Why Do Cats Knead With Their Back Paws

At some point you ve probably caught your cat kneading rhythmically pushing their paws in and out against a soft object which could be a blanket or even your lap.

Why do cats knead with their back paws. Cats have scent glands in the pads of their paws. Alternatively the behavior may be a remnant of a newborn s kneading of the mother s teat to stimulate milk secretion. While not all cats knead it s a common behavior for young and adult felines alike. Because the pads of your cat s paws contain scent glands her kneading emits her own distinctive scent discernable by other cats or pets but not by the human nose.

When they knead things with their paws they spread the scent. The kneading with the paws is just one of the ways that a cat is telling you that it is happy. Kneading may have an origin going back to cats wild ancestors who had to tread down grass or foliage to make a temporary nest in which to rest. In a subtle manner she s signaling that this is her own spot and that other cats can just go knead somewhere else.

Kneading can also be another way for cats to scent and claim an area. The cats are usually purring and seem to be so peaceful and happy. Cat lovers instinctively are pleased when our cats do this. Kneading on a blanket is comforting and anxiety reducing for a kitty again same as a human child sucking on his or her thumb.

If your kitten was bottle fed and never latched onto mom for feedings she may not knead as an adult. It s also referred to as making biscuits because the action is like kneading dough. Kneading is a common behavior seen in domestic cats in which the feline pushes in and out with its front paws alternating between left and right. It s more likely that cats knead because it s comforting to cats.

It s an ingrained habit from their childhood they would knead on a blanket in the same way a human child would suck on his or her thumb. A lot of cats will do this it is the first way it interacted with the mother. We all know and love for our cats to knead us. Infant felines knead their mama s belly to get milk flowing the humane society of the united states reports.

Scent glands are found in the soft pads on the bottoms of a cat s paws so when a cat kneads a surface he is actually marking or staking that territory. Cats likely knead on blankets because. Multiple theories exist that explain why cats knead. They stretch out their front paws and rhythmically open and close the toes while pushing alternate paws.

There is something soothing that just tells us all is well.