Hi everyone,
we are having some real troubles with our new kitten - she is 15 weeks old and we have had her for 3-4 weeks now.
We have 2 other cats who are about a year and half old.

Basically the problem is in the night she will sleep with us mostly on the bed but she wakes up ALOT of the night and will lick and lick us so much so that it keeps us awake and actually makes your face / arms sore!

My partner initially stroked her lots to try and get her to settle down as Tansy one of our older cats didnt lick - bur her face on us in the nights for attention - he stroked her and she always settles now so he thought it may work with Holly but to no avail!
We then tried a firm NO and moving her away from us - but she just runs back at us even quicker and starts licking again!
We now tell her no but also pick her up and move her off the bed - she normally waits 5 minutes and then comes back again - and starts licking again - we have pushed her away but she doesnt seem to take the hint!

Last night we had to shut her out of the bedroom and the other 2 in with us which I hate to do but it is affecting our sleep - we both moved her around 20 times EACH last night and we have to get up for work.

In the day time we dont have this problem and she doesnt try and lick us and I just dont understand why shes doing it and why she is doing it despite being told off!!
We are putting her crate up again today so if she starts tonight she will be put in there but im worried this is not going to stop it long term... does anyone know why she is doing this - whether she will grow out of it and how to stop it?
Thanks

Havent been on the forum for months now... but a side not.. the cats are no longer allowed in the bedroom at night.. but Holly who is now 1 year old still suckles on your face / arm/ hands... I dont know how to stop her! Pushing her away seems to upset her

Any advice would be welcome!!

Some cats just do this and either they grow out of it or they won't. I'd keep removing her until she learns - it might upset her for a bit but that's better than you constantly getting cross with her.

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Thanks for this yeah I don't get annoyed with her openly, just inside I just let her do it because it seems to make her happy.

My kitten does this, he's six months old and mainly does it on my neck, he kneads as well as this nursing action and it's not the most comfortable way to watch Emmerdale. I have found a fix that works for us. When he starts I cuddle him really tightly, almost swaddling him with my arms, he then generally stops and becomes very relaxed and settled. Might be worth a try

I have a licker as well. He's nearly 2 years old now and he still does it! But he never does it during the daytime now, only when he gets on the bed at night. And he only licks me, on my face, and tries to suckle (urrrgh!), never does it to the OH, so I'm obviously 'mum'. He also kneads wildly with his great big paws so I have to hang on to his paws so that I don't get claw marks.

I have discouraged it by gently putting my hand over his face and stroking him, so that he settles down all comfy and gets the idea that he can do this without licking. This does work...but sometimes in the early hours of the morning he jumps on me and starts frantic licking and burrowing right into my neck on the pillow! He's 6kgs and very strong so I have to wrestle with him until he calms down.

Monty is a bit highly strung and nervous by nature, so I think he does it for comfort because he's a bit neurotic and insecure.

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Rescue cats for many years, currently one moggie and 3 young Maine Coons.

Yeah Holly kneads too and boy does it hurt thanks for the advice - I'm going to try both and see what she does. I know she's only been affectionate but I want to try and get her out of it