nodogsinthebedroom · 20/10/2017 20:56

What age did the leave his mum?

In any case - please give us a photo!

nodogsinthebedroom · 20/10/2017 20:56

*the kitten

Ewanwhosearmy · 20/10/2017 20:57

We had a dog/kitten combo that did this. Cat grew up believing he was a dog. They got on really well though.

ownedbySWD · 20/10/2017 20:58

Sounds cute! We have a mother daughter pair of cats and every so often the daughter would suckle on mum until she was 7 months old or so.

CloudPerson · 20/10/2017 20:59

A few years ago we got two kittens, they suckled on the dog, they were fine. The vet wasn't terribly keen but we had no way of separating them and were assured (on MN I think) that they would soon stop.
Eight years on, both cats still regularly feed from the dog!
Both are very healthy, haven't been ill, so I can only assume it's not doing them any harm!

Ketzele · 20/10/2017 21:00

I just wrote a long post about my big old tomcat's suckling behaviour. He has just sat on the laptop and deleted the lot. So I'll just say: I keep covered up when he's in a cuddly mood.

PoohBearsHole · 20/10/2017 21:00

female dog started lactating when ours did it 😳. It stopped after a while though.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 21/10/2017 13:42

I just wrote a long post about my big old tomcat's suckling behaviour. He has just sat on the laptop and deleted the lot. So I'll just say: I keep covered up when he's in a cuddly mood

Deliberately deleted the evidence you mean! :)

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