Reasons For Cats Kneading

Kneading has been the usual cat behaviour from all over the world. In case you wonder what kneading is, it basically means kittens sucking their mother cat’s belly the same way mothers used to breastfed their babies. As they grow older, they tend to knead blankets, carpets, furnishings, furry coats and even their owner etc.

Most people will find such behaviour unusual. But there is really nothing to worry about as kneading is just their way of seeking contentment. Just as we hug and kiss our boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands or wives, kneading brings them fulfilment, happiness and joy. It will be great to know that your pet enjoys life so long as you allow it to.

In specific terms, kneading is defined as a rhythmic action performed with cats or kittens’ front paws. Sometimes, they used their left feet. Other times, they used their right. Occasionally they used both.

Their paws are stretched and feet flexed. Then they curl their paws and drew them back. So long as they do not use their claws to scratch things, it is perfectly alright for the owners to allow them to do so.

Whether or not they used their claws now or eventually during kneading depends on your cat’s perception. There are cats which used lightly while they are others which used them with force if they happened to be unhappy and in bad mood.

Some cats are born without claws. So when they kneaded, their touch is more like light massage which can be therapeutic for the owner and people around them.

More often than not, cats kneading is normally followed by purring and then closing of their eyes sometimes during this process. It clearly shows how content they are the same as how we reacted when taking a shower or swim after a long hard day .

When that happens, be sure to leave it in peace. If not, it might get angry and try to scratch you when you disturbed them.

Some cats and kittens tend to knead when touching soft and furry materials like blankets cushion, carpet, mattress, pillow, stuffed toys and sweaters. So if their owner wears a sweater on a rainy day just as example, they will climb up and rest on his belly and even sleep there.

Kneading can also be perceived as a presleep routine for some kittens. They see it as a way of making themselves comfortable before sleeping. The area they usually purr and knead is where they will sleep however unusual it may be to human eyes.