how do I stop my cat 'sucking' on my clothing????

Spraying it bitter apple or a hot pepper solution should theoretically stop that. Anything that just smells bad to the cat should be a good deterrent. Just make sure it's non-toxic in case they decide they want to taste it anyway.

Also removing them from it repeatedly and consistantly. Or the old pennies in a can trick - they go near it, you shake the can. And the old water bottle. But you do have to keep the pennies or bottle with you and be diligent until the cat makes the connection and gives up.

My cat responds well to the sound of a clap with a stern, loud "NO!". She gets 2 of those and then I get up to remove her from whatever she's doing (usually scratching the door jambs). I don't even have to get to her anymore, just my standing up and she very primly slinks away.

Again, cats are smart - they know when they're misbehaving. They're just checking to make sure you're paying attention. ;o)

They never stop “nursing” I have an 18-year-old male cat that still nurses on our wrists or if lucky certain blankets he is the exception, as most cats will use a blanket and not a human wrist.

We used to have a German Shepherd/Rottweiler cross who tolerated having the hair on his neck suckled however, my two current dogs get up and leave when the cat tries to nurse.

Good grief, OP, please don't listen to this person. That poor cat was removed from it's mother too early as others have said. It's not doing anything "wrong". She'll probably grow out of it.

That's a Tuxedo cat you have there, by the way. Very cute.

Thanks for the advice I'll give the pepper spray a try. He's a 30lb tabby that is deaf and loves to take baths so the normal deterrents didn't work.

awww, poor thing. good for you for adopting her.

she's a beautiful cat. i just want to hug her and hold her.

take care of the cuttie.

No! That was for the power cord licker...not the OP's cat.

I hope you meant you'll try a pepper solution rubbed on the cord? Please do NOT pepper spray the cat! O.O

I believe my wife was suggested a little pinch of Tabasco sauce, just enough to coat the cables a little to deter it from trying to lick them again.

Like a few other posters, I too have a cat that has never outgrown it.

Adopted her at 3 months; she is now 3-years-old and has not grown out of it. I don't mind, I have a spare robe she suckles/kneads/nests on.

She goes absolutely nuts if I have a sweaty shirt. Attacks my pits. Something in my pheromones it would appear.

What I would do I try to get your cat use to one item of clothing you have, make it a habit -- it helps to minimize ninja attacks. If they get up on your lap, grab the clothing item and place them on it.

It's like a security blanket. Psychologically. They are comforted.

Crap. Sorry, Copernica. I missed the power cord kitty somehow.

thats a very pretty and feminine-looking kitty.

Oh yeah. I would never do something like that to him. Sorry op didn't mean to hijack your thread.

Assuming this isn't a form of Pica ( [link to en.wikipedia.org] the cat should grow out of it in about 2 years time (around age 2).

If it is a form of pica and you leave it be, I fear the cat will start eating things it really shouldn't outta. While dogs are well known for pica behaviors (specially poo), cats are often not diagnosed properly due to this 'suckling' behavior at a younger age.

If you rule out Pica (blood tests and vet visit) then this is suckling behavior - its sort of like the kid who continues to suck his thumb.

Screaming at the kid to stop only makes it worse - beating the cat to make it stop will only make it worse.

This is a psychological issue caused by largely abandonment/separation issues.

Cats that have not been socialized, or who lost their mum too early will go on to be an adult cat that 'suckles'. Cats that have been beaten or traumatized will also suckle - its a comforting thing for them to do - like the kid sucking on his thumb.

This cat most likely has abandonment issues. If its worse when you get home from work/school you can be certain that you will have a suckling cat for life.

One cure is to have two cats - two cats in a home tend to satisfy the cats need for some social engagement and will remind it that its not alone. Cats, dogs and various other creatures we humans have adopted as pets are actually social creatures, that adapt well to entering our social matrix and do suffer being alone as much, if not more than, humans.

Edit Addition:

All of these people telling you to slap your hands, rattle stuff, spray the cat - they are telling you to psychologically abuse the cat. These methods don't work to treat the underlying causes of suckling. Sure the cat may stop suckling, but come up with other interesting behaviors - pissing in your shoes, clawing up the furniture.

Last Edited by Bowyn Aerrow on 04/07/2012 12:33 AM

what's the big deal? the cat is just cleaning you and loves you

YOU MONSTER!!! YOU CAN"T KEEP A CAT IN A LOCKED CLOSET!!!!11

I'm only a cat and I stay in my place,
up there on your chair, on your bed or your face.
I'm only a cat and I don't finick much,
I'm happy with milk and anchovies and such.
I'm only a cat and we will get along fine,
as long as you know, I'm not yours, your
ALL MINE!



Cute poem I saw somewhere.

Thank you for all the good advice (as well as to the power cord kitty). I have tried to reply 3 times to this thread but every time I tried she would come & jump up on my lap & go to sleep & I didn't want to disturb her.
I am going to give her her own piece of clothing to lay on me with & suckle so she still feels comforted but doesn't leave me with wet patches & needing to change shirts all the time:)
To the person who told me she is a Tuxedo cat, I didn't know that so thanks heaps & to all her said she's a cutie

mine dances on my head while I sleep and moves my lips and eyelids with her claws so she thinks I'm paying her attention.

Those same paws were just covering up it's shit and piss.

Your an idiot! They meant lock the vacuum in the closet, not the cat you moron. I swear that stupidity breeds stupidity. Especially in threads

tip a large bucket of lion piss over your head every morning .

^^^ THIS^^^^

Poor thing, was taken away from mom too soon, enoy it.

poor thing is just wanting to relax. but you got some good advice here on how to help her.

My dachshund was taken away from its mother too early and has developed a blanket sucking habit as well.

It is terrible to see and obvious not everyone is fit to breed pets.

They do it when they are taken away from their moters to early, the sucking means they think of you as a mother figure, take ot as a compliment (:

it isnt she or he is stressed i rescued a young female cat she adopted me as her mother she will suck on my clothes she needs me as if she is sucking a bottle she will do it just a few minutes then she curls up on my lap and lays down and she is purring really loud as if she is happy i do have other cats she plays with but when she gets tired she hunts me up to do this over and over she will grow out of it .i had another young kitten go through this its mother died within a week after the litter was born i was able to save him i raised him by letting suck replacement milk off my fingers he was to little to take a bottle he is now 3 yrs old and he will still come over to me lay down and lick my fingers ;)

Aw that's so sweet. Maybe get her something to suck on other than your clothes? Her own blankee. Then when she does it just set her gentley down on her blankee. She'll figure it out eventually.