There are always exceptions to every "rule," but my experience has been
that kittens will NOT nurse on anyone after being weaned IF they were not
weaned too early.  Unfortunately, many catteries (places where kittens are
reared to be sold!) often wean them VERY EARLY.  This is true for people
who don't know any better, too.

At our house, all our kittens were long-term nursers (gee, I wonder why!).
We even had an induced lactation experience with the nulliparous older
sister of her newborn sibs from the 2nd litter!  (Because she got an
infected scratch from one of the kittens unretracted claws, I had to
instruct the vet in HOW it was that this female cat had so much milk!  That
was a real hoot!)

If kittens are allowed to wean AFTER 8 weeks (or mother allows it, and most
will), they tend NOT to go after earlobes, woolen, fingers, toes, etc.).
One nearly always hears about the exceptions that do, but if you are around
lots of cats or have been, check to see how many do this and you will
probably find it is the minority rather than most....

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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