rescue kitten needs to suckle

Question
Good morning,

My recently acquired rescue kitty (born 3/15, neutered male) persistently tries to nurse on my 2 year old neutered 7 lb schnoodle.  Sometimes the dog tolerates it, sometimes not.  The dog is always gentle with the kitten. The kitten seems to go for the skin at the dog's groin and penis.  This morning, the two of them were nestled together, the cat purring and sucking away with the dog on his side exposing the area apparently not bothered at all.    While I am delighted that the two are getting along well, this behavior seems unusual.  I work during the day so if an intervention is needed, please keep that in mind. Things I've considered include: keeping them separated until the kitten is older, ignoring this as it may pass, squirting the kitten with water to make him stop, providing the kitten an opportunity to suck on a bottle/pacifier?  My concerns are: damage/infection to the dog, and if the kitten separated from his mom too soon  how can we provide what he needs.  HELP!   Thank you

Answer
Jo Ann,
this behavior is not at all unusual for a young kitten. I had adopted two kittens in 1994 that did the same thing to my then 14 yr old male neutered cat. I didn't own a dog. So your kitten is just seeking comfort is all. My kittens did this until they were about a year old then they just snuggled with Floyd until he died in 1999.

Your cat is not missing his mommy per se, but mostly just seeking comfort and doing so in a very natural way for kittens, which is a suckling behavior.

I don't think the dog will get any kind of infection. If the kitten gets too close to his penis I am sure the dog will get up and walk away.

The dog instinctively must know that is all the kitten is doing, even though he is a male he once suckled too.

If you see red marks or any kind of blood then you might consider separating them but I doubt if it will come to that.

It is a wonderful thing that your dog is so gentle and caring for this kitten. They will be lifelong friends no doubt.