Since Hero was just a kitten he would nurse any wooly blanket. It wasn’t just any blanket, but those that had material that mimicked fur. At first I was weirded out, wondering why he would do this – even as he got older. I thought it was because he missed his Momma Kitty when he was a kitten. But even today – over 2 years old he still does this!
As I read through some articles and books on Cat behavior, I found that some cats just need to be soothed, like we adults need comfort food (i.e. Chocolate or our favorite blanket or TV show, etc). Kitties will push and pull their paws in and out on soft surfaces like blankets, for instance – Hero doing this behavior on any fur-like blanket/material. Sometimes this is accompanied by a bit of drooling. Your kitty may look absolutely content during such episodes and may even purr. Hero looks like he’s in seventh heaven and purrs like an engine, lol!
Several theories exist for the behavior. Some people think it stems from them being weaned too young. Some think it is because they were weaned too late. The most logical explanation, however, is that it’s simply a comfort behavior that cats remember from when they are babies. Nursing kittens use similar paw and arm movements to stimulate milk flow from their mothers’ nipples. Momma Kitty also kneads the sleeping area to create a nice soft surface for her and her kittens. Whatever the precise reason for kneading, one thing is for sure: A kneady cat is a happy cat.
Cat kneading motion can be painful if your cat is in the habit of kneading with its claws bared. Kittens knead with their claws retracted because their Momma Kitty prefers it that way. You can train your kitty to knead with claws unretracted, by gently tossing them off your lap when they use their claws, and praising them when they kneads gently without using their claws. Or you could just put a nice thick blanket on your lap and relax. This is one of Clark’s favorite things to do, is get our big furry blanket that Hero loves, and takes his afternoon nap with Hero.
Kneading is a sign that your cat is happy, comfortable and relaxed. You should feel proud if your cat deems you worthy of sharing this pleasure and it’s your cat’s way of saying he’s glad you are there. It’s nice to be ‘kneaded’!
Clark and I bought Hero a ‘buddy’. He LOVES this stuffed animal dog we bought him, particualrly for the ‘fur-like’ material he has. He literally drags this puppy around the Apartment wherever he goes, and can go for hours just kneading it. Check out this video and picture. It’s his best friend, next to Tiny Kitty:
For behavioral disorders similar to this ‘kneading’, you may want to check out this other post:
Get your Kitty his/her own ‘Buddy’ to Knead and pal around with like Hero’s:
Click Here
Posted by Ashley on July 24, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Our cats love kneading on blankets too, especially a particular soft, fuzzy white blanket we have. I think it’s so cute!
So here’s a question for you. . . one of our cats LOVES to chew on cardboard boxes. It’s like he’s a puppy or something. Any ideas on why he does this?
Posted by Rebecca on July 25, 2009 at 6:51 pm
It could be 1 of 2 things. Either no big deal, she/he’s just chewing for fun (Both Hero & Tiny do the same thing and have a ball jumping in and out of boxes and attacking the box…) or a condition called ‘Pica‘). It may also help to increase the amount of fiber in your cat’s diet.
You can buy spray-on products at pet supply stores that are distasteful (but safe) to cats. Occasionally, applying one of these substances to an item may deter a cat from chewing it. You could also try spraying a strong-smelling substance (such as citrus air freshener or potpourri) or using a physical deterrent (such as an upside-down carpet runner) around an object to see if it prevents your cat from approaching the object.
If your cat continues to ingest nonfood items despite all your efforts, get a referral to a veterinary behaviorist.
Posted by Juice on October 29, 2010 at 5:25 pm
my cousin runs a local pet store and i love looking at those cute puppies that he keeps on the store”";