TL;DR: Self-nursing is a common self-soothing behavior in cats that is typically harmless, but you should consult a veterinarian if it results in skin damage or appears obsessive.
What is self-nursing or sucking behavior in cats?
Self-nursing, often referred to as non-nutritive suckling or wool-sucking, is a behavior where a cat rhythmically sucks or kneads on their own fur, tail, paws, or flank. This behavior is often a carryover from kittenhood and is frequently seen in cats that were weaned too early. It serves as a self-soothing mechanism, much like a child sucking their thumb, and is usually associated with feelings of relaxation or sometimes stress relief.
Is my cat's self-nursing behavior a medical emergency?
- Urgency Level: Low. In the vast majority of cases, self-nursing is a behavioral trait rather than an acute physical illness or emergency.
- The behavior becomes a concern if it leads to physical damage or becomes obsessive.
- Schedule a non-emergency veterinary appointment if you notice hair loss, skin redness, or sores in the affected area.
- Seek professional advice if your cat becomes aggressive when you attempt to distract them from the behavior.
How can a photo or video of my cat help a veterinarian with triage?
- Provide a clear photo or video of your cat during the behavior, along with a close-up photo of the skin in the affected area.
- A photo allows a professional to determine if active inflammation, infection, or dermatitis is triggering or resulting from the behavior.
- A video helps the veterinarian differentiate between a harmless habit and a more serious compulsive disorder or neurological issue.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Self-mutilation, excessive grooming, and self-directed aggression in cats, including nursing on their own body, can be caused by underlying medical conditions such as neuropathic pain, pruritus (as seen in adverse food reactions, atopic dermatitis, and parasitic hypersensitivity), dermatologic conditions, myopathies, or focal seizures, and these should be excluded first. Compulsive disorders, characterized by frequent or intense sucking, licking, chewing, or ingestion of non-nutritive substances, may also manifest as self-nursing, but gastrointestinal and neurological diseases should be ruled out initially. A therapeutic response trial for neuropathic pain, seizures, pruritus, or compulsive disorders might be part of the diagnostic process.
Chapter: Behavioral Medicine, Dermatology, Neurology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1574)