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Top Reasons Why Cats Knead

Time To Make Biscuits! Top Reasons Why Cats Knead

Published: 01/08/2016

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Some people call it “biscuit-making,” others call it “kneading,” but regardless - most cats, young and old, do that adorable thing where they massage with their paws rhythmically and repeatedly into something soft. Most of the time they’re purring and rolling their eyes back in their heads as if they’ve achieved levels of nirvana never before imagined.

It’s adorable behavior (most of the time…), but why do they do it? Are they trying to tell us something? There are several theories that attempt to explain why cats knead. Read on to find out what the speculation is, and what to do if it gets a bit out of hand.

Affection

Far and away the most pervasive theory about why cats knead is that they’re happy. Nursing kittens can be observed to knead their mother’s mammary glands at the onset of a meal, which stimulates the milk stored in the glands to come down into the teat. So it’s likely that even as adults, cats associate this act with contentment and relaxation, since there are likely few things more contented than a warm kitten with a full stomach.

Most adult cats tend to knead on the people with whom they associate their contentment. It’s also not unusual for cats to knead on a favorite plush toy. Sometimes they can get pretty vigorous with their biscuit-making, to the point of tearing up a toy over time. Again, this is normal behavior, and if they tear up their toy, buy another one. Just make sure they’re not ingesting any of the small pieces, which can cause significant trouble in the gastrointestinal tract.

Naptime Rituals

You may also witness your cat kneading its bedding right before settling down to sleep. This may be an ancestral pattern from wild cats, the ancestors of today’s housecats, who are masters of the 22 hour power nap. Wild cats likely go through a process of settling into their bedding, and kneading may be useful to “tamp down” the area they’ve selected to sleep in, rendering it more comfortable.

A common misconception is that a cat that kneads was taken from its mother early or weaned early. Most experts don’t put much stock in this belief, as cats seem to enjoy kneading regardless of whether they had a full and happy childhood or not.

Territory Marking

Cats like to mark things that they consider theirs. It’s one of the most common reasons we spay and neuter them. Unspayed and unneutered cats, especially males, are prone to use urine to “mark” their territory, to let other cats know that the area and everything in it belongs to them. Never mind who pays the mortgage, as anyone who owns a cat will tell you, their sense of entitlement to you and all of your stuff is strong.

It turns out that cats have tiny scent glands in their paws, so another theory about why they knead people and objects is that they’re claiming them. Think of it as writing your name on your notebook with a Sharpie, only your cat’s telling all the other cats out there in the world, don’t touch - this is my human.

It’s kind of sweet in a possessive sort-of-way, when you think about it.

Mating Instincts

Some experts believe that female cats use kneading behavior to indicate to the boys in the neighborhood that they’re entering estrus, which is the reproductive stage during which they are receptive to mating.

This one is a little harder to prove, since so many cats now are spayed long before their first heat cycle.

How to Stop Kneading

I have a cat that will drape her body across my arm while I’m sitting and using my laptop. She’ll then grab the arm with all four feet and proceed to knead vigorously, purring loudly throughout while attempting sustained eye contact. I’m not making this up - if allowed, she’ll continue for as much as an hour or more.

Suffice it to say that this gets old pretty quickly. It’s harmless but annoying, and she’s heavy. But scolding your cat for sustained kneading that invades your personal space can frighten them from seeking your company. So what’s the right way to handle this behavior?

First of all, keep your cat’s nails cut short. Many of them knead with their claws extended, and that’s really uncomfortable. You can also apply little plastic sheaths to the front nails. These are called Soft Paws, and they’re glued into place. They’re also excellent for saving your furniture if your cat is a scratcher.

Many behavioral experts suggest gently redirecting your cat’s enthusiastic biscuiting to a more appropriate surface, like their bed or a soft toy. You can also place a pillow or other soft fabric between you and the cat in order to serve as a blockade of sorts. If none of these techniques is effective, try “time out” - simply get up and walk away to a new location. Most cats will get the message eventually.

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