Read time: 2 mins
Kneading – or as it’s known in Latin ‘making biscuits’ – is one of the most adorable (and spiky) behaviours displayed by our favourite felines.
When an episode begins, they really get to work digging those claws into your favourite throw (or more often than not, your bare flesh), nailing the fine precipice between super cute and extremely painful at the same time. Why do those little bakers feel the need to knead with such determined intent?
What happens when cats knead?
To break it down, all that our fur potatoes require to get going is a soft surface before they alternate their paws back and forth in a rhythmic motion, often accompanied by purrs and the occasional dribble – delightful. It’s not uncommon for them to go into a sort of trance-like state, sort of like a kitty meditation. This behaviour starts in their kitten days when they’re still around their mum. When they’re teeny tots, it’s mum who provides the food. The youngsters will start kneading on their patient parent’s tum to stimulate the flow of milk, their natural kneading instincts kicking in to let mum know they’re hungry for a nutritious meal.
Is kneading a sign of affection?
This curiously cute behaviour will often continue well into adulthood, but the object of their affections switches from their cat parent to their human counterpart.
It’s momentarily heartwarming to imagine that our kitties sense a similar offering of security from us that they had from their birth mum, and replicate it by digging those claws deep into our legs – how sweet… Regardless, be sure to take it as a compliment – cats will only knead when they are super happy, and can’t help but let those instincts take over and get to biscuit making on your lap. Find comfort through the pain knowing your cat is very content.
Top tip – invest in some heavy duty blankets to protect your thighs from the clawy guys!
