2 year old cat nursing other cat???

[aquakittens]

Hi!

I've got two female cats at home, both 2 years old but from different litters. We got one (Newt) at 8 weeks old and Callie at 5 weeks. They're only 6 weeks apart in age and get along really well, such as sleeping together, playing, eating together ect. They love each other. Newt is larger than Callie, as Callie was extremely unwell when we got her and she never grew that large, whereas Newt is pretty big. They're both indoor cats and haven't been spayed yet.

In the past couple of days, Callie has started to act strange. She's always been very vocal but recently she's been constantly meowing and extremely restless. Her eating and going to the toilet is normal, as is her sleeping, but she's just extremely vocal and restless. This has triggered Newt to act strange too! Newt's been almost nursing Callie? She's been grabbing at the back of her neck and trying to drag her to the bedroom. I picked Callie up and Newt began to circle me, calling for Callie in an extremely protective manner. When they're in the bedroom, they hide behind a proped up full length mirror and Newt cleans Callie whilst Callie curls into Newt.

I know this is quite wordy and long but I'm not sure how to describe correctly their behaviours. It's almost as if Newt is nursing Callie and acting as mother?

Does anyone know what's going on? I plan to have them both spayed over summer, but if it were that one of them was in heat, it's completely unlike their behaviour!!

[Lilith]

Hi and welcome

They definitely need spaying, bless them; it will stop their hormones from driving them round the bend. If they stay entire they're going to get very frustrated and less focused on you too. Un-neutered cats without a sex life can often become unpredictable and aggressive.

The only other thing is - do they go out at all? Is there any chance that they may have been mated - you'd notice the bulge, but one kitten might be less obtrusive. I ask this because the only time I've seen this behaviour was when breeding Siamese, and one of my girls was in labour and seized her enormous adult son by his scruff, dragging him into the kitten box. It was quite comical

But it could well be because Newt is in heat and obviously desperate for motherhood and soon Callie will be feeling the same. It's a pity but there are just too many unwanted kittens to let every girl breed; spaying will calm them down and they'll settle back into their housecat routine and be a lot happier.

All the best with them

[aquakittens]

I think spaying may be for the best! There's absolutely no chance they could have gone out, we live in a flat (enough space for them to run up and down the hall at 3am!! ) It's pretty funny to watch Newt try and drag Callie around, although Callie's small, it's still a trouble to tug her around. They have been in heat many times before but never like this. I wish I could let her breed because she does often try nesting under the duvet, which is sweet but heartbreaking.

I'll definitely get them spayed in the next couple of months and see how they do! They're usually so well behaved in heat, apart from the calling.

[bobbys girl]

Yep, thats hormones for you! I agree with Lilith, the sooner they are spayed the better!

I don't know what other ladies think, but I remember that some 'monthlies' were worse than others Wonder if it applies to cats too?