Why Cats Knead Paws

Two Reasons Why Cats Knead Paws

You've probably witnessed the behavior hundreds of times. You might even have been the recipient of it. Kitty picks out a likely spot, and begins working those paws like she's stomping grapes with Lucy and Ethel. Sometimes it's just soft pawing, sometimes the claws spring into action, but while she's into it, she's totally focused on the job at hand, er... paw.

Cats just seem to have a deep seated need to knead, and they are not particularly concerned whether they are kneading their own comfy cat bed, your couch cushions, or better yet, your lap.

The question seems to be not so much whether they enjoy this activity, but what inspires them to do it. Let's examine two of the strongest reasons.

Emotional Security

One reason why cats knead paws stems from their kittenhood. Kittens must nurse their mother to get life-sustaining milk. Kneading mom's teats stimulates the let-down response, causing the milk to flow more freely. The movements are instinctive, and since they incur a reward, kitty naturally transfers the behavior to other places and things in the hope of more good things to come.

There's another popular theory that cats knead paws because they might have been weaned from their mother too early, and are acting out the behavior of their "inner kitten". In reality, this probably isn't the answer. After all, have you ever known a cat who didn't knead its paws at one time or another? They can't all have been weaned too early, can they?

Kneading seems to be more of a comforting action for cats since it mainly takes place during periods of happiness and contentment. It would be quite unusual to see a cat stop to knead its paws when it feels angry or threatened.

Territorial Marking

While kitty generally kneads its paws to make sure its chosen spot is as comfy as possible, there is another reason for this behavior.

Cats have scent glands located in the pads of their feet near the base of their claws, and each feline produces its own unique scent. While humans don't generally notice this scent, other cats and animals can, so the scent serves as a marker to show where your cat has been.

When kitty wants to mark out the boundaries of its territory, it will paw and perhaps even run its claws across the item, leaving those signature scratches and a bit of personal eau de feline in the bargain.

Conclusion

So now you know why cats knead paws. The next time kitty begins to work those pads before curling up in your lap, realize how special you must be. Not only has she chosen you as the exact spot on the planet where she'd most like be, she's also letting the rest of the animal world know that you belong to her. Now doesn't that make it easier to grin and bear it?.