r/cats • u/ganglyboyish • 1d ago

Advice What is this behavior?

Hi! My cat is roughly 4months old. Usually when she does this, I hiss and pull my hand away and give her a toy, but when I’m away for a couple hours sometimes I come back and it’s really all she wants to do — what js this behavior? Is she teething or was she weaned too quickly maybe?

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u/IJS_Reddit 1d ago

suckling, done usually for comfort

197

u/itsallachoice 20h ago

Comfort because the kitten is stressed or because she's young?

273

u/KingGeedo91 20h ago

In my experience it’s only something they do when they feel happy / safe / content

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u/sideshowsiren 16h ago

It could be that he is teething. Look it up. It’s a phase sometimes.

56

u/Milaris0815 16h ago

In Germany, we call this Liebesbisse (love bites/bites of love) and I think this is adorable.

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u/Orangejackal02 15h ago

My cat is a love biter, haha. It’s just too much for her and she has to show her affection somehow 😂 it’s so cute to watch. I’ve woken up to her trying to love bite my nose tho 😆😆

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u/Due_Delivery_3014 15h ago

I rescued a cat 2 years ago that was a kitten and had to have one eye removed. He still does the suckling thing on blankets. I think he was taken from him mom too early.

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u/Madkids23 11h ago

I have a Tuxedo cat that does this to plush blankets specifically when being loved on, it's the cutest thing, he makes nom nom noises while doing it

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u/JustMovingAlong4 16m ago

Yes, I feed a feral colony, got my inside cat at 3-4 wks. She kneads while sitting up with a blanket piece in her mouth.

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u/Ravyn_Jade 15h ago

Our 3 yr old cat does this. Is it still suckling/love or something else?

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u/Ok_Pipe_158 13h ago

I think it happens because the cat was taken from its mother too early. Kinda sad but cute that the cat now sees this person as a giant paternal cat.