As a dog person I know that your female dog will nurse her puppies until a certain point in time upon which Mom will snap at her pups if they come near her to nurse.

As a new cat person I am fascinated to see the momcat, Mister Mittens, chirp and prod her sleeping kittens to come nurse in the middle of the day. I'm thinking she's loaded with milk and needs to get rid of it but my cat care book doesn't explain this part of cat motherhood but it's a truly wonderful thing to see.

Mister Mittens did it again at 8:42 this evening. Chirps and yelps and noises that only cats understand - all 4 kittens came around from all over the house to nurse. They were all sleeping but still heard their mother's call.

I am flogged and screwed sideways if I have ever seen animals communicate like cats do it.