Why Do Cats Knead Blankets Before They Lay Down

Alternatively the behavior may be a remnant of a newborn s kneading of the mother s teat to stimulate milk secretion.

Why do cats knead blankets before they lay down. They do it because when they are kittens they do it on their mothers nipples to get the milk out. She does it on my knee before she lays down. Her scent glands give off an odor for the benefit of male cats to realize her cycle. I love it when my cat does this.

This is also a form of nesting instinct for a female cat. They are saying you are my momma. Some cats may also relax their jaws or bite down on the edge of a blanket or pillow. As humans we cannot smell cat pad odors but other felines definitely can.

It s a bit of an odd behaviour to describe but if you ve ever seen it you know exactly what we re talking about. Cats knead soft objects pilow blankets your lap or belly in an effort to recapture those kitten feelings of well being comfort and security when they were still nursing at their momma cat s belly. Kittens would use the same pawing motion to stimulate the flow of milk from their mother during feeding. It is also a sign of dependency especially if they knead on you.

They think you are. Another hypothesis proposes that kneading harks back to a time before domestication when wild cats. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house. There is also a school of thought that says it is similar to something dogs do in the wild.

Cats may knead on a blanket before settling down to sleep to make themselves more comfortable and to unwind. Some cats even suckle on the surface they re kneading. It helps them to get sleepy. Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother.

But why do they continue to knead past nursing age. An unspayed female cat will knead a blanket when she is coming into heat. Cats generally knead when they re relaxed or getting ready to lay down for a nap or longer snooze. Kneading may also go back to the days when wild cats patted down tall grass or shredded leaves to make a soft fluffy bed for sleeping or giving birth.

Kneading may have an origin going back to cats wild ancestors who had to tread down grass or foliage to make a temporary nest in which to rest. Mother cats may knead on blankets to form them into a nest for their kittens. Multiple theories exist that explain why cats knead. Adding further weight to the explanation.