Why Do Cats Knead Your Stomach

Your cat sees you as her mommy in a way and kneads your stomach because she is very comfortable with you.

Why do cats knead your stomach. Kittens knead their mothers while feeding to stimulate the flow of milk some cats do this when they re really happy. Cat kneading is comforting. Since the pads of your cat s paws contain scent glands it is a form of marking their spot and if they love you they may just be marking you as well telling the rest of the world to back off. Kittens knead at their mother s tummy when they re hungry and looking for milk.

I used to have a cat that would suckle as well. Kittens knead their mother s stomach to stimulate the flow of milk from the teat into their mouths. Cats can become so relaxed while kneading that they enter a trancelike. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house.

They expect the milk that would have come from their mum after kneading her stomach. A nursing kitten will instinctively knead at their mother s abdomen to help stimulate milk production. Why your cat kneads this habit begins when cats are young and are dependent on their mother for food. In adulthood a cat supposedly will knead when it s feeling happy or content because it associates.

A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother s milk production. But why do they continue to knead past nursing age. Kneading can also signal a form of territorial marking. Your cat is kneading to tenderize you so she can eat you.

During nursing a kitten will knead the area around its mother s teat to promote the flow of milk. On occasions cats have also been seen to knead when they are under stress. 5 fun reasons for cat kneading. Because kittens use this motion to satisfy a need they often associate the habit with a good thing and bring it into their adult cat life as well.

I think they do it because it makes them feel like they did when they were kittens nursing in a contented time. When a cat purrs during kneading you can make out that they are particularly contented. Cat kneading is hypnotic. Kneading could be a way to alleviate stress similar to humans biting their fingernails or showing contentment.

Unspayed female cats often knead just before going into heat as a sign of their eagerness to mate. The only time there should be a problem with kneading is when the cat is not being careful with his or her claws. Your cat is marking you. Because the pads of your cat s paws contain scent glands her kneading emits her own distinctive scent discernable by other cats or pets but not by the human nose.

This is also why some cats dribble when they knead. Photography robert redelowski thinkstock.