Why do cats knead? (Or, the art of biscuit making!)

 
    why cats knead

Your adult cat may not knead quite as often as they did when they were a kitten, but growing up doesn’t stop them from occasionally opening the bakery for some old-fashioned biscuit making. This unique cat behavior makes our feline friends the stars of many social media videos, but they’re not just kneading for the internet fame—kneading is an important kitten behavior that carries over into adulthood.

 

Kittens knead on their mother when nursing to stimulate milk production. The sensation of kittens kneading along a mother cat’s mammary chain causes more milk to come down into the teats for consumption by hungry kittens. It’s also thought to stimulate the hormone oxytocin, which plays a role in maternal bonding between a cat and her kittens.

This behavior may carry over into adulthood as the cat seeks to recreate the feel-good hormones they got when nursing. Usually when you see a kneading cat, they’re feeling comfortable and relaxed.

Cats also knead to:
  • Make a spot more comfortable for resting. Although our pets have access to cozy beds and blankets, their ancestors didn’t have those luxuries. Outdoor cats may have kneaded an area to create a softer place to rest. It’s possible this instinctive behavior has carried over into house pets.
  • Show affection to their human and nonhuman family members. Cats don’t usually knead on animals and humans that they don’t like. If your cat is kneading on you, they likely feel relaxed around you. 
  • Mark their territory. Cats have scent glands around their paws and claws, so kneading may be one of several ways your cat marks their territories. Sometimes the territory is their bed, and sometimes the territory is you!

Kneading can also clue you in to when your cat may not be feeling their best. Cats who aren’t feeling well may purr and knead as a form of self-soothing. If you’ve noticed your cat is kneading in abnormal locations (such as under the bed) or kneading a lot more than normal, consider your cat’s other behaviors. Are they hiding a lot? Has their appetite changed? If you’re concerned at all, it’s a good idea to contact your VCA care team to rule out anything that could be causing discomfort.

Kneading is a sweet behavior and one that usually means you’ve got a content cat, but kneading with claws out can be uncomfortable to owners and shred furniture and blankets. If your cat kneads with their claws out, keep their claws trimmed short to prevent injury to people and damage to your home. You can also redirect the kneading to an appropriate, designated kneading area using treats, toys and pheromone sprays.

Check out veterinarian-approved cat treats and pheromones. >>