Ask Amy: Why do Cats Knead?

Amy Shojai, CABC explains the cat's need to be kneading in this Ask Amy video for the Bling, Bitches & Blood Blog at http://www.AmyShojai.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• cats
• cat behavior
• cat kneading
• www.AmyShojai.com

[jazmella]

My cat kneads me all the time, it's adorable. She'll jump on my bed and start kneading on my blankets until she finds my body under them and kneads away for a few seconds...then purrs like a mad woman as we cuddle. :-)

[AmyShojai]

@jazmella Love that--"purrs like a mad woman..." LOL!

[markxxx21]

@AndreaCorianga21 Yes it's normal

[AndreaCorianga21]

My cat does this too but I don't know why he sucks the fabric that he kneads. I don't know what to do it's kinda gross because sometimes he kneads my pillow when I'm not home and I find wet spots :( Is this normal???

[AmyShojai]

@soco13466 So glad you were able to rescue him and find a home so quickly! That's terrific! And the inside of a car is not a "happy cat place." *s*

[soco13466]

@AmyShojai Latest: We rescued a little kitten from the engine compartment of a VW bug. Took hours to locate and get him out. I was taking him to a shelter, let him out of the box, he crawled up into the front console. Had to borrow a screwdriver from auto pts store, when I took him inside the ladies there were "cuted" into adopting him. His name, my suggestion: Puddey Tat, Autocat. My cat got "hissy," I couldn't keep the kitten. He's only a few weeks old, My cat would have killed him. Jealous.

[soco13466]

@AmyShojai This cat has a personality that gets him attention. We got him at the local no kill shelter, and they were sad to see him go. When I have to board him, they fall in love with him. He's a talker. He meows, I meow back, he meows again. Everybody who has encountered this cat has said how they'd like to take him home. sorry, but he's my cat (or I'm his personal servant), and that is that. Oh, another thing: He never begs for people food. I can open a can of tuna, no response.

[AmyShojai]

@soco13466 I can understand him getting "hissy" if a dog invaded his turf, LOL!

[soco13466]

@AmyShojai He's a tuxedo cat, and smart. He has his moods. Sometimes, when he's tired of attention, he'll start a low pitched "Mouwww," and then he's ready to bat with his paws, claws out, then he'll try and bite. He loves to sit on my lap, etc, but then again he can get feisty. Most of the time, he's affectionate, talking a lot, etc, and he does that mixed purr/meow thing. He's the kittiest of the cats, and that is that. (Never heard a hiss, other than when a lady brought her Dalmation over.

[AmyShojai]

@soco13466 How fun! Sounds like the kitty is almost dancing, doesn't it? Male cats will do a rear-foot treading during mating, and most all cats do this "rear treading" revving before dashing forward to pounce. And of course, every cat is an individual so your cat's behavior may simply be unique to him/her. Thanks so much for commenting!