Why do cats pluck?

[theresnokey]

Why does my cat sometimes (usually while I'm nearly falling asleep) jump on the bed and start grasping the duvet cover with his front paws, he sits there plucking it for about 2-3 minutes whilst puring loudly and contently then goes to sleep? Please excuse my description as its difficult to put into words. I know other cats do it, but why?. When he stops plucking he will go to a completely different spot on the bed to sleep immediatly after, so he cant be preparing the bedding for himself. I'm perplexed totally??????????????.

[wolf63]

He is a cat - sometimes they do things just to annoy or perplex us.

Could be be treading the duvet? That dates back to when mummy was feeding him, maybe hitting against her teat to get the milk out faster.

They are strange animals.

[annavc]

No idea why I'm afraid but mine does it too - although with him its not just before he goes to sleep its always in the middle of one his mad periods when he's charging around the house at breakneck speed, pouncing on anything that moves. Its not so much plucking with him - more of a frantic digging action - like he's trying to dig a hole in the bed!

They're mad creatures - I don't think anyone will ever really understand why they do anything.

[antiguru]

Wolf63 is quite right. Your cat is kneading the duvet to get milk, just like it used to against the soft underside of its Mum. Massaging helps stimulate milk production. Right now you�re Mum and the duvet smells of you. Lots of cats carry on doing this into adulthood, but of course they grow claws which is why it looks like plucking. They get stuck!

Nothing to worry about and you can�t stop it. I trim my cats claws to minimise the damage (front claws only).

[drchasuble]

Mine used to do the paws, usually while perched on my stomach and suckle the inside of my elbow so I'd have a lacerated belly and a dribbly arm.

[wolf63]

SO - now everybody agrees that cats are nuts.

[Athley]

Yes they are totally bonkers. My cat does this every morning and dribbles at the same time!. If I'm lying on my tummy she stamps on my back and vice versa - doesn't do it to my husband though but does insist on sleeping on his side of the bed when he gets out! She also does it to the sofa before she settles for a huge cat nap.

Cat greetings to all cat lovers out there :o)

[allotment10]

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2785540

so cute :-)

http://www.hereandthere.org/cards/1997-cat-pon d.htm

[allotment10]

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2681665?loomia_si=1
wait for the advert to finish nobody could resist this one! :-)

[wolf63]

video clips are really good. I like the way the dog just lay there, lapping it all up.

[Athley]

Great the way the dog is still just looking over his shoulder as if he's thinking 'hmmm its a cat I don't really trust it even though this feels good' !!!

Great clip :o)

[carys220]

This is called 'Kneading'. Kneading is an activity common to all domestic cats whereby, when in a state of contentment, they push the surface on which they are standing with their front paws. This may have an origin going back to their wild ancestors who would have had to tread down grass or foliage to make a temporary nest in which to rest or possibly a remnant of the newborn kneading of the mother's teat to stimulate milk secretion: kneading is often a precursor to sleeping. Actually, many cats also purr when kneading; they also do this mostly when newborn, while feeding or trying to feed on their mother's teat. The common association between the two behaviors may indicate the former's origins as a remnant instinct.