Who decides the suckling time for animals?

[tireesix]

It sounds like an odd question but I thought cats were done at around 6 - 8 weeks but then I saw my cats brother who is 8-9 months still suckling from his mum who still has milk.

I guess it might just be an odd situation because the kitten never left his mum but maybe, long breastfeeding relationships are more likely to occur in such a community setting.

[momma2girls]

I really think it depends on the mother and her personality and the baby's. I know of a cat who allowed another cat nurse off of her for quite awhile. This other cat was close to a year and older while this was going on. The 'mother' cat was not this cats mother but she still let it happen. It was rather amusing.

[DogStar]

Originally Posted by tireesix

It sounds like an odd question but I thought cats were done at around 6 - 8 weeks but then I saw my cats brother who is 8-9 months still suckling from his mum who still has milk.

I guess it might just be an odd situation because the kitten never left his mum but maybe, long breastfeeding relationships are more likely to occur in such a community setting.

this happens sometimes when momma and babies stay together... but it is not necessarily normal. not all momma cats will do this even if they are never separated from the kitties. It takes a patient mom! And some cats are just big babies, my big 5 year old male still nurses on his bed.