Fri Dec 9

Why do cats knead?

Written by: Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide

“Kneading” is when cats massage an object with the front paws, which extend and retract, one paw at a time.

This massaging action, named for its resemblance to kneading dough, is repeated rhythmically. You may have spotted your cat kneading and wondered how on Earth they developed such a behaviour.

So, why do cat’s knead? Does it tell us anything about how they’re feeling and is there anything you can do if they’re painfully kneading you while sitting on your lap?

Video: Andrea Harvey.

The evolutionary background of kneading

Cats first begin to knead when just tiny kittens, still nursing from their mother. Kneading is associated with suckling, which helps stimulate a mother cat’s milk supply ^[2] through the release of oxytocin ^[3] and likely evolved for this reason.

Kneading also has another evolutionary advantage. It can be used as a form of tactile and pheromone communication between kitten and mother.

Cats have scent glands in their soft paw pads, and when they knead, these glands release pheromones (chemical messages used to communicate).

Kneading on their mother releases pheromones ^[4] associated with bonding, identification, health status or many other messages.

One of these, known as “cat appeasing pheromone”, is released by the sebaceous glands round the mammary glands.

Pheromones are not only important for bonding between the mother and young. Cat appeasing pheromone also has the potential to treat aggression ^[5] in mature cats.

Kneading can be used as a form of tactile and pheromone communication between kitten and mother. Shutterstock

If kneading is a kitten behaviour, why is my adult cat still doing it?

While kneading evolved to stimulate milk supply and express chemical and tactile messages between kitten and mother, it’s also a common behaviour in adult cats, because of something called neoteny ^[6].

Neoteny is when an animal retains their juvenile physical or behaviour traits into adulthood. It’s likely these traits are advantageous for cats when needing to socialise with humans and other cats or animals in the household.

Kneading, in particular, may be retained into adulthood because it can help communicate messages.

Kneading on your lap is a cat’s way of saying “we’re affiliated” or “you’re in my social group”. Or, to be very human about it, “you’re my person”.

We may also reinforce kneading by rewarding our cat with attention when they do it.

Some cats like to knead on soft or woollen blankets while also sucking ^[7] on the material, as if from a teat. This may be relaxing or soothing for the cat because of this association.

We may also reinforce kneading by rewarding our cat with attention when they do it. Shutterstock

What does kneading say about how our cats are feeling?

In most cases, kneading likely indicates your cat is comfortable.

However, if the kneading (and especially sucking) occur very frequently, for a long time, appear compulsive or are beginning to damage your cat’s paws, legs or mouth, it may be a sign your cat is stressed or in pain and needs to see a vet.

Kneading and sucking can become compulsive, a particular problem in Siamese and Birman cats ^[8].

Some cats don’t knead at all. Just like people, cats are individuals and like to show that they are comfortable or affiliated with you in their own ways.

Kneading likely indicates your cat is comfortable. Giphy.

Help! My cat kneading is hurting my legs

Kneading is a normal behaviour that may be an important part of your cat feeling bonded with you. If your cat’s claws are getting a little too involved for your liking then invest in a thick blanket that you can cover your legs with. Avoid telling them off or kicking them off your lap.

Instead, reward kneading where the claws are kept to a minimum by showing more attention via patting or handing out a food treat when your cat is kneading the way you would like them to.

You can even add in a cue to request the claws go away. Something short like “pads!” would be a good option. Simply associate the word and a food reward with the behaviour you want.

And if you need your cat more than they knead you, that’s OK too.