Cats Knead to be Stroked

Cats show their love in so many different ways. Purrs, nudges, and even playful swats are all true-blue ways of saying “I love you” in cat. But, as most cat owners will tell you, cat behavior is hard to decipher at times and knowing how to react is not always intuitive. Here’s a question from one of our readers, who has a very “knead-y” kitty on her hands:

Q: Dear HomeAgain, Gentry loves to “make biscuits” whenever I pet him—he kneads his paws like he’s kneading dough. He pushes and flexes his front paws and claws wherever he’s at, and if he’s in my lap, it can hurt! He’s a big ginger-looking guy, about twelve years old, and he’s done this since I got him at eight weeks. I’ve seen other cats do this, too. They always seem to purr at the same time, but Gentry only purrs once in a while. I don’t think he means to hurt me, and he looks insulted if I shoo him off my lap. What’s going on with all the fancy footwork?

A: Gentry sounds like a lover-boy and you’re correct that he means no harm. Cats play this sort of ‘patty-cake’ game from the time they’re born. In kittens, the rhythmic kneading behavior stimulates the release of their mom’s milk.

Many adult cats continue this behavior. They likely somehow remember nursing during those early days and feeling their mother’s warm presence. Your stroking hand might also remind Gentry of his mother’s gentle grooming touch.

Perhaps you could invest in a lap robe (especially during cooler winter months) to protect yourself from Gentry’s kneading. That way, he can still knead and you won’t have to shoo him away.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant for HomeAgain and the award-winning author of more than 20 nonfiction books about cat care and behavior.