2007-02-01 05:26:07 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
A left over instinct from kittenhood, they did that to their mothers tetes to draw out the milk.
2007-02-01 05:31:20 · answer #1 · answered by Brandy B 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Usually it means that a cat has been separated from its mother early on. The digging of the paws used to get the mothers milk from the teats so it is like a comfort thing when they get older
2007-02-01 06:47:52 · answer #2 · answered by traceylill 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your cat is returning to kitten behaviour. Kittens would use the same pawing motion to stimulate the flow of milk from their mother during feeding. There is also a school of thought that says it is similar to something dogs do in the wild, to flatten the area on which they are about to lie to make it more comfortable.
2007-02-01 05:32:47 · answer #3 · answered by welshgirl 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot of your body or something else is called "milk-treading." When you relax and sit quietly, you're giving your cat the same signal he/she got from his/her mother when he/she was a kitten - that his/her mother was ready to let him nurse. A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out the mike, gently pushng on his mother's stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it is a good sign that they're happy, content, and probably recalling their kittenhood.
2007-02-01 05:42:04 · answer #4 · answered by ashley 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes It is a primeval thing it is the pawing of the milk glands to express mothers milk, so it sticks in adult life, also they snuggle up, or suck and lick certain fabrics, which resembles mothers fur. wolves and wild animals tread round and round to make their beds, before laying down.
2007-02-01 10:51:07 · answer #5 · answered by archaeologia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kneading action is what kittens used to do to their mothers to encourage the milk. My cat still does this and suckles.....I was told she does this because she feels content but she still suckles because she was taken away from her mother too young
2007-02-01 05:34:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
To make the spot where they are about to lay more comfy I reckon, something like when we scuff our pillows too before we sleep
2007-02-02 00:55:39 · answer #7 · answered by MinX 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is kneading and getting comfortable b/f cat does this especially when I have a really fluffy blanket... too cute...
2007-02-01 05:45:25 · answer #8 · answered by Renee 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
both the above are wrong. sorry guys. It comes from a primeaval action from birth when kittens need the mother cats breasts for milk. bit gross but its the truth. its so ingrained in them they do it as adult cats
2007-02-01 05:31:34 · answer #9 · answered by ZZ 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
they do it because it makes them comfortable.
it reminds them of when they were kittens suckling. they would dig their paws into their mother to tell her they were hungry.
2007-02-01 08:24:23 · answer #10 · answered by Dominic 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋