I don't know the "why" of it, but my miniature schnauzer, Fred, did that when he was a puppy. My sister had him then and you couldn't sit down for 5 minutes that he wasn't coming over, taking the bottom of the leg of jeans and just start sucking away! I don't know how long he did that. He came to live with me at age 4 and the only thing he does still do is chew the edge of the pillow case that covers the pillow in his bed. At least it is confined to that and I can replace the pillow case when it gets too worn. I have seen cats do it more than dogs.

I understood that it's a myth that cats separated from their mothers too early will exhibit this kneading/sucking behavior.

We kept a mother cat and 4 of her kittens(sigh) and they were nursing a looooong time until Millymoo indicated she'd had enough. They were still trying to nurse at the 6.month mark when we took them all to get neutered. Two of 4, now 10 years old, love to knead and suck on the corner of a blanket. No trauma of being taken from mum too early-think they just like to do it.

We had a mini schnauzer too a few years back who loved to suck/chew on the edge of her ratty blanket. She'd twist it up underneath herself and fall asleep with the corner in her mouth. It might've been a security issue for her as she'd been with 2 other families before ours but her blanket had been with her since puppyhood I was told.

Interesting but I tend to take theories with a large pinch of salt as they only last until the next one arrives... Interesting here as Beata, Boycat's litter mate, does not do this while at 12 years he still does. But he is a less ebullient cat than she is and a total wuss when it comes to eg facing other cats. Different personalities... Although in all my decades of cats he is the first ever to do this NB the tw o who persisted may have simply got too used to it?

Marigold, I have a huge male Maine Coon. Aren't large cats so wonderful and snuggly!

Yep! Especially when they land on your head in the middle of the night.. I long for a Maine Coon or Bengal but the strays and rejects need me..