Why Do Cats Knead And Nurse On Blankets

The most common explanation is leftover behavior from kittenhood.

Why do cats knead and nurse on blankets. Like thumb sucking in little children nursing wool is a behavior that provides a sense of comfort and safety. 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. A kitten will knead her paws against her mother s stomach when she is nursing. The blanket will also protect your lap from those sharp claws she extends as she kneads.

Why do some kittens nurse on objects. Put a blanket in your lap for your kitty to sit on and see if she kneads it before settling down for a nap. Often these are cats who were taken from their mother too soon as so often happens when people want to give them away at a tiny cute stage. There are a few ways to answer the question why does my cat knead blankets explanations for why cats knead vary but it is without doubt an instinctive trait.

Both kittens and older cats will nurse on objects. As a result the paws release a unique scent. This is commonly called suckling or wool suckling if specifically involving fabrics siamese cats are notorious for this. Nursing is a different story.

This is achieved through the glands found in feline paws. The pressure from the pressing motion stimulates the flow of mom s milk through her nipples. The purpose of the knead. This is where a cat sweats when they start to overheat.

For example kittens knead when they are nursing to help stimulate their mother s milk production. Why does my cat knead and suck on its blanket. Feral cousins of our household kittens often knead to make a soft place amongst the vegetation. During the process the cat feels entirely contented and relaxed.

Blankets provide an excellent medium for your cat to knead on because they are soft and fluffy similar to her mother s belly. One rather outdated theory proclaims that cats that knead were separated from or weaned from their mother too early and therefore continue the kittenish behavior into. This not only provides nourishment but also produces bonding hormones that strengthen bond between kitten and mommy. The separation could have been even more traumatic.

The mother cat s mammae nipples and surrounding hair. Cats knead a soft cuddly blanket as a habit from when they were kittens. Cat suckling can be directed towards humans with cat suckling on fingers or skin or it can be done on fabrics like blankets and towels. A sensitive kitten may grow up into a fabric sucking cat because that behavior reminds.

Cat suckling can happen with anything that vaguely resembles the original suckling target. Most cats will knead but nursing behavior is a clue that this cat did not complete the weaning process with proper support. By instinct beginning at birth kitties nurse from their mothers and use their feet to knead mommy cat s belly to get more milk.