Why Do Cats Knead Your Belly

Newborn kittens know instinctively to knead the mother s belly to stimulate a flow of milk through her nipples.

Why do cats knead your belly. While some people speculate that cats who were separated or weaned from their mothers too early will continue to knead as adults most felines knead throughout life no matter how early they were weaned probably because the motion is comforting to them. Cats are hard wired to knead with their front paws. Adding further weight to the explanation. 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.

When cats are young they will knead their mothers to stimulate milk production johnson told insider. They may purr stretch and knead the air while lying on their side to tell male cats that they can approach for possible mating. They are both little behaviors left over from kittenhood. Alternatively the behavior may be a remnant of a newborn s kneading of the mother s teat to stimulate milk secretion.

Cats knead on beds on soft blankets and sometimes they knead their humans. However if they are immediately ready to mate they will not knead their paws and will instead raise their pelvis with the tail to one side. Sometimes it hurts. One reason cats knead is to make a soft bed or clear a space to doze.

Kneading is when your cat alternates their front paws in a rhythmic fashion on a soft squishy surface. So even as you re wincing against the needle sharp claws digging in to your flesh you don t dare interrupt such a happy bake off. Female cats have an additional reason for kneading. Why do cats knead blankets and your belly.

Some cats even suckle on the surface they re kneading. Though your cat may be long past nursing age they might still enjoy the comforting sensation of being close to a protective figure they associate with kneading. When he confuses you for something soft and doughy it s not really because he s hinting at you to get in shape he s just very content. We think adult cats knead because it s connected with the soothing and comfortable practice from when they were kittens.

This can involve claws. In adulthood a cat supposedly will knead when it s feeling happy or content because it associates the motion with the comforts of nursing and its mother. Well kittens usually knead their mother s belly while breastfeeding. Their ancestors did this with tall grass or leaves.

It s the same reason some cats drool. Here are five possible reasons why your cat needs to knead. Cats begin kneading instinctually as kittens when they are nursing to help stimulate their mothers milk. They do this to stimulate the outflow of breast milk and it is believed that they continue to have this behavior in adulthood when they are separated from their mother prematurely that is at a very young age you can also see the cat gestation period to know more.

You may be wondering.