ᐉ How to wean a cat or kitten from the sucking reflex: a description of the process, what not to do

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We are amazed at how similar the habits of humans and animals are. And when a cat sucks its paw, it shocks the owners and they start turning to the Internet for advice or going to veterinarians.

Cat owners often wonder why a cat sucks its paw? Many even make videos to surprise their friends, because not every cat constantly starts sucking its paw before going to bed. If you look quietly into the house, you can see how selflessly the kitten licks its fingertips, many of them turn on their internal motor, to the sound of which they themselves fall asleep.

Why do kittens stick to objects?

If your cat is sucking on your hand, ear, or other things, the following may be the cause:

Early weaning from breastfeeding mother's milk or mother cat.
Lack of love and care from the owner. Kittens feel a particular shortage during adaptation and socialization. At this time, the owner will need to create the most comfortable conditions for the growth and development of the pet, and protect it from stress.
Boredom. If a kitten is bored, it may begin to exhibit a sucking reflex.
Hereditary or breed predisposition. When the kitten's parents had the same habits, with a high degree of probability they can be passed on to the small cat. In addition, representatives of the Persian and Siamese breeds are most susceptible to the sucking reflex.
Constant stress.
Diseases of the endocrine system and dental problems. In this situation, the presence of pathologies can only be determined by a veterinarian. If the owner of a kitten suspects the development of illnesses, you need to take the kitty to a veterinary clinic.

Often this habit is formed in children who are artificial.
Being on artificial feeding and underfeeding also causes the sucking reflex to appear.
In this case, cats often try to get food for themselves on their own. Often the pet cuddles in woolen clothes, which remind him of his mother. It is important for the owner to force the cat to get rid of this habit as soon as possible, since hairballs get stuck in the stomach and cause problems with the digestive system. In addition, similar behavior can be observed when there is a lack of vitamins in the body.

Why can a cat still have a sucking reflex?

The main reasons why a cat retains the sucking reflex include:

If the kitten was separated from the mother cat early .
If the pet doesn’t get enough attention and affection from the owner . This desire especially appears in the animal during the period of adaptation and socialization. At this moment, he needs to create optimal conditions for the development and acceptance of new circumstances, and get rid of possible stressful situations. It is recommended to purchase interactive toys that allow you to entertain your pet in the absence of the owner.
Sometimes animals are simply bored and, from banal idleness, begin to exhibit a sucking reflex.
There may be a genetic or breed predisposition of the cat to such an activity. In this case, we consider Siamese and Persian cat breeds, including their admixtures. It is these pets that often chew and suck various things and objects.
Severe stress or constant anxiety , emotional overstrain also affect the manifestation of the sucking reflex.
Often, veterinarians note behavioral disorders that lead to a cat's desire to suck things or other objects.
If the kitten is bottle-fed and is underfed . The animal tries to get food on its own. Can suck on woolen things that remind him of his mother. This activity is harmful, since hairballs clog his stomach and can cause gastrointestinal problems.
As an option, systemic functional failures in the animal’s body.

What to do?

Veterinarians recommend weaning a kitten from sucking a cat at the moment when the pet is ready for it. Often, females stop feeding their offspring during teething. To distract your baby from his mother or from sucking other things, you need to buy interesting toys for him. Objects that make noisy sounds are perfect. Pet stores offer a wide selection of such toys, but they are easy to make yourself. In addition, experienced breeders recommend equipping various climbing frames and hammocks for the kitten. The owner can purchase a house for the cat or make it with his own hands. Such a sleeping place will also serve as an excellent refuge where the pet can be alone during times of stress.

At first, the owner can switch the pet’s attention to only one of his fingers.

If an adult cat prefers to suck on blankets, earlobes, or fingers, the owner will need to take a step-by-step approach. Veterinarians recommend allowing your cat to suck only one finger. Then you will need to use a glove made of natural material. When your pet switches to it, gets used to it and begins to consider it his property, he will no longer need to wear it. You will need to place the glove in the animal's house or bed. Despite the fact that the method is unusual, it is effective. Cats that suffered mental trauma in childhood can retain the sucking reflex even up to the age of three. An adult pet can bite through the owner's skin while sucking fingers.

If he is accustomed to the glove, the owner will not interfere with the natural process of weaning off the reflex. The animal will deal with moral trauma using its usual method.

How to cope with physiological problems?

To rule out the disease that provoked the development of the habit, it is worth taking your fluffy to the doctor.
It is important for the owner to understand why the sucking of things did not go away after feeding. If your kitten continues to cling to areas of the neck or blanket before bed, veterinarians recommend reviewing its diet. Some animals simply do not receive enough vitamins and microelements required for their body. In such a situation, cats should be given ready-made complementary foods, which are sold in stores. The owner will need to pay attention to premium and super-premium food segments, which are created for feeding babies. If you suspect a sucking reflex due to the development of pathologies in the body, you need to consult a veterinarian.

How to wean a kitten from sucking?

Like human babies, baby kittens, during the first time after separation from their mother, taste objects that interest them.

Normally, the sucking reflex disappears by 5 months of age.

For the correct formation of behavioral stereotypes, it is important:

kitten feeding regimen;
food offered to kittens;
maternal separation program;
psychological atmosphere and stress experienced.

Owner actions. As active measures for weaning tailed babies from the mother's breast and fostering independence, felinology recommends:

Letting 3-week-old babies taste soaked dry food or beef scraper from their fingers, gradually teach them to eat from bowls, breaking the “fingers-food” association. In addition, babies receiving high-calorie complementary foods suckle their mother cat much less.
Starting from 1.5 months, the kittens are isolated from the mother cat for 1-2 hours every day, closing them in the next room. For a variety of leisure activities, the “children’s room” includes a dining room, multi-level shelter houses and a playground. At the same time, to occupy the attention of children, they use various toys and treats.
To re-educate particularly stubborn suckers, it is necessary to put a special blanket on the mother cat that covers the nipples. It is not recommended to use any ointments or products for treating the mammary glands and chemically repelling kittens due to the possibility of poisoning both the cat itself and the cubs when licking.
The minimum age for separation from the mother is 2 months. If the baby came to a new family earlier, then in order to alleviate stress and feelings of loneliness, the owner must surround him with increased attention and care. Monitoring your pet's behavior will help you correct negative habits in time. If you notice an increased urge to suck, it is recommended to hide soft toys and replace them with elastic silicone balls, teasers with feathers and interactive toys that develop the baby’s hunting instinct to attack and grab “prey.”
After 2 months, kittens are completely transferred to solid food, replacing soaked dry food and pates with whole granules or pieces of frozen raw meat. This is how the young animals get used to working with their jaws, reproducing chewing movements instead of sucking ones. Cats are fed exclusively from bowls.
If a persistent habit of clinging to things or gnawing on inedible objects is detected, the pet’s diet is analyzed - perhaps this is a signal of a lack of certain food ingredients. To eliminate this, it is recommended to use high-quality super-premium and premium dry kitten food.
An obsessive sucking reflex, combined with other signs of illness in a growing kitten, is a reason for a visit to the veterinarian. Perhaps then hidden diseases and developmental pathologies will be discovered.
If an over-aged suckler is healthy, then the owner can show severity, expressing his disapproval and scaring off the stubborn one during an unwanted action. A stream of water from a spray bottle, clapping your hands, or the sound of a falling book will shift your attention and distract you from the obsessive process.
The situation when a kitten chews and gnaws on the owner’s things requires measures to change the senses of taste and smell. To do this, items are treated with essential oils of mint, citrus fruits or coniferous plants, sprayed with a solution of lemon juice, vinegar, garlic water, or use special anti-gnaw sprays purchased at a pet store.

What is prohibited?

Some pet breeders recommend teaching kittens to fight the habit by spraying water on them. It is not recommended to use this method, as in this situation the pet may develop serious fears. In addition, a phobia of water often develops, which significantly complicates the existence of both the kitten and its owner. In this case, there can be no talk of any water procedures.

It is forbidden to scold a pet, much less beat it. The cat may misunderstand the owner and become afraid of him. The resulting stress will make the desire to suck objects even stronger. If you need to wean your baby off a female's breast, you may come across advice about spreading pepper or citrus juice on your cat's nipples. Doing this is strictly prohibited, since such manipulation can cause serious complications for both the kitten’s body and its mother. In such a situation, you will need to act in a different way and begin to temporarily separate the cats in different rooms. In this case, it is better to keep the baby busy with games. It is not recommended to leave your pet alone so that the sucking reflex does not switch to other objects.

What to do if an adult kitten sucks on a cat or things

How to deal with the sucking reflex if the kitten has already switched to adult food? First you need to understand that sucking is a way to calm down and reduce stress. Cats that are separated from their mother early, have experienced fright, and have a very sensitive temperament are prone to this behavior in adulthood. In this case, you cannot act rudely, as this will only aggravate the situation.

Popular advice, which is not particularly gentle, says that the cat and the object of its adoration should be separated for 3-4 days. In theory, the kitten should wean itself off sucking; in practice, the baby will choose a new object and continue to suck on it. If a teething kitten is chasing its mother, it is better to use a post-operative blanket. The baby will not be able to bite the nipples, but nothing will prevent him from communicating with the cat.

Kittens that suck fingers, ears and other parts of the owner’s body are weaned off in stages. Gradually train your kitten to suck only your finger. Afterwards, use a natural glove (so that the kitten sucks on it). When the baby gets used to it and considers the glove his property, it can be placed in the nest instead of wearing it.

Why a glove and what is it for? The fact is that some cats that received moral trauma in childhood can suck the owner’s hands until they are 2-3 years old. An adult cat's teeth will easily bite through your skin, but you cannot punish your pet for sucking. By accustoming your cat to the glove, you will not interfere with the natural process of weaning and will allow the cat to deal with stress in the usual way.

When the kitten is 5-6 months old, equip it with a separate, inviolable nest where it can hide in case of stress. A glove that sucks cannot be washed or taken away, so make sure in advance that it is made of natural material. Large, undyed wool fibers are best.

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Vada recognizes Russia. we won?! no, it's even worse than it seemed

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Compliance Committee recommended that the organization's executive committee reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) at a meeting to be held on September 20. So simply and routinely Russia was amnestied, although the day before this the same committee categorically recommended not to do this.

It would seem that we should rejoice and jump with happiness, because this is exactly what we all wanted. You can also make sarcastic comments towards Western partners: what, guys, nothing worked out?

But, of course, it’s not like that.

The WADA Committee recommended the restoration of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency

Have the British gotten into trouble?

The day before WADA's announcement, British BBC journalist Dan Rohan

published a letter from the World Anti-Doping Agency, where it was written in black and white that WADA was not at all going to restore RUSADA’s rights, because the latter had not met the last two criteria.

We will return to them later, but for now let us remind you that there were up to 25 of these criteria in total.

It turns out that the British journalist got into trouble in an attempt to chase a hot sensation? Hardly. Firstly, Dan Rohan is considered an authoritative and experienced reporter, so there was no point in throwing around completely unconfirmed information.

Losing your reputation for the sake of a dubious sensation is too high a price for little profit. Secondly, the format of the letter and the form on which it was written corresponds to what is usually published on the WADA website.

Thirdly, the Russian Ministry of Sports, headed by Pavel Kolobkov, recently announced that it was not ready to fulfill these two notorious criteria.

What are these criteria?

One of them was the recognition of the report of Samuel Schmid

, which in turn was based on data from the investigation of Canadian lawyer
Richard McLaren
.

Simply put, Russia should have acknowledged the existence of a state-run doping system.

Another criterion was Russia's willingness to provide an independent expert with access to samples from the Moscow anti-doping laboratory.

The same one that was headed by Grigory Rodchenkov

“They pointed the finger at themselves.” Has Russia finally admitted everything?

And the Russian Minister of Sports is simply trying to save face and balance. The West is sure of this.

From the Russian side, these two criteria were constantly called nothing less than impossible.

Rescue letter

The British journalist did not lie. WADA did intend to extend RUSADA's suspension at its next meeting on September 20. Everything was changed by a letter from the Russian Ministry of Sports, which was sent to WADA almost immediately after Rohan’s publication.

It forced WADA to completely replay the situation and turn 180 degrees - facing Russia. What was written there? There are only two options. In the first one, we give up. It is not yet clear who we are passing on and on what points, but it is clear that the level of raising hands is very high. And it’s not a fact that we are talking only about sports.

And in this case, Kuzka’s mother, and at the same time his father, grandfather and a couple of cousins are waiting for us just around the next corner. It’s hard to even imagine what Western partners will do to us.

In the second, pleasant option, Kolobkov and company found really compelling arguments with which to fight WADA, even without recognizing the reports of Schmid and McLaren.

In this case, Russia can truly breathe freely and rejoice at an important intermediate victory.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of this is extremely low. It was hardly possible to find weighty arguments in one’s favor in a few weeks.

A day earlier, WADA did not hesitate to declare that there would be no restoration, but suddenly everything changed. Most likely, we are talking about a full or partial admission of guilt on our part.

Moreover, the points on which we are doing this have long been agreed upon and approved. So the comrades from WADA didn’t even have to open the letter.

British athletes are demanding Russian blood. Are they out of their minds?

Now any athlete can accuse Russia of doping without evidence? If so, then let this sport burn in hell.

Possible consequences

What at first glance seemed like a victory for Russia and the restoration of justice will in fact turn out to be a new round of problems and revelations. Obviously, we hoped until the last moment that it would work just like that, without admitting guilt. But when it became finally clear that it would not work, serious concessions had to be made. Probably catastrophic.

It is very interesting to understand who and what exactly we sacrificed for the potential restoration of RUSADA? Will the names of people who could be involved in the schemes be published? What will independent experts find in the sealed data of the Grigory Rodchenkov Moscow Laboratory? And if admitting guilt was possible in principle, then why wasn’t this done two or three years ago, when hundreds of sports destinies could still have been saved? Or were athletes the easiest to sacrifice?

Even if on September 20 everything ends with the complete restoration of RUSADA, the pressure on Russia will resume tripled. US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Chief Travis Tigert

has already stated that “this WADA decision stinks.” And believe me, this is just the beginning of the fun that will fall on Russia after the WADA executive committee.

Source: https://www.championat.com/other/article-3541719-vada-rekomendovalo-vosstanovit-rusada—pochemu-eto-strashno-prichiny.html

What to do with an unpleasant behavioral habit of an animal

How to stop a cat from sucking its paw. Sometimes cat owners urge you not to pay attention to the kitten’s activities, they say, it will grow up and stop. What if this becomes a bad habit? And will you have to watch your whole life how a grown cat, like a bear, sucks its paw?

It is worth remembering that cats are difficult to train. And this does not come from the stupidity of animals, on the contrary, from self-sufficiency and self-respect for their feline majesty. But you can try to wean a kitten from the habit by showing serious patience and love.

Tips for kitten owners:

Distract your kitten from his favorite activity, pet him so that he feels your love and calms down.
Give him some little thing instead of his favorite paw; animal children also love toys! If the kitten wakes up, the toy should be taken away so that he does not play with it. Let it remain a sleeping medicine for him.

If these techniques do not work, you can wean the cat from sucking its paw by trying to smear it with mustard or a special composition; perhaps the bitter taste will discourage him from the bad habit forever. Even camphor oil will be useful for this; your cat will definitely not like the taste of it.

You should not punish or even beat a kitten for its habit. He is already hiding from his childhood loneliness, why traumatize the baby even more?

Perhaps those who suggest not touching the kitten are right, and the habit will disappear on its own if your cat knows that you love him and will never leave him.

IMPORTANT! VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Share with friends Article rating

general information

The sucking reflex in kittens is formed in the womb. After birth, the baby has one task - using his sense of smell, crawl to his mother, find the nipple and drink milk.

Mother's milk is a source of strength, energy and immunity. It promotes (especially colostrum in the first 2-3 days) the colonization of the intestines with microflora, so that the kitten can then digest normal food.

The cat breastfeeds her babies up to 15 weeks , she sets the timing herself and determines when it is necessary to avoid the kittens and not let them suckle.

It is advisable not to interfere with the feeding process until 12 weeks of age!

There are cases when MURlyka refuses to feed the babies before the required time, then you need to take responsibility and feed the kittens artificially.

Babies who are not gaining weight and kittens in multiple litters (6 or more) need additional feeding - especially those born last.

Around the third week of their life, babies begin to become interested in adult food. At the same time, they are teething, which can cause inconvenience for the mother cat.

This period is considered the ideal time to wean kittens from mother's milk and give complementary foods.

Important! In no case should babies be weaned off their mother’s milk using rude methods, for example, not allowing them near the cat, starving them so that they eat food, punishing them, or smearing something unpleasant on the pet’s nipples.

All actions should be natural and calm, since the psyche of kittens at this age is very fragile.

The main reasons why cats crush people with their paws, and the owner’s actions in case of such behavior

Affectionate furry pets have long gained the reputation of being one of the most mysterious and amazing creatures among domesticated animals. Cat breeders often note such a feature of their pet as the so-called “milk step”. Seeing these unusual movements, many people wonder why cats crush people with their paws.

Animal psychologists have several hypotheses about this peculiar ritual. A cat lover will be interested in finding an explanation for the unusual behavior of his affectionate couch potato.

When the phenomenon is observed

The owner most often observes the peculiar behavior of a domestic cat when the animal is in a peaceful and calm state. At this moment, the pet may purr. Some cats perform the ritual without releasing their claws.

Other individuals can crush the soft surface, extending their claws to their full length. At the same time, the animal looks concentrated, the reaction to external stimuli becomes minimal. Some owners compare this state of their pet to nirvana.

Many cat breeders note that the cat ritual usually takes place on a soft and pliable surface: a blanket, a mattress, the owner’s lap. A hard surface is not suitable for such purposes. Often the “milk step” is used in relation to a soft toy.

Most often, a cat crushes a soft object with its paws when it is about to rest or sleep. Expectant mothers begin to prepare the nest for childbirth and offspring, often before an important event they begin to knead the blanket with their paws.

Pets love to perform such a mysterious action when they are on the lap of their beloved owner.

Fans of cats note that a cat performs such a ritual only with its owner; such affection is not available to a stranger.

To learn about what a “milk step” is in cats, watch this video:

Probable Causes

Experts in the field of animal psychology identify several reasons why cats knead their paws. This ritual has the following explanations and theories:

Memory of childhood. A newborn baby, feeding on mother's milk, kneads the mother's mammary glands with its paws. This massage stimulates milk production, which is important when the cat has more than one baby. At the same time, feeding itself causes positive emotions in the pet. Having matured, many kittens perceive their caring owners as their cat mother. Having transferred their pleasant childhood memories to humans, young animals settle down next to their beloved owner and begin to touch their paws.

It is for this reason that cat breeders call this ritual the “milk step.” Owners often notice that the kitten not only wiggles its paws, but also purrs contentedly and even drools with pleasure. This theory is supported by the fact that artificially fed pets are not capable of the “milk step”.

One of the reasons why cats paw is their natural instincts. Being once wild predators, animals carefully prepared places for rest and overnight: they trampled down hard grass, making the nest cozy and soft. In the wild, representatives of the cat family use grass and leaves to make a nest. To make your sleeping area comfortable and safe, it needs to be put in order. The most convenient way to do this is to crush objects with your paws.

The desire to equip one’s territory, a place to rest and sleep, is also characteristic of modern domestic couch potatoes.

And although most pets live in comfortable conditions, nevertheless, they have not lost the ancient instinct of their wild ancestors.

In addition, the cat often crushes soft objects with its paws, arranging a nest for birth and future offspring. Often this behavior is a sign of impending labor.

Hunting instinct. Some experts believe that domestic cats knead a soft surface, obeying the ancient hunting instinct. Predators by nature, pets have not lost the ancient skills of this skill. Their wild counterparts, before jumping on the prey, crush the surface with their paws, testing it for stability and hardness. It is important for a predator that at a crucial moment a branch does not snap under its paw. Fluffy couch potatoes have not lost their natural instincts, but they do not always use them for their intended purpose.

Territorial version. Some zoologists are inclined to believe that the reason why cats crush their owners' paws is their desire to mark their territory. There are specific glands on the pads of cats' paws, with the help of which they identify their possessions and territory.

Considering its beloved owner to be its property, the animal leaves its scent on his body, making it clear to other individuals that they can no longer have the right to the owner’s attention. Thus, the ritual serves as a kind of marker to mark one’s property and possessions.

Psychological release. The psycho-emotional tension or stress accumulated by the pet requires release. Some animal psychologists, not without reason, believe that the reason why cats knead the blanket with their paws is self-soothing. At the same time, the animal practically disconnects from the outside world and focuses on its internal sensations. Monotonous paw movements and purring help calm the pet.

This point of view is supported by the fact that during the “milk step” the cat’s body produces endorphins - specific substances, hormones of happiness. They reduce anxiety and fear in pets.

Other factors. Experienced breeders believe that the reason for the cat ritual is a high degree of trust and love for its owner. Many cat fans believe that animals perform such a ritual for a healing purpose - they treat their owner from various ailments, taking away negative energy.

Another reason why cats massage their paws is sexual behavior. As a rule, in the spring, with increasing daylight hours, the production of sex hormones increases, which in some individuals is accompanied by a “milk step”.

The variety of theories, versions and guesses regarding a peculiar ritual inherent only to representatives of the feline family once again testifies to the mystery and enigma of domestic cats.

We recommend reading about why cats sleep at their owner's feet. You will learn about the reasons for this behavior, the characteristics of cat sleep, and favorite places to sleep. And here is more information about how to remove a cat from a tree yourself and with the help of special services.

Should I be scolded for such behavior?

Understanding why cats knead the blanket with their paws, the owner should under no circumstances punish the pet for displaying natural instincts. You should be understanding of the complex and peculiar behavior of the cat.

Negative emotions, irritating intonations, and being thrown off your knees during the “milk step” can lead to stress and the development of a negative psycho-emotional state.

The animal will stop trusting the person and will withdraw from communication with him.

The owner may not like the fact that the cat crumples his body due to the fact that some individuals can release their claws and injure him. In this case, it is advisable to keep a thick towel or small blanket nearby to lay on your lap. This will protect the owner from injury if the cat releases its claws.

You can stop the unwanted action by lightly pressing the cat against a soft surface. She will settle down and calm down. Stroking and gentle intonations will calm the pet, and it will stop kneading the owner’s paws.

The unusual behavior of domestic cats in the form of trampling in one place has a variety of reasons. Most often, a kind of ritual is associated with the natural instincts and psycho-emotional state of the animal. An attentive and affectionate attitude towards the pet at this moment is the only thing required from a loving owner.

Source: https://zootvet.ru/zachem-koshki-mnut-lapami-cheloveka/