It’s a scene familiar to many cat owners: your feline companion nestled contentedly, rhythmically kneading and suckling on a soft blanket. This behavior, while sometimes perplexing to us, is actually quite common in cats of all breeds and ages. While kitten suckling is easily understood as a nursing instinct, when adult cats engage in blanket suckling, it can raise questions and even concerns.
You might observe your cat suckling on various soft items – be it blankets, towels, clothing, or even your own skin or fingers. This behavior often involves rhythmic kneading with their paws, mimicking the actions of a nursing kitten. The target of their affection is usually something soft and yielding, reminiscent of their mother cat’s fur and mammary glands.
While witnessing your cat suckling on a blanket might seem odd, it’s generally a harmless behavior. However, understanding the reasons behind it is crucial for determining if any intervention is necessary. Let’s delve into the common causes of why cats suckle on blankets and what it means for your feline friend.
Decoding the Blanket Sucking Behavior in Cats
There are several reasons why your cat might be engaging in blanket suckling, and understanding these can help you better appreciate this feline quirk.
1. An Innate, Instinctual Behavior
The urge to suckle is deeply ingrained in kittens. It’s a primal instinct essential for survival, driving them to nurse from their mothers. This instinct is incredibly powerful and can extend beyond just seeking milk. Kittens may attempt to suckle on anything soft, warm, and comforting, especially if it resembles their mother. This behavior can persist into adulthood, manifesting as suckling on blankets, plush toys, or soft clothing, particularly items with wool-like textures. Think of it as a feline equivalent to thumb-sucking in humans – a comforting, self-soothing action rooted in early infancy.
2. Seeking Comfort and Security
For many cats, suckling is intrinsically linked to feelings of comfort and relaxation. You might notice your cat kneading, a rhythmic pushing of their paws, often preceding or accompanying suckling. Both kneading and suckling are normal feline behaviors that appear to have a calming effect, regardless of whether milk is present or not. This is evident even in kittens after they’ve been weaned, who continue to exhibit suckling behavior despite no longer needing to nurse for nourishment. It’s a self-soothing mechanism, a way for cats to tap into a sense of security and contentment.
3. A Response to Stress or Anxiety
In some instances, blanket suckling can be a sign that your cat is experiencing stress or anxiety. When cats are stressed, they may develop obsessive-compulsive behaviors as a coping mechanism, and suckling can be one of these manifestations. If you suspect stress is the underlying cause, look for other accompanying signs such as excessive grooming, paw licking, tail chewing, or flank licking. Identifying and addressing the source of stress is crucial if suckling is stress-related.
4. Genetic Predisposition
Genetics can also play a role in a cat’s propensity for adult suckling. Certain breeds, particularly Oriental breeds like Siamese, Balinese, Tonkinese, and their mixes, seem to be more genetically predisposed to adult cat suckling compared to European or North American breeds. If you own one of these breeds, blanket suckling might be a more common behavior.
5. Impact of Early Weaning
There’s evidence suggesting a link between early weaning and excessive suckling behavior in cats. Kittens weaned too early, before they are fully emotionally and behaviorally ready, might be more likely to develop comfort-seeking behaviors like suckling in adulthood. Early separation from their mother could lead to a heightened need for self-soothing mechanisms later in life.
When Blanket Suckling Might Indicate a Problem
While generally considered a benign behavior, there are situations where cat suckling might warrant attention.
Direct causes of adult cat suckling being problematic are usually related to behavioral disorders. These can stem from environmental factors such as a lack of sufficient environmental stimulation, various forms of anxiety disorders, or general stress and conflict within their surroundings.
It’s important to note that blanket suckling isn’t directly linked to any specific organ-related disease. However, if your cat suddenly starts suckling, especially if it’s a new behavior, it could be a sign of underlying pain, such as dental discomfort, or other stressors. In these cases, the suckling might be a coping mechanism to deal with the discomfort or emotional distress.
If you notice a sudden onset of suckling or if you suspect your cat is in pain or distress, consulting your veterinarian is essential. A thorough health history review, a physical examination, and possibly blood work can help rule out any underlying medical conditions contributing to the behavior change.
Strategies to Manage Cat Blanket Suckling
Because suckling is often a soothing and instinctual response linked to comfort and contentment, the best approach is often to accept it as a normal cat behavior, as long as it’s not causing harm.
However, if your cat’s suckling becomes excessive, causes you significant distress, or leads to the ingestion of foreign materials (a condition known as pica), which can result in vomiting or gastric upset, redirecting the behavior might be necessary.
A simple and effective strategy is to provide your cat with a designated blanket or soft toy that they are allowed to suckle on. This can help redirect their attention away from your clothing, pillows, or furniture.
Meeting Your Cat’s Needs to Reduce Problematic Suckling
If stress is a contributing factor to your cat’s suckling, addressing their environmental and emotional needs can help reduce the behavior.
1. Ensure Essential Resources are Available
Meeting your cat’s fundamental environmental needs is paramount. Almost every stress-related behavior in cats can be traced back to a lack of adequate resources. Ensure your cat has separate and distinct areas for eating, eliminating, and sleeping. Providing both secure hiding spaces and vertical escape routes, such as cat trees, is crucial for their sense of well-being. In multi-cat households, it’s vital to ensure there are sufficient and separate resources for each cat to prevent competition and stress, which can contribute to behavioral issues.
2. Minimize Stress Factors
If you believe stress is triggering your cat’s suckling, try to identify and minimize potential stressors in their environment. Using synthetic feline pheromones, like a Feliway® diffuser, can create a calming atmosphere. Additionally, providing your cat with extra attention, interactive playtime, and affection can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels.
3. Offer Safe Alternatives for Suckling
Provide your cat with safe and appropriate items to satisfy their suckling urges. Avoid items with long, loose strands like wool or shaggy blankets, as these can be ingested and cause intestinal problems. Keep sweaters or similar clothing items out of reach if they become the target of suckling. If your cat is fixated on furniture, try to restrict their access to those areas when unsupervised.
4. Prioritize Mental and Physical Stimulation
Boredom can be a significant contributor to suckling behavior. Engage your cat in regular play sessions, provide opportunities for exercise, and introduce puzzle toys to challenge their minds and redirect their energy. Offering treats during interactive play can also tap into their natural predatory instincts and provide mental satisfaction. If your cat is an only child, consider adopting a feline companion to provide social interaction and play, further reducing boredom and potential stress.
5. Consider Veterinary Medication as a Last Resort
In severe cases where suckling is excessive, destructive, or clearly driven by unmanageable stress, veterinary medication might be considered as a last resort. Antidepressants like clomipramine (Clomicalm®) and fluoxetine (Prozac®), as well as anti-anxiety medications such as buspirone (BuSpar) or gabapentin, have shown effectiveness in managing such behaviors. However, medication should only be considered under the guidance and prescription of your veterinarian, who can determine if it’s appropriate and safe for your cat.
Ultimately, cats are complex and sensitive creatures. After carefully evaluating potential stressors, ensuring a stimulating and safe environment, and ruling out any underlying medical issues, accepting blanket suckling as a unique, harmless quirk might be the most compassionate approach for certain adult cats. It’s often a window into their need for comfort and security, a behavior rooted in their kittenhood that simply persists as a harmless way to self-soothe and find contentment.
WRITTEN BY
Ken Lambrecht, DVM
Veterinarian
