The Real Reason Why Your Cats are Massaging You 😹

If you’ve ever pondered your cat’s unique behavior, you’re not alone. From a love of cardboard boxes to sleep in circles, to pounce on your feet, cats have no shortage of quirks.Show more

Among these might be the rhythmic motion your cat makes with her paws, pressing in and out, as she sits on your lap. Also known as kneading, this behavior gets its name because it resembles a baker working bread dough.

Not all cats knead, and some cats do so infrequently. She may even bite at the sheets or blanket while kneading. Each cat is unique in her habits.

This behavior certainly serves a purpose for kittens, but why does it continue into adulthood? Animal behaviorists speculate that an adult cat kneads to show contentment, to calm herself when she's feeling anxious, or to mark a person or object with her scent from the sweat glands in her paws.

Cat Kneading.

A cat kneads in much the same way a baker works bread dough. If you haven’t seen it, kneading is the rhythmic motion cats make with their paws, pushing in and out against a soft object such as a kitty bed, couch, or lap. A cat will push one paw against a soft surface, then the other paw, back and forth in an alternating rhythm. Some cats push hard; some cats more softly.

Some cats will fully extend their claws as they stretch out their toes and press them against that soft surface, relaxing as they release and alternate paws.
Other kitties only flex their toes a bit. Most felines only knead with their front paws, but some use all four legs for a hilarious display, as a kid, some of your cats may look like he meant to start a kitty ballet and dance on the toe the whole way through.

Many cats seem to purr in their kneadiness. In fact, the act of cat kneading commonly is referred to as "kneading dough" or "making bread or biscuits." Not all cats knead, and some cats do so infrequently. She may even bite at the sheets or blanket while kneading. Each cat is unique in her habits.

Here’s why your cat is kneading, or as some call it, making biscuits.

1. Adult cats keep their kitten tendency to knead.

The most popular theory as to why cats knead is that adult cats keep their kitten tendency to knead. In kittenhood, kneading stimulates the mother cat’s milk while nursing. The thought is that even though adult cats kneading a soft surface doesn’t yield milk, it still evokes the nurturing feelings of safety and comfort that nursing does.

2. They are comfortable.

Let’s agree we may never know why cats do anything. They are fickle, and that’s why we love them. Catster’s experts hypothesize, however, that since baby kittens knead their mother’s bellies during feeding time to ensure they get as much milk as possible, adult felines knead instinctually when they seek comfort or care.

It’s worth noting some cats will lick or suck whatever is near while they knead, which lends credence to this theory. On the other hand, some cats who knead only when he’s being scratched or pet and keeps his mouth shut the whole time, may simply feel utterly content or safe in their surroundings. More often than not, it’s a good bet your cat is just returning the love.

Sometimes, making biscuits could be an extension of a really good stretch. Watch your cat the next time she does a big downward dog, yoga-style stretch. Chances are, she’ll segue into kneading or scratching whatever surface she’s on.

3. They love you.

If your cat is sitting on your lap and you’re petting it, it’s likely it will knead in response. It’s essentially telling you it loves you right back. Some cats never extend their claws when kneading, but if your cat does, this can mean that love hurts. To help this, try placing a towel on your lap with your cat on top. Trimming its nails on a regular basis is also a good idea.

Cats love their pet parents, and this is one way she tells you that. If your cat kneads on you, you can be assured that she’s showing you her undying affection.

4. Yoga cats.

Kneading often accompanies something else that feels good, a stretch. Cats may knead on a surface to hold on to it while stretching their back, shoulders, and hind legs. And after all that napping, a good stretch is definitely warranted.

5. Love connection.

Female cats tend to knead right before going into heat. Cats who are going into heat have been known to knead aggressively as well, which may circle back to the whole expressing the scent glands in their paw pads thing, makin’ biscuits to signal to male cats they’re ready for baby-making business.