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As a cat owner, you’ve likely witnessed your sweet feline “making biscuits.” This kneading motion is often accompanied by purring, nuzzling, and maybe even suckling on a blanket or other material. There’s actually another name for this phenomenon: smurgling. But whatever you call it, it is an instinctive trait that most cats learn at a very young age.
There are a variety of reasons that your cat may be kneading. Since they can’t speak, this is a way that they can communicate a range of emotions to you as well as other felines. Cats are incredibly intelligent and instinctual creatures. In order to tell what, exactly, they’re trying to communicate, you will need to watch their body language.
For example, do they seem relaxed or tense? Sleepy or alert? Is their kneading paired with another behavior that can indicate how they might be feeling? Rest assured, many of the reasons for this behavior are positive. Now it’s time to answer the age-old question: “Why does my cat knead (make biscuits)?” Here are 10 possible reasons!
10 Reasons Why Your Cat Kneads
1. Your Cat is Nursing or Recently Stopped Nursing
First and foremost, kneading is actually a leftover weaning behavior and is commonly seen in cats who were weaned too soon from their mothers. When kittens are nursing, they knead at their mother’s breasts to get more milk. This is where the kitten learns to associate that motion with comfort. This motion helps promote milk production in adult female cats who have just given birth, so kittens who are looking for either comfort or food will suckle on mom and begin kneading.
If your cat is still within nursing age, they will likely use the motion any time they are seeking to feel soothed — which is often when they are a baby! The behavior will also often stay with kittens even after they’ve weaned. It may continue as a soothing behavior as they grow older. Kneading simply helps them regulate their emotions and feel comforted. After all, who wouldn’t feel comforted from pretending to make little biscuits?
2. Your Cat is Seeking Comfort
Even past nursing age, cats will often revert to the kneading motion when they are trying to soothe or comfort themselves. They may begin making biscuits on a pillow or blanket — or even right on their owner! There are two main circumstances under which a cat may use kneading for comfort. First of all, they may already feel content and want to convey that they feel safe.
The second reason that your cat may knead for comfort is if they are feeling stressed. In this case, they also may be kneading in order to soothe themselves and find a sense of inner peace. So, if you notice that your cat had been on high alert and then they begin to knead, this may be the reason why!
As a side note, if your cat is often stressed, it’s time to take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. This way, your vet can determine if there are any underlying problems that need to be addressed.
3. Your Cat is Trying to Create a Safe Place to Sleep
This is probably one of the most common reasons that you will notice your cat making biscuits. Quite often, a cat will knead for a bit before settling in for a nap. Well, just as you or I like to prepare our bed before we are ready to go to sleep, so does your cat! Kneading can help them create a soft, safe resting place — a behavior that could span back to their ancestors, who likely needed to actually use this technique to create soft beds out of tall grass and other elements. This reason is similar to why dogs circle around before settling into a spot.
4. Your Cat Wants to Mark Their Territory
Cats are very scent-driven and territorial. This means that they often mark their territory by leaving their scent in certain areas so that other cats know to stay away. Within their paws, cats have glands that are activated when they begin to knead, which leaves a strong deposit of their scent when they’re done. This is a common reason that cats will knead their owners — to mark what is theirs! Don’t you feel special now?
Even if you don’t have other cats, you may find that your feline is using this kneading technique as a way to make sure that even humans know what belongs to them. Remember, your cat is generally operating out of instinct, so while it may not be necessary given their domestic circumstances, it still makes sense to them.
5. Your Cat Wants to Show Affection
This next reason is the most heartwarming one for any cat owner! You may have noticed a variety of behaviors when your cat shows affection, and many of them involve lots of cuddling. It turns out that in the wild, kneading is how cats let each other know they care. How adorable is that? So if your cat is kneading you and rubbing their head against you, they are letting you know that they love you!
If your cat is kneading on you, make sure to show them the same amount of affection back. Rub their heads and their backs to show them that they are safe with you. Since this is how cats are able to communicate, this is a great way to let them know you understand what they’re trying to tell you and you feel the same way. This is also a great way to strengthen the bond with your cat.
6. Your Cat Wants to Stretch their Muscles
You probably know that relieving feeling of a good stretch after feeling stiff. It should be no surprise that our feline friends love to stretch too. It’s no secret that cats spend the majority of their day napping. When they wake up, they tend to stretch in all sorts of positions in order to work out any kinks in their muscles. Kneading their paws can help them stretch several parts of their body by grabbing ahold of something and pulling. This ensures that they’re feeling nice and agile for their next adventure.
7. Your Cat is Looking for a Mate
Although this may sound surprising, making biscuits can also be a tactic for female cats in search of a mate. Just to be clear, this is not the behavior they exhibit when they are ready to mate. Rather, it is something they’ll do beforehand to let male cats know that they are single and ready to mingle. So, if you have a female feline who is exposed to males, this may be another reason she enjoys making biscuits.
As a PSA, if you haven’t already, please consider spaying or neutering your cats. Doing so will prevent unwanted mating behaviors and unexpected kittens. Spaying and neutering can also help prevent certain diseases. If cost is a concern, you can ask your local shelter or veterinarian if there are any low-cost spay/neuter programs in your area.
8. Your Cat is Remembering Kittenhood
This is a theory that is based on more recent research. Some studies suggest that your cat actually remembers as far back as kittenhood! It is thought that once your cat reaches adulthood, they may still use these memories of nursing at a young age to calm down and feel a sense of security. Since kneading is primarily a nursing behavior, their memories instinctually trigger this motion. In other words, some cats might associate kneading with the comfort that momma cat once gave them.
9. Your Cat is Happy
Sometimes, your cat may be looking for comfort — but other times they’ve already found it! It isn’t uncommon for our feline friends to begin making biscuits when they feel happy. There are plenty of reasons why your cat might be happy. Maybe they may have just finished eating and are feeling full and satisfied. Or perhaps they are simply comforted by your presence. Either way, they are letting you know that they feel great in their current situation. With love and a cozy spot to cuddle, wouldn’t you feel happy too?
10. Your Cat Needs Their Nails Trimmed
In nature, cats will naturally trim their nails using hard surfaces. Sometimes, rather than scratching, your cat will knead certain materials when they feel that their nails have gotten too long. This might present an issue, especially if they are kneading on you! In order to prevent damaging your house or your own skin, make sure to keep your cat’s nails trimmed and rounded so they can’t sink their sharp claws into anything that they shouldn’t be.
You might also try giving your cat a special kneading blanket so that they have a safe and secure space where they can engage in this activity without getting into trouble. It is important that, even if your cat’s nails are sharp, they have a safe place for making biscuits, since it is such an instinctive part of their nature.
Final Thoughts
Overall, kneading is completely normal and primarily instinctual. It is not a practice that needs to be discouraged and, honestly, it would be hard to stop them even if you tried. Making biscuits is hard-wired into your cat’s nature.
The next time you see your cat knead, use this list to try and figure out what your feline friend might be trying to tell you. If you pay close attention to your cat’s body language, it’ll be easier to determine which of these biscuit-making reasons applies.
In the meantime, the most important thing you can do when your cat is kneading is to make sure they see you as a safe space. No matter the exact reason for kneading, it usually relates to their feelings of comfort or desire for comfort. That’s why it’s important to let them know they are in the perfect place to feel calm and relaxed!
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap8jGH7Ca1g
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
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