Why Do Cats Knead Your Hair

Cats are very territorial creatures and when they knead humans they are marking them with their sweat glands.

Why do cats knead your hair. Why your cat kneads this habit begins when cats are young and are dependent on their mother for food. Kittens knead their mother s stomach to stimulate the flow of milk from the teat into their mouths. Unspayed female cats often knead just before going into heat as a sign of their eagerness to mate. Their ancestors did this with tall grass or leaves.

They expect the milk that would have come from their mum after kneading her stomach. On occasions cats have also been seen to knead when they are under stress. One reason cats knead is to make a soft bed or clear a space to doze. But its origin is not something invented by us.

While your cat might be past nursing age she might still enjoy that comforting food is love feeling she associates with kneading. Because cats have scent glands in their paws kneading your hair is the best way for cats to spread that scent onto you. The licking also spreads scent so the cats that sleep together and groom each other smell alike. Cats are small creatures and can only rub against your legs and hands.

Cats begin kneading instinctually as kittens when they are nursing to help stimulate their mothers milk. This might sound strange to you but it s an action that several species of animal undertake and even humans do it to some extent. Kneading can also signal a form of territorial marking. They do it with your jeans.

Cats knead when they are feeling happy or contented. This can involve claws. Cats knead when they feel good and to be comfortable. This way of pushing the legs against the body against another animal or against any surface is called kneading because humans tend to put names to things.

A third theory looks to more recent history specifically your cat s infancy. Kneading could be a way to alleviate stress similar to humans biting their fingernails or showing contentment. When a cat purrs during kneading you can make out that they are particularly contented. If your cat is grooming your hair it is likely to be using grooming as social behavior.

Another reason that a cat kneads is to essentially mark their human owner. Cats actually start to knead instinctually as kittens when they are nursing to help stimulate their mothers milk. Sometimes it hurts. Cats groom other cats in their family group when they like each other and have friendly relationships.

Updated july 22 2020.