My Cats behaviour

[BigDogsWang]

I've had a number of cats in my lifetime, but my current cat Zephyr is the only one I've owned with this peculiar habit. I sit at my computer in the spare bedroom, working away, when I hear purring and scratching behind me. I turn around to see him in a trance like state, his ears folded back, kneading the bed covers like he's on some weird trip. This happens daily around the same time. Anyone else got a cat that does this? Does anyone know why he does it?

[samuelcat]

2 of my 3 cats do that. I was told it was a comfort thing going back to when they were feeding from mum.They do the kneading thing then.

[purplepoodle]

Yup, my youngest cat does something very similar, except he chews/ sucks on the material as well. It's also usually something fluffy like a rug.

I think it's to do with being weaned too early, they're mimicking the way they would have suckled on their mothers or something like that, and they would have kneaded to extract milk.

[pastafreak]

I have also heard that it is quite common in Oriental breeds.

[BigDogsWang]

That explains it then. He's missing his mum!! Bless......

[Nosha123]

Aaaahh.. bless him. My little Saff Bag used to do that.. before he died last year - he used to dribble a bit too. He loved a good 'kneed' on a duvet!!! sometimes on my stomach too (jees what does that say about my physique!!)

He was so funny - and used to seem to really enjoy it!

it is a comfort thing for cats.... and reminds them of when they were kittens I think.

Sweet! Would do anything to see Saff Bag do it one more time! bless

[wolf63]

As Humans we are surrogate mothers for our cats. This is the case even if you are a male owner.

Because they are neutered and de-nutted before they enter adulthood they are still 'technically' kittens all their lives.

My little boy cat loves to play and his sister loves to thump him with her massive paws.

Strange animals.

[tazmac25]

I have a number of cats !!! and our queen decided when to wean her kittens and the 2 babies (now 8 months old) we kept are still doing this but its with their older brother

Very odd but thats cats for you

And remember dogs have owners cats have staff!!

[persianlady]

All of my cats past and present do this. I too think it is instinctive and they find it comforting. Some of them do suck the material they are kneading on, but not all.