If you’ve ever watched your cat rhythmically press their paws into a blanket, your lap, or even your stomach, you’ve witnessed one of feline-kind’s most curious rituals. This behavior is one of the many wonders pet owners discover, and it’s worth studying.
Cats have several ways of communicating, each unique in their own way. From vocalizations to body language, they use almost every part of their body and personality to express their feelings.
Feline emotions and feelings are complex. But it’s clear to us, pet owners, that the way to get closer to our cats is by understanding all the subtle signs and behaviors. Let’s start with what cat kneading is.
What Is Cat Kneading?
Cat kneading is the rhythmic motion they make with their front paws, pressing down on the surface and alternating from left to right. It’s called kneading because it’s similar to how bakers knead dough, which is why it’s also commonly referred to as making biscuits.
But why do cats make biscuits? Is it something that they’re naturally known to do, or is it something they learn as they grow older? To understand it, let’s go back to when it actually starts and how cats get the behavior.
How Do Cats Start Kneading?
Kneading starts off during kittenhood as an instinctive behavior kittens do on their mother’s mammary glands to stimulate milk production. Through this rhythmic motion, milk will be released.
Wild cats have also kneaded leaves, grass, or dirt to create a comfortable, safe nest for resting or giving birth. This act of pressing helps clear debris and shape a much more cozy spot.
Why Do Cats Knead?
Even as adults, cats continue to knead and make biscuits. They have carried this behavior with them as another form of communication and expression. Here are the common reasons why cats knead and their meanings:
Comfort and Relaxation
Cat kneading is a self-soothing behavior for our best friends. It helps cats stay calm, comfortable, and relaxed. Cats have adopted this behavior from kittenhood and associated it with something positive. This has become a self-soothing habit, a way for them to express contentment.
Showing Affection
Another popular reason why cats knead is to show affection. Since this behavior is linked to positive experiences from kittenhood, they also do the same action to show their love and affection for their owners.
Cats don’t just knead anyone, only the people they trust. It means they see you as a person who provides comfort and security for them. You can observe them doing this on your stomach, lap, or other parts of the body. They might also do this action near you.
Preparing a Resting Spot
Cats also knead to prepare a comfortable spot for themselves to rest or give birth. They do this when they press on the pillows, blankets, and towels. While it’s primarily to tamp down their bedding, it’s also a way for them to deposit their unique pheromones, improving comfort.
Marking Territory
Similarly, cats also knead to mark territory as their own. Cats have scent glands on their paws, so when they knead on blankets, pillows, or even you, they’re claiming them as their own.
Stretching Muscles
Kneading also helps cats stretch the muscles in their legs, paws, and spine. Think of it like your cat doing a little yoga. You can see this when they wake up from a nap or rise up from a long resting stance.
Do Male Cats Knead?
Yes, male cats, just like females, knead. In fact, kneading is a behavior seen across all genders, breeds, and ages of cats. It’s not limited to one type of personality or sex.
While some pet owners may associate this behavior with females due to their ties to nursing instincts, kneading is a universal feline behavior.
Vet Tips: How to Respond When Your Cat Kneads
Kneading is one of the most intimate behaviors cats share with us. It’s a combination of instinct, comfort, and love. Here’s how you can respond as a way to provide reciprocation and assurance:
Take it as a compliment
If your cat kneads you, it means they trust you. So, instead of brushing it off or getting annoyed, take it as a loving gesture from them. Accept the kneading and let your cat do what it needs to do to feel safe and comforted.
Give them a knead-friendly zone
Place a soft blanket or towel in their favorite kneading spots. You can also place these on your lap whenever your cat sits there. These are great options for kneading while redirecting the behavior from skin and fragile fabrics.
Pat and rub them back
Some cats like to get pats and rubs whenever they knead, as they might interpret this as reciprocation and assurance. However, this doesn’t work for all cats, as some might get annoyed. It all depends on your cat.
Trim nails regularly
To encourage your cat to knead without causing any damage to the furniture, make sure to trim its nails regularly. You can do this every 2 to 4 weeks, or as needed. Just don’t trim too frequently or declaw your cat, as this can be painful for them.
Is Excessive Cat Kneading a Problem?
In most cases, cat kneading is completely normal. But like any behavior, it can raise questions if it becomes intense and more frequent. Keep an eye on your cat for any accompanying signs of anxiety and stress.
Monitor your cat’s body language, vocalizations, changes in appetite, and overall personality. If your cat’s kneading increases along with other changes, then we recommend consulting a pet behaviorist.
Also, cat kneading may not be desirable and adorable when their sharp claws can hit your skin or furniture. Instead of punishing them, you should redirect this behavior to something else.
Scratching posts and other interactive cat toys can help them focus their attention on something else. These toys can also serve as objects for cats to knead, minimizing damage to your furniture.
“Kneading is one of the many ways our cats show their feelings to us. Let’s listen and observe.”
- Dr. Nenad Misura
Final Thoughts on Cat Kneading
Now that we know why cats knead and make biscuits, we can continue to appreciate their presence in our lives. While they can’t verbally show us love the way humans do, cats have their own unique methods of showing how much they trust and love us.
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