Why Do Cats Knead?

In My House, We Call It Making Muffins

Kneading – the action cats make where they use their front paws as if they are kneading a ball of dough; can seem like a sweet gesture but is it?

My husband has a theory that our cat is testing us for weaknesses. She seems to always come over and knead on his belly, almost as if to point out that it’s soft and she is going to make it softer for him. It makes him self-conscious and all I can do is laugh that the cat has brought forth such insecurity in my husband! I guess in a way she really is testing him for weakness.

Just like with my previous post about Neosporin being safe for pets, why cats knead is another popular google search topic. Depending on the year, it has ranked as high as #3 but always lingers in the top 10.

So Why Do Cats Need to Knead?

I’m not certain its necessarily a need, although when kittens it certainly helps with milk production. That is when the behavior is most obvious and instinctual. Even before their little eyes open, kittens find their way to the milk bar and the act of kneading their paws against their mother’s mammaries gets the good stuff going.

So why does my 10 yr old cat still do this?

There seems to be several answers to this question; to get your attention, prep a landing spot for a nap, marking territory with the scent glands in their feet, leftover behavior from kitten-hood, or it just feels darn good.

For whatever reason, my cat kneads I can tell you she enjoys it. I know I am personifying her look here but there really appears to be pleasure in her face as she massages away at my husband’s belly.

*I have included a video of my cat Kit, kneading her favorite incognito blanket. My husband would not authorize a video of her doing it to him.