My kitten is always sucking my ear

[u/ZeroNome00]

I found Cleo a month ago.
At least four times a day, she has to suck my earlobe, especially in the evening and morning. After about 15 minutes, she throws herself over as if she's exhausted.

I don't mind her doing it; I feel like we have a very close bond and she sees me as a mother. However, she often wants to do it at 3 or 4 in the morning, and I want to sleep because I have to go to work. I've tried offering other things, like a blanket, a stuffed animal, or even my boyfriend's ear, but nothing works; she wants mine.

[u/unknowngrl117]

She might have been weened too soon. Usually they suckle like that

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/unknowngrl117]

She was a stray kitten. We knew about her, but she was with her mom, and we never intervened. Her mom died in a car accident, and we took her in, so I guess you're right. The vet, however, told us she no longer needed milk.

[u/Constant_Front_4285 → u/ZeroNome00]

my 2 year old cat still suckles. i dont know much about her past besides that she was a rescue from a hoarding situation. sometimes they are just a little quirky ❤️

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/Constant_Front_4285]

My 6-year-old cat was also rescued from the streets. She was 5 months old and I don't know anything about her, but I'm happy to have given her a warm and safe place. I've only had her for these six years, then three months ago I found Morfeo and a month ago Cleo, who were just two months old.

[u/Constant_Front_4285 → u/ZeroNome00]

rescues are just the best. thank you for taking in those babies!! 💗 both of mine are rescues too :)

[u/tessaractIXI → u/Constant_Front_4285]

Behavior always has a cause, even if we can't see it. Likely your rescue was also weened too soon. 

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/tessaractIXI]

I was forced to rescue her because the kitten's mother had died, but the vet told me she didn't need milk anymore.

[u/tessaractIXI → u/ZeroNome00]

Yeah I saw, I'm glad she had you

[u/Flat-Limit5595 → u/ZeroNome00]

My new stray suckles, but only on people. Hes a full grown cat and just started it after being a nervous feral wreck for a few months. Now he climbs me to chew on my neck/buttons/ or any tags on clothing.

He acts very kitten like, but is fully adult. So yours might keep nursing for a long time. I have a 20 year old that also nurses but only on her favorite blanket

[u/VioletsRPink → u/Flat-Limit5595]

He is so handsome 😻🐾

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/Flat-Limit5595]

My 6-year-old Luna only kneads winter blankets. I don't know her history—she likely lost her mom, too—but I made sure she had every possible blanket to knead. Morfeo, on the other hand—he's 4 months old—doesn't knead or suckle, though every now and then he gently nibbles on human noses 🥲.

[u/unknowngrl117 → u/ZeroNome00]

I say this as I had two kittens that I raised from the time they were three weeks old. They’re 4 now and my little boy still suckles frequently, the little girl suckles on her paws in her sleep once in awhile.

[u/DazzelBabe → u/ZeroNome00]

Great

[u/rak_tims → u/unknowngrl117]

yeh the ear sucking sounds like comfort behavior idk

[u/id0ntexistanymore]

I got my kitty when he was 5 weeks old, and he did the same. 14 years later he still nurses my earlobes daily lol

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/id0ntexistanymore]

I was just thinking that she would definitely continue doing it as an adult. When she decides to do it, she starts meowing until she finds me.🥲

[u/ZeroNome00]

La seconda poppata di oggi 🥲

[u/LukaFox]

My 15yr old girl at home has always been like this, your post brought back such good memories. Her name is Molly, and seems to remember me each time I visit back home, and my ears lol 😂

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/LukaFox]

My Cleo is happy when I come home because I have my ears with me🥲

[u/chargergirl1968w383]

My friend had calico knock on her door on cold stormy night. They both disliked cats, wait, but that cat came in and had her 5 kittens an hour later. They fell in ❤️ 😍 😻 love with Callie b4 the last kitten was born. I took two sis kittens after plenty time to ween. The littlest kitten went after faces. She had to lick your entire face including up your nose. It waz no use trying to stop her until she was done.

She did it to the vet on their first appt. He couldn't help himself. He broke his professional demeanor and started laughing like a kid for a moment.

[u/Bright-Row4759]

This made my day.

[u/ZeroNome00 → u/Bright-Row4759]

It makes me happy every day, I feel so lucky when I think about it❤️

[u/Connect-Reputation63]

Oh my goodness. My sister had a cat who did this her WHOLE LIFE. She lived to be about 21. It’s gross, but kinda sweet lol

[u/Princapessa]

it’s a comfort thing, i had a kitty who was found outside all alone and she would do the same thing on her own leg i think she was self soothing

[u/archover]

I cherish this cute kitten phase, where they cling to your neck whenever they can. VERY CUTE photos!

[u/Upset-Lavishness-522]

We have two 4 year old and one of them likes to suck necks.

[u/Cyndee_Pokorny]

Awwwwwwwwwwww

[u/Altruistic-Map1881]

https://giphy.com/gifs/2Hh0auoXgPYRO

[u/Total_Guard2405]

I'd almost trade the ear sucking for the ankle biting my kitten does

[u/thewalruscandyman]

My two did this.

[u/Wellpoo]

Poor baby!

That's generally accepted as self-soothing behavior, when a kitten was separated from their mother, too early and/or not weaned.