Have you ever wondered why your cat pushes its paws in and out on a soft blanket, floor, other animals, or sometimes even on your lap? This quirky yet endearing feline behavior is called cat knead. It is an instinctual behavior that develops since their birth.
These small gestures made by your cat are not just instinctual feline demeanor but also their way of communication. When your cat kneads on you, it is their way of showing affection and love towards you. Understanding feline traits like kneading helps pet parents analyze the range of emotions of their furry friend. So, let’s explore the fascinating science behind standard cat behavior of kneading and why they do it.
What is Kneading?
When your cat rhythmically alternately pushes their paws on a soft surface like a blanket, cushion, lap, etc with or without claws, then those actions are called kneading. This feline behavior is seen in most cats. Some breeds of cats knead less, while other breeds of cats tend to kneed more frequently.
The slow alternate motion made by cats while kneading resembles a baker kneading the dough to make biscuits. Hence, many people also refer to cat kneading as making biscuits.
Can Kneading be Considered as a Feline Instinct?
While your cat looks like a tiny fluffy baker preparing the dough for biscuits, the actual reason for kneading is rooted in their feline evolutionary behavior. Kneading begins when they are in the early stage of kittenhood. Usually, kitten depends on their mother’s milk for survival.
So, baby kittens make the kneading motion when nursing their mother cat. This will help to stimulate the milk production and flow of milk when nursing. Hence, making biscuits is more likely their survival instinct. Likewise, for little kittens, kneading is more associated with being around their mother and staying in their comfort zone. So as they get older, they likely tend to associate the kneading motion with the comfort they felt when they are with their mother. So, kneading also indicates that they are feeling quite content and safe.
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What can be the Reasons Behind Cat Kneading?
Marking Their Territory
If your cat is kneading on a soft blanket or grassy land or any object or person, then they shall be marking their territory. Generally, cats have scent glands in their paw pads. So when they knead on any object, it releases their pheromones and leaves behind their scent. This scent may not be detected by humans, but other cats can detect it. So, when other cats come sniffing around objects like grassy land or blankets, they can retreat, knowing another cat has already marked their territory.
The feeling of Comfort and Contentment
If your cat has relaxed body language with some purring, then your furry friend shows a deep state of comfort. Developing this behavior from kittenhood, kneading makes them feel right at home. It is an adorable way to soothe themselves, showing how content and comfortable they are.
Preparing Them a Resting Spot
Kneading also comes from the wild instinct of a feline to pat down grass or surface to make a cozy space for resting or sleeping. When your cat kneads on blankets, beds, or couches, they are preparing their resting spot to create a comfortable and secure environment for themselves. This natural behavior will keep them at ease while ensuring their behavior is not just displaying affection and love but also serves as a way of reinforcing the bond between a cat and its human. When your cat kneads on you either on the lap or stomach, it signifies their trust and deep connection with you. Hence, kneading on you is an endearing behavior that shows love and establishes a sense of belongingness in their lovely humans.
Stretching the Muscles
Kneading requires them to push their paws in and out. So, kneading motion helps them to stretch the muscles and relieve their limbs and paws. If your cat kneads less than usual and the kneading is stiff, then it can be due to joint issues. They may knead to relieve the pain in their joints.
When Does Kneading Become a Problem?
Even though kneading is a quirky behavior shown by your cat and is usually harmless, sometimes it can be a problem for you. For instance, if your cat’s claws are long and sharp while kneading on you, it can hurt you. Likewise, when they knead on furniture or your favorite blanket or plushies, it can generally damage them.
Despite the fact that kneading is a sign of safety and contentment, you should always keep an eye on your cat kneading. Excessive kneading can be a sign of arthritis or pain in their limbs. So, when your cat starts to knead more than usual, they may be doing so to relieve some tension in their limbs. Hence, on noticing these subtle signs, you should look out for your cats and visit the vet in a timely manner.
How to Get Rid of Kneading( If it becomes a problem)
Do not declaw your cat, but trim the claws
It can be quite painful when your cat kneads on you with their long and sharp claws. So, you can try trimming their claws short in parallel with their paws. Trimming their claws short with prevent you from painful scratches. Likewise, it will also prevent your furniture and favorite plushies from destroying.
Likewise, make sure you do not declaw your cat. Declawing is a painful procedure that can make them
Redirecting Their Behavior
Instead of totally discouraging from kneading, you can redirect cat kneading to an appropriate place. For instance, you do not want your cat to destroy your couch from kneading. You can place a soft blanket on the couch so that it acts as a barrier between your cat’s paws and the couch. Likewise, you can place soft blankets on your legs or laps when your cat wants to knead on you. This is a good way of allowing them to act on their natural instinct while creating a bond between you two.
Do not Punish Your Cat
Make sure not to punish your cat when they knead. Even if your cat destroys your favorite sofa by kneading, do not yell or scream at them. You have to remember that kneading is their natural instinct and you should allow them to act out of their instinct rather than using negative reinforcements to discourage them. Punishing your cat for kneading will induce anxiety and stress on them.
Conclusion
The answer to cat kneading cannot be more sweet than this. Rooted in their early experience, this pet instinct not only reflects results and affection but also serves purposes like marking territory and creating a cozy resting spot for your feline companion. Moreover, kneading is more than just a quirky habit, it is a beautiful expression of a cat’s needs and emotional states which speaks about their comfort, security, and contentment. Hence, understanding feline behavior enriches a deeper appreciation for our feline buddies and their pet instincts by highlighting their unique ways of communicating and expressing love.
For more tips, information, and heartwarming stories about your furry friends, visit LittleFurr and keep exploring the wonderful world of pet care!
FAQs
- Does cat kneading mean they are happy?
Usually, cats knead when they are content and safe, which indicates their happiness. However, if a cat kneads more than usual, it can be a sign of anxiety and stress.
- Why does my cat purr or drool while kneading?
If your cat purrs or drools while kneading, it indicates a deep sign of comfort and contentment.
- Is it possible to stop my cat from kneading?
Cat kneading is a natural survival instinct that develops since their kittenhood. So, it may not be possible to stop your cat from kneading entirely. However, when cat kneading becomes painful or problematic you can redirect their behavior.
- Can kneading be a sign of stress and anxiety?
Yes definitely. Cats can use kneading as a self-soothing technique. So, when your cats are going through stress or anxiety, they may use kneading to calm themselves. Kneading restlessly can be a sign of anxiety and stress.
- Should I be concerned when my cat kneads?
Since cat kneads out of their instinct, you shouldn’t be really concerned. However, you should always look out for signs of anxiety and health issues like joint pain from their way of kneading.
- Do some cat breeds knead more than others?
The breed can be one of the factors for kneading. While some breed cats may knead more than usual, some may not knead at all. Some cat breeds stop kneading when they grow into adults, while some cat breeds continue to knead even during adulthood.
- What are the causes of excessive kneading?
An overly anxious cat or cat with health issues kneads excessively. So, anxiety and health issues can be the causes of excessive kneading.
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