Why Do Cats Knead Your Neck

When tom is pressing his face into your neck he s coating you with his own signature perfume.

Why do cats knead your neck. Multiple theories exist that explain why cats knead. A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother s milk production. 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. During nursing a kitten will knead the area around its mother s teat to promote the flow of milk.

Kittens knead at their mother s tummy when they re hungry and looking for milk. Cats can become so relaxed while kneading that they enter a trancelike state complete with drooling and a thousand mile stare. In adulthood a cat supposedly will knead when it s feeling happy or content because it associates. Kittens knead their mother s stomach to stimulate the flow of milk from the teat into their mouths.

Human noses can t smell it but if another kitty comes nearby he ll smell tom s unique essence on you. Cats begin kneading instinctually as kittens when they are nursing to help stimulate their mothers milk. Cat kneading is a hypnotic cat behavior. Here are five cool things about cat kneading aka cats making biscuits.

This is also why some cats dribble when they knead. Though your cat may be long past nursing age they might still enjoy the comforting sensation of being close to a protective figure they associate with kneading. A nursing kitten will instinctively knead at their mother s abdomen to help stimulate milk production. Kneading is sometimes colloquially referred to as making biscuits because the motion resembles a baker kneading dough.

Before we answer why do cats knead let s look at how they knead. 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. Why your cat kneads this habit begins when cats are young and are dependent on their mother for food. Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother.

Alternatively the behavior may be a remnant of a newborn s kneading of the mother s teat to stimulate milk secretion. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house. Kneading may also be a form of communication between owner and. Cats have scent glands all over their bodies on their paws under their tails and in their cheeks.