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+--- Thread: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) (/showthread.php?tid=69158)
My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - S.Taylor - 12-27-2008
I have a pair of kitties, about 4-6 months old. One of them sucks his tail. I had noticed him some time ago walking around all the time with the last inch or two of his tail all wet. The kids told me why, but I just sat and watched him do it for the first time. He laid down, and groped around for his tail for a moment, them started kneading his pillow rapidly, and rooting as if he were nursing. Then he started making really loud sucking noises. He's nursing on his own tail!
Anyone ever come across this behavior in a cat?
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - GGD - 12-27-2008
S.Taylor wrote:
Anyone ever come across this behavior in a cat?
I'm no cat person, but google has certainly seen this before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4atE2wyveE
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=kitten+sucking+on+tail&btnG=Search
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - S.Taylor - 12-27-2008
Apologies. I didn't even think google when I posed the question.
You all are far more entertaining in any event.
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - mattkime - 12-27-2008
think its sucking hard enough to get milk?
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - S.Taylor - 12-27-2008
mattkime wrote:
think its sucking hard enough to get milk?
Since they both just had their "jingle bells" removed, I doubt it.
I guess I'd doubt it anyway.
I had assumed it was not unlike a baby sucking its thumb. Google seems to agree.
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - Racer X - 12-27-2008
I think it was separated from its mom too early, and it is trying to still suckle. Sometimes they do it into adulthood as sort of a comfort or anxiety-reducing thing. One of mine still goes for ear lobe, and he is almost 7.
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - Greg the dogsitter - 12-27-2008
Racer X wrote:
I think it was separated from its mom too early, and it is trying to still suckle. Sometimes they do it into adulthood as sort of a comfort or anxiety-reducing thing. One of mine still goes for ear lobe, and he is almost 7.
God, that's cute.
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - DewGuy - 12-28-2008
We used to have an adult cat that did that with objects (socks, scarves, towels, etc.) that she'd get a hold of an drag through the house while sucking on them. Once she reached her destination with them she'd leave them there and go on about her normal business. Getting tired of finding our clothes and things all over the house we stopped leaving our stuff where she could get to it and left an old jock sock out for her to call her own. Weird, I know.
Re: My strange kitty... (Q for cat folks out there) - ka jowct - 12-28-2008
I think it was separated from its mom too early, and it is trying to still suckle. Sometimes they do it into adulthood as sort of a comfort or anxiety-reducing thing. One of mine still goes for ear lobe, and he is almost 7.
That's my guess about the nursing behavior. I fostered a kitten years ago that nursed on people's neck; I had a roommate in college whose kitten sucked the bath mat, and continued to do so as an adult.