Why Do Cats Knead On Soft Blankets

Why do cats knead blankets.

Why do cats knead on soft blankets. Even though kneading a soft surface doesn t yield milk adult cats forever associate the motion of kneading with the rewarding comfort of nursing. Cats have many quirky habits but among the most notable is kneading and sucking on blankets. While kittens knead to make nursing from their mother more productive adult cats do so for a. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house.

Cats have scent glands in the soft pads on the bottoms of their paws. Cats often perform this motion sometimes called kneading dough or making biscuits on soft surfaces including pillows blankets other animals and even people. But why do they continue to knead past nursing age. It s unclear why cats knead.

That scent serves as a kind of territorial marker for any unfamiliar cats that might come along and try to stake a claim. Felines have scent glands in their paws. The pressure from the pressing motion stimulates the flow of mom s milk through her nipples. When they knead they release some of their unique scent onto the kneaded surface.

Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother. Kneading is called making biscuits because it looks like a cat is manipulating bread dough with her. A kitten will knead her paws against her mother s stomach when she is nursing. A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother s milk production.

Why cats knead blankets and other soft objects. Also kittens knead their mother s nipples to release milk.