Why Do Cats Knead Their Paws On You

You re being tagged by scent glands under their paws.

Why do cats knead their paws on you. You re not just being kneaded. The surface can be a cushion pillow bedspread soft toy piece of clothing or you. In adulthood a cat supposedly will knead when it s feeling happy or content because it associates the motion with the comforts of nursing and its mother. But there are a few other potential reasons why a cat will knead including.

Kneading reminds her of her first few days of life when mom was there to take care of everything. Your cat may also be trying to claim you as his or her territory with the scent glands on his or her paws. Kneading your sofa or your lap can be your cat s way of marking their territory. It is quite common for them to purr while they are doing it and sometimes they may even drool a little.

Cats knead by pushing their front paws into a soft surface alternating between the right and left paws. Think of it as their way of showing they care enough to tell the rest of the feline world to keep their paws off you. When female cats knead while lying on their side that could be their way of well advertising for a mate. Kneading for possible mates.

They knead on humans because they re used to kneading before naps and obviously when your cat starts kneading on you it s likely he or she is going to take a nap on you shortly after. Adding further weight to the explanation. When our cats knead on or near us it probably indicates that they are feeling safe and content just like they were when they nursed with their mom and siblings. It helps keep them limber.

Kneading can also signal a form of territorial marking. You may not be able to smell it but other cats can. Cat paws have scent glands that secrete your cat s unique scent. Kneading a person or a comfy place is sometimes a discreet way your cat is telling other kitties to back off.

After all you re her mom now and when she s on your lap she feels comfortable safe and secure just like she did with her feline mother. Kneading may also be your cat s way of claiming you. Yes that s right your cat officially owns you. Cats are territorial creatures and one of the ways they safeguard their turf is to scent mark their belongings.

By kneading their paws on the surface of something yes including you they re activating the scent glands in their soft paw pads thereby marking that item as theirs. A cat does this in order to stretch their muscles after a long nap.