Why does my cat suck on blankets? Cats suck on blankets, clothes, and other materials for a variety of reasons. Cats suck on blankets and other household things for a variety of reasons, as we’ve discovered!
Have you ever had a cat who sucked on anything it could get its hands on? I’ve never done it before, but I almost wish I had. It’s insanely adorable to see a cat kneading and sucking on blankets while purring his little heart out. Of course, if you live with a blanket or garment sucker, it’s probably not as adorable. If you’ve ever had your wool sucker destroyed by kitten spit or ruined bedding, I completely understand why you’d exchange it for one of my feline family members. “Why do cats suck on blankets?” you may have asked. Now you don’t have to wonder any longer. The following are some of the most popular responses to the question, “Why do cats suck on blankets?”
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1. A cat nursing on blankets, clothing or other fabrics shows that it trusts the person.
If your cat starts sitting in your lap and nursing your clothing, she’s expressing her total trust in your abilities to keep her safe. Nursing requires a lot of attention, and she wouldn’t be able to focus so intensively if she didn’t feel secure.
2. Your cat’s relaxation involves sucking on blankets or other fabrics.
Another response to the question, “Why do cats suck on blankets?” Nursing wool offers a sensation of security and protection, similar to thumb-sucking in little toddlers. Because this activity reminds her of being secure and accompanied by her mother and littermates, a sensitive kitten may grow up to become a fabric-sucking cat.
3. When kittens are removed from their moms too soon, they suck on blankets.
In a Freudian sense, this response to “Why do cats suck on blankets?” makes logic, but I’m not sure it holds up. Siouxsie and her twin sister were adopted when they were only six weeks old since I didn’t realize kittens should be kept with their moms for at least eight weeks at the time. Siouxsie and Sinéad, on the other hand, never sucked fabric. I don’t know many orphaned “bottle baby” kittens, so I’m not sure if this is a more prevalent tendency among them than among other cats.
4. To deal with excessive stress, a cat may suckle blankets or other objects.
Unfortunately, there are some bad responses to the question, “Why do cats suck on blankets?” Nursing action may demonstrate absolute trust or utter freak-out fear, which may sound contradictory, but it’s real. It’s adorable when a cat begins to use behavior that reminds her of her kittenhood’s safety as a method to calm herself when she’s stressed. But it’s an issue when worry penetrates every part of her life to the point that she’s suckling to self-soothe.
5. Certain cat breeds are more likely to suckle blankets and other similar items than others.
Cats of the Siamese and Oriental breeds are more prone to nurse fabric than cats of other breeds. Although there appears to be no hereditary reason for this, Oriental breed cats are known to require a lengthier weaning time than other cats.
If your cat is sucking on blankets or other fabrics, what should you do?
So, if you’re worried about your cat suckling on blankets or other fabrics, what should you do? To begin, you’ll need to figure out what’s causing her worry and try to address it. Make sure your cat has vertical and horizontal territory, and utilize interactive play to help her build confidence. Consult your veterinarian, who may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for you.
Tell us about a time when you questioned, “Why do cats suck blankets?” Do you think it’s adorable or revolting? Do you have any idea what caused it? What did you do about it, if anything? Let us know what you think in the comments.
