Why Do Cats Knead On Soft Blankets

Cats knead a soft cuddly blanket as a habit from when they were kittens.

Why do cats knead on soft blankets. Even though kneading a soft surface doesn t yield milk adult cats forever associate the motion of kneading with the rewarding comfort of nursing. Cats have many quirky habits but among the most notable is kneading and sucking on blankets. The pressure from the pressing motion stimulates the flow of mom s milk through her nipples. Cats often perform this motion sometimes called kneading dough or making biscuits on soft surfaces including pillows blankets other animals and even people.

Why do cats knead blankets. Why cats knead blankets and other soft objects. It s unclear why cats knead. When they knead they release some of their unique scent onto the kneaded surface.

Also kittens knead their mother s nipples to release milk. Cats have scent glands in the soft pads on the bottoms of their paws. A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother s milk production. This means that they can claim the blanket as their territory by kneading it.

Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house. Kneading is called making biscuits because it looks like a cat is manipulating bread dough with her. That scent serves as a kind of territorial marker for any unfamiliar cats that might come along and try to stake a claim.

A kitten will knead her paws against her mother s stomach when she is nursing. The purpose of the knead.