Why do cats knead

We often see cats kneading the blanket with their paws or sitting on our stomach and starting to trample on it. This behavior is caused by the instinct of a pet, memories from childhood, psychological relaxation, the desire to make sure of the safety and comfort of the place, mating season or care, an expression of love.

Watch the video why cats knead their paws on our Youtube channel Mr. Cat:

Reasons for this behavior

Not everyone understands why cats paw at a person or go through his clothes. First of all, it is worth noting that a cat’s paws and whiskers are the main receptors for studying the surrounding world. For example, on the pads of the feet there are different glands that secrete special enzymes that help mark territory. There are other reasons why cats trample their owner or their future sleeping place with their paws:

Stressful situations. If the cat has previously been taken to the veterinarian or given a bath, he may be worried. When a cat crushes a place or a person, it releases negative energy and relaxes;
Understanding the world around us. There are special points on the pads of the paws that form tactile sensations. With their help, the pet learns about the world and objects around it. You should not be surprised if, before resting, the cat first examines the situation before getting comfortable;
Mark the territory. There are also sweat glands on the cat's front paws that secrete enzymes. With their help, pets mark not only their territory, but also their objects and even people in order to ward off strangers;
Pain or bad mood. Sometimes cats trample on a place, blanket or person with their paws when they feel unwell or experience discomfort. Since this action stimulates the production of endorphin - the hormone of happiness;
They help and treat a person. If a cat itself comes to a person and moves its front paws, creating a feeling of massage, it means that the pet relieves you of negative energy and treats existing ailments. It has been said many times that cats have a therapeutic effect on human health;
Milk step. If a cat kneads its owner, extends its claws and purrs at the same time, this is called a milk step. This action is a childish instinct, a memory of warmth and satiety, maternal love. Cats usually do this after a big meal or before bed;
Expression of love and affection. Many cats trample or touch a person with their front paws, thereby expressing their love, care and reliability;
One of the ancient instincts. Some experts believe that cats instinctively knead clothes or a certain place with their paws. After all, previously, animals in the wild studied in detail, “probing” the surface before settling down for the night.

The pet also shows this behavior after eating a tasty meal or before going to bed. And sometimes the reason lies in sexual desire, because during heat, cats tend to move their paws, purr, arch their backs, extend their claws and tear up furniture. This goes away on its own after a couple of weeks or when pregnancy occurs. If the cat marks the apartment at the same time, the solution may be sterilization or castration.

By the way, it is better not to distract your pet at this time, because he may be overly aggressive and even bite.

Physiology

From a physiological point of view, there are also explanations for trampling with paws. One of them is this: a cat “massage” is nothing more than a way to mark territory. The thing is that the pads of the domestic “Murzik’s” paws, thanks to the sweat glands and ducts, spread an odorous secretion. In addition, the paws of cats and cats are overly sensitive, they have many nerve endings and receptors. Therefore, with the help of their limbs they receive a considerable amount of information about the world around them.

In addition, some studies have led to the conclusion that the process of pawing and trampling hard provokes the production of endorphins in cats. Which, in turn, helps the animal relax, calm down and even relieve stress. That’s why cats often prepare themselves for sleep in this way.

Photo: Depositphotos

What should and should not be done?

Touching and kneading the owner with its paws is a natural behavior for every furry pet. You can’t blame him for this, just like:

Punish;
Use physical force;
Limit your attention.

If a cat tramples with its paws and at the same time releases claws that scratch the skin or tear clothes, the owners can use the following techniques:

It is necessary to trim the nails, but not too short;
You can pet your pet;
You can place a thick blanket under the cat's paws;
It is worth lightly pressing on the front paws, which will force the pet to remove its claws;
You can distract your pet's attention by showing his favorite toy;
It is recommended to lay the cat on its side, stroking its head.

Massaging and purring a cat is the best manifestation of his attention and love. If you decide to punish your pet for this, you risk ruining your relationship with him forever and causing his aggression.

Remembers his mother

The big question is whether grown-up kittens and adult cats remember their mother. But it has been scientifically proven that the desire of a cat to stomp on your face is associated with childhood and with pleasant memories of being fed with mother's milk.

“Milk step” is a term used by veterinarians to define the behavior of a kitten when receiving food from a nursing cat. Kittens alternately press their front paws on the mother's belly, thereby stimulating milk production. The childish reflex remains in cats for the rest of their lives - it is a special form of calming, affection, showing love and trust in their owner.

Therapeutic effect

When cats touch and crush a person with their paws, they share their energy and take away all the negativity. In addition, cat massage has other medicinal properties, due to which animals are used in medicine. Here are just a few facts:

Cats help in the treatment of cerebral palsy, people with disabilities and autism;
The strong energy field of animals can relieve people from the symptoms of chronic diseases;
Felinotherapy is useful in the treatment of inflammation, gynecological problems and recovery after surgery;
With constant contact with cats, people become less susceptible to infectious diseases;
A cat's purring promotes bone tissue restoration and helps heal fractures;
The sounds that a cat makes improve breathing, help fight stress and restore the nervous system.

It is worth noting the phenomenal intuition of furry pets, who subtly sense the approach of death and human illness. That is why they often come and lie on a sore spot on the body or near the bed of the dying person.

All these unique skills of pets must be appreciated by showing your attention and care for cats. Only then will they reciprocate and relieve you of headaches and stress.

Root causes from childhood

From the moment of birth, a blind kitten searches for its mother using smell and sensation. Having found the nipple and sucked on it, the baby touches the warm body of the cat with its paws and begins to make unusual movements with them: one at a time, strongly kneading the female’s soft belly.

This unusual action of a newborn is called a “milk step.” Massaging movements, quiet smacking, contented purring of the suckling baby stimulates milk production in the mother cat. The kitten feels well-fed next to its mother, warm, cozy and safe.

An adult remembers pleasant childhood sensations next to a loving owner. Therefore, in moments of contentment and security, the fluffy beauty purrs loudly, smacks a piece of clothing, and involuntarily kneads a person’s stomach, back, legs or shoulders with her paws. In this way, the animal establishes close contact with the owner, as if telling him: “I feel good and pleasant with you, I trust you, I consider you mine.”

Let's sum it up

It's no secret that cats are special animals that require respect and a lot of attention. But in return they are ready to give no less, for example, cats will always come to a person in a bad mood or during an exacerbation of chronic diseases. Cats also have special energy and are ready to share it with others. To do this, they knead the person with their paws and purr. For this reason, you should not scold, punish or beat a cat for such behavior. It’s better to thank him and reward him with a tasty treat.

If the cat produces its claws, damages furniture, or causes discomfort, you can use one of the recommendations described above. Although usually it will be enough to trim the claws and switch attention to your favorite toys. And the moment of sexual desire and estrus will just have to wait out, because sterilization is the last, desperate step!

Stress relief

Cats often crumple a soft blanket or rug after they have been deprived or offended in some way. For example, they did not give a piece of sausage from the dinner table, although the animal begged for it with all its might. They woke you up or forced you to leave your favorite and already warm place. In this case, the pet often begins to intensively crush various interior items with its paws, however, it does not begin to purr.

Cats crush a person with their paws, splashing out negative emotions. The pet tries to improve his own mood. Often, after stomping around on the blanket for a while, the cat returns to its owner and lies down next to him - this is how the animal shows that it is no longer angry and is ready to continue friendly communication with the person.

What motivates a cat to trample a person's paws?

From the outside, someone may consider this an aggressive action. In fact, this is how you can determine your pet’s love for you and its disposition. To find out, you need to carefully monitor your pet's body language. Trampling with its paws and releasing its claws on your body is a sure sign of cat affection.

The cat starts these movements slowly, but then speeds up and a rhythm appears. All this feels like a pleasant massage. They feel safe and comfortable. The most favorite places that pets like to knead with their paws are the stomach and hips of the owner.

As mentioned earlier, this fact has been ingrained since childhood. The animal feels your expression of love, care and perceives you as a big mother, showing trust and sympathy, since you replace a real parent for it. With this action, your pet is trying to show you his feline love. Using actions, not words.

Cats also express their need for food, feel your good mood, relieve stress, sense an approaching illness and take away negative energy.

These animals are quite selfish and have a high sense of ownership. Therefore, when a cat begins to massage you, then in this way she marks you as her property so that no other cat decides to take you away. They really need to express love, since for them you are the closest and dearest person, so they use just this method.

Another acceptable option for this behavior. Your pet is just about to go to bed. Since cats still have a little wildness in their soul from their ancestors, they have to carefully arrange their sleeping place. Let your pet not be wild for a long time and let his sleeping place be a soft blanket and not like wet ground. According to the old memory of its instincts, the cat tramples you with its paws in order to make itself a safe and cozy nest.