Cats kneading their paws - learned behavior or instinctual behavior?

Question

Our two cats (females, littermates) were abandoned by their cat mother at birth, so they were fostered along with their siblings by a human mother. One of them in particular is fond of "kneading bread" with her paws on my chest and she acts like she's in an ecstatic trance when she does this. I'm confused, because I thought cats had to learn this from their cat mothers.

As a side note, both of them love to have their stomachs and chests scratched and patted, sometimes for literally hours at a time and usually when they're on our laps.

Answer 1

Hi there...kneading is considered an instinctual behaviour--kneading the mother's teets to stimulate more milk secretion.

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2002/6/02.06.01.x.html#g
Applications to Companion Animals

Many behaviors in the early life of the dog or cat are instinctual. Kneading action of the paws of a puppy or kitten on the mother’s breasts is an instinctual behavior that literally determines the young animal’s survival. This particular behavior stimulates an equally instinctual behavioral response for the mother. This is the lactating response. Hormones are released from the brain thereby releasing the milk from the mammary ducts to the nipples. This lactating response is seen in human beings as well.

...

Answer 2

I like *Shay*. I happen to be lucky enough to understand exactly what you are talking about because I have had a helluva teacher. With that said, the savage man could not possibly make it any clearer and if there are people who do not understand what he just wrote then maybe they should try reading it a few more times. Amen. Wait. I just need to give you my personal experience with this. I purchased 2 very fine Labradors from the same breeder, one year apart. My first Labrador was genetically hard wired to fetch/retrieve/find & had the drive to do it well with a few strokes of training. He was also a glorious swimmer. My second Labrador had absolutely NO interest in retrieving. He would lie down & if you threw the ball within inches of him he might nudge it with his nose. Retrieve it? No way. No matter how hard I tried. My second Labrador spent his time in the water on a raft. That's correct. Rarely IN the water. Didn't really care to swim but loved to bask in the sun on a raft. There was absolutely no way anyone could get him to swim more than once or twice around the pool. While my first Lab wouldn't get out until it was time to go in.

Answer 3

Oh yes, the "Bread Dough Dance". LOL! It's instinct, as kittens, kitties knead their paws on their mother's bellies to stimulate the milk flow. This behavior carries on into adulthood when someone is petting them and it brings back memories of their kittenhood and nursing days.

Answer 4

This is instinctive, and is a sign of affection. The cat is telling you that it is comfortable with you, and is getting a spot ready for nap time. Cats also do this as a means to scratch their paws.

Answer 5

Instinct

Answer 6

It's an instinctual behavior that some cats do more than others. I've always kind of liked it unless my cat does it to me with her claws out and in the middle of the night, which she sometimes chooses to do.

Answer 7

It's instinct in kittens; it helps the milk run. However whether they keep doing it or not is learned, some learn to stop when they either notice it's not necessary anymore to get the food dish filled, others are taught to stop when their owners don't like their sharp nails & get scolded for it, and yet others keep doing it even though there's no longer a direct reward (no more milk flowing).

Answer 8

I would have thought that it is an instinct because cats have scent glands in their paws and when they "nead" you like this they are rubbing their scent on you to show that you are their property! They have the idea that they own YOU and not the other way round!

Answer 9

Kneading behavior is instictual. They knead while feeding from their mothers, this helps them get milk better. They usually continue this behavior as they get older as a comfort/relaxing behavior.

Answer 10

Instinct. That's how kittens stimulate milk production in their mother while they nurse (suck). Later in life they tend to do it as a comforting action, much like someone sucking their thumb or a cigarette.