Why does my pet cat like to suck on all my velour blankets?
Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at
1:57 pm
My boyfriend and I have had our pet cat since she was six weeks old and we have kept her in the house the whole time. Is there any certain why she likes to suck on velour blankets? Those are the only blankets that she likes to suck on. She gets them soaked in saliva and I have to end up washing them constantly.
Filed under: Cat Behavior
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
This behavior is commonly called "wool sucking." Cats that have been weaned from their mothers too soon are usually the ones that do this.
You can read more about "wool sucking" here:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/wool-sucking/page1.aspx
This article is by one of the best veterinary behaviorists in the world.
It’s funny you asked this… I had a cat that did the same thing…anything soft, like a fleece or velour blanket, etc…. he would suck on it as if he were feeding from his mother. Someone told me he was taken away from his mom too early, but like you, we got him at 6 weeks… it was always just a comfort thing for him I guess. Just think of it as a cute little quirk, that can get a little yucky.. lol
I had a cat do this too. It was also on a blanket but not velour. They are funny. I think they like to feel like they are nursing still. Does she knead her paws as well? I love my cats…..
LOL. I used to have a cat that loved to suckle on my shirts and blankets,, and yes it was gross! But he was still a kitten, not even a year old, I believe, it was so long ago. Unfortunately, I didn’t have him long enough to determine if he would grow out of it.
I, and my extended family, have had cats all of our lives and he’s the only one that ever did that!! I have had your, "scaredy cats", "mischievous", "over affectionate", "princess", "king", "hell cat", you name it I had the personality!
If the velor is the only blankets she is interested in suckling why not give her one special velor blanky of her own and perhaps put the others away until she, hopefully, grows out of it. I wish I had a better suggestion but it’s obviously an extreme comfort for her. I wouldn’t want you to sprinkle ceyanne pepper on your blankets, cats are not fond of that smell, and stain your blankets. I would ask a vet or the management of a pet store if they have something you could use that would keep her off those particular blankets but that won’t make them smell funny or ruin the fabric. The only other suugestion I can make to to look it up online for "natural" remedies or household ideas. There may be a tea bag that the you might use or a type of satchet pleasing to you but NOT to the cat. YOu can develop your own.
Good luck!
Good Luck