Why Do Cats Knead Blankets Before They Lay Down

Cats generally knead when they re relaxed or getting ready to lay down for a nap or longer snooze.

Why do cats knead blankets before they lay down. But why do they continue to knead past nursing age. Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother. A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother s milk production. Some female cats will knead frequently just before going into heat as a signal to males of her willingness and ability to mate.

As the estrus cycle continues the cat will make plaintive meows. Mother cats may knead on blankets to form them into a nest for their kittens. While kittens knead to make nursing from their mother more productive adult cats do so for a variety of reasons on soft surfaces. You might find your cat kneading blankets stuffed animals or other soft objects around the house.

Cats may knead on a blanket before settling down to sleep to make themselves more comfortable and to unwind. As kittens they do this to get the mothers milk flowing. Some of the theories behind the. When cats are kneading blankets they use a motion much like making bread thus the term kneading.

Why cats knead blankets and other soft objects. It s a bit of an odd behaviour to describe but if you ve ever seen it you know exactly what we re talking about. Here are some of the more popular theories for why cats knead their owners and certain objects. Some cats may also relax their jaws or bite down on the edge of a blanket or pillow.