A survey-based assessment of risk factors for cross-sucking behaviors in neonatal kittens, Felis catus.

ABSTRACT: Cross-sucking, or non-nutritive sucking on the bodies of littermates, is commonly observed in early-weaned animals. This behavior has been well-documented in production animals, which are often separated from their mothers before weaning. The behavior is less well-understood in other domestic species, such as cats (Felis catus), that can be orphaned due to neglect, maternal death, or accidental separation. Anecdotally, cross-sucking can cause injuries in kittens, sometimes severe enough to warrant euthanasia. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed study of this behavior in domestic cats. We conducted a survey of caretakers (N = 407) of kittens (< 60 days old) with the goal of identifying characteristics of individual kittens, litters, the environment, and husbandry that

SUBMITTER: Delgado MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7377281 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature