Savvy Pets, 1/31/20: The Truth about Lexi … and Why Cats Knead

Lexi, a beautiful tabby who lives happily with Sharon, an amazing T1, and her husband John. Just looking at her, I can almost hear her purring, loudly!!!

Lexi has no skills. She does go around in circles chasing her tail. On the tv series, Friends, when Phoebe sang the stinky cat song (Smelly Cat), I didn’t really understand (see YouTube below). Lexi taught me. When she gets good and relaxed, she lets it rip. Yikes!!!!

IF YOU HAVE A PET and YOU LIVE WITH T1,

please send me an email: joanne@TheSavvyDiabetic.com

Why Do Cats Knead? Explaining Cat Kneading, a Quirky Cat Behavior comes from Catster HQ, 9 April 2019.

Why do cats knead? Cats are interesting creatures, with many traits and behaviors that are easily recognized as being uniquely feline — the way they curl up tightly to take a nap, for example, or their characteristic grooming rituals after enjoying a meal. Cat kneading is another common feline behavior. The kneading is a motion cats make by pushing in and out with their paws, alternating between right and left. Some cats knead with claws completely retracted, while others will extend their claws as they push in and retract as they pull back. So, why do cats knead? Let’s take a look.

Let’s look at how they knead. Kneading is sometimes colloquially referred to as “making biscuits,” because the motion resembles a baker kneading dough. It is almost always done on a soft, pliable surface like a pillow, a comforter, another cat or kitten, or even your lap. Often cat kneading is accompanied by contented purring, and sometimes even by drooling as the cat relaxes his jaw. It’s not uncommon for a cat to be in an almost trance-like state as he kneads with a steady, rhythmic motion.

There are a few ways to answer the question, “Why do cats knead?” Explanations for why cats knead vary, but it is without doubt an instinctive trait. Newborn kittens knead their mother’s belly as they snuggle close to nurse, and the motion is thought to stimulate the flow of milk through her nipples. It’s likely that the answer to “Why do cats knead?” is that it’s simply comforting to cats.

Kneading may also go back to the days when wild cats patted down tall grass or shredded leaves to make a soft, fluffy bed for sleeping or giving birth. Through the ages, the behavior continues to a natural part of cat instinct before settling down for a comfortable catnap.

There’s also a more practical aspect to answering the question, “Why do cats knead?” Cats have scent glands in the soft pads on the bottoms of their paws. When they knead, some of their unique scent is released onto the surface being kneaded, and that scent serves as a kind of territorial marker for any unfamiliar cats that might come along and try to stake a claim. So when your cat is kneading your lap, he’s not only telling you he feels comfortable and secure, but he’s claiming you as his own.