Sibling suckling. Why do adult domestic cats do it?
“Sibling suckling” is when domestic cats beyond the age of weaning suckle on each other for reassurance and comfort.
weaning kittens
Kitten cries for mother and she runs in from 200 meters
This is a cute video which has gone somewhat viral on TikTok which is illustrative of the kitten-mother relationship. Personally, I don’t particularly like it but it is quite good nonetheless and informational. Kittens will cry when they are first weaned because their mother isn’t around to help with feeding. This kitten looks as …
Stunning young Bengal curls up around owner’s head and suckles on her cheek
RELATED: Wean Cats at Fourteen Weeks of Age This video is cute which is what it is meant to be but there is a serious side to it. It looks like a case of early weaning as this stunning Bengal cat from the Mother of Bengals TikTok page suckles on the attractive lady’s cheek. …
Kitten development – comprehensive discussion
In this article on kitten development, I refer to the development of the domestic cat after birth. About 70% of kittens are born nose and feet first (the so called “diving position”). They are covered in a transparent membrane (foetal membrane). The mother licks this off and eats it. The mother then severs the …
My cat suckles on my arm. Advice please.
What is Happening. A Visitor’s Question. I adopted a somewhat shy, 6-month-old kitten 4 years ago. From the time I could get her into my lap, she would suck my forearms like a Hoover. Even now, she has a go at them at times. I was told the kitten was weaned. I considered bottle …
How do mother cats wean their kittens?
A kitten’s mother typically starts to wean him/her in the fourth or fifth week of their life. It may be earlier if: the litter is large or; the mother is stressed or; the mother is unwell. The mother (‘queen’ in cat fancy parlance) drives the process of weaning her kittens. Dr Bradshaw says that …
Do cats abandon their kittens if you touch them?
With reference to domestic and feral cats, mothers do not abandon their newborn kittens if you touch them. But the question opens the door to a much bigger topic and before I address that topic, I will expand on the first sentence. Most queens (intact female cat usually used for breeding) become anxious “when …
When do domestic cats become sexually active?
Domestic cats become sexually active when they are nearly 12-months-of-age. However, it varies. For males the youngest sexually mature age is, unusually, six months. Some are sexually mature at 8 months but typically it is between 11-12 months. It may be longer for stray cats at 15-18 months because they are given less chance …
