Why do cats....?

Question

Why do cats do that patting thing with their paws, it's almost like a kitty massage. My cats do it all the time. Does it mean they are happy? Or something else?

Kneading Bread... I seem to remember my granny calling it that. =)

Answer 1

You mean like they are making biscuits? This is a throwback to a happy kittenhood. If you've ever watched kittens nurse, they massage their mom's breast area to make the milk flow. This is instintual behavior. When your adult cat does it, yes, it means they are happy and safe. As happy and safe as they were by their mother's side.

Answer 2

I've heard this called "making muffins".

They instinctively do this as kittens when they are nursing. It helps the milk flow from the mother. Domestic cats tend to retain more of their kitten like behavior -- the kneading they engage in is part of that. It's most often accompanied by purring. They do this as adults in part as a sign of affection and contentment. So you should be flattered!

It's possible in some cats to "trigger" this behavior. When your cat is laying down try scratching them gently at the base of the tail. The other way is to lift their paw up and slightly press the very back pad.

Answer 3

Hi there... It goes back to when kittens would nurse for milk. Kneading the mother's teets with its tiny paws would stimulate the milk flow. This "milk-kneading" (as it is called) is done a slow pace of about 1 stroke every 2 seconds while the kitten would purr loudly. What appears to happen when we sit downs that we look relaxed to our cat, signaling to it to hop up and start the milk-kneading activity. Our cat reverts to kittenhood and happily starts kneading.

Answer 4

If you're talking about kneading something like a blanket, that is from when they were kittens. That's what they did when they were nursing to get the milk flowing from mama. I think it does mean they're happy and it feels good. Mine purr a lot when they do it.

Answer 5

It's called "kneading" like with bread dough, but it's from when they nursed as kittens, to pump their mother's milk out faster. All cats do it, and it's also a sign of affection.

Answer 6

Two thoughts on why they do it...and no one knows for sure the exact reason because we can't read a cats mind.

One...they mimic the moves they used when nursing from their mother. They would push to as sucking to help the milk out.

Two...they try to soften the area, for comfort.

I believe it's number one. I think it's a learned behaveor, and they remember doing it when they were kittens. Because feeding time equals warm feeling and closeness...they do it when they are content. Like a belly full of milk.

Answer 7

When you pet them for a minute or two they become excited and when you lay down they will start to give you a kitty massage. For a cat it is like saying thank you.My cat does it to me all the time.

Answer 8

Kittens do this as infants while nursing. They continue to do this - it's a sign of love, trust, contentment, and happiness. I believe they call it "kneading".

Answer 9

They do that because they would do that to their mother for milk when they were kittens.My cat always does that when I'm sleeping. She kneads on my leg with the blanket.My friend's outdoor cat does that to our doormat outside.

Answer 10

I think it's called kneading, like when you knead dough. Cats may do it to clean their nails, stretch their muscles, or maybe they just like doing it.