Non controversial cat question

[MotorCityMan]

Ok, I have been a big dog lover all my life and have always had dogs.

Last November my late partner and I got a beautiful Himalayan kitten and named her Lana. She is so much fun and I love her to bits.

My question; what is up when cats do that prodding with the paws? When they keep pressing their paws, left, right, left, right. I swear Lana can do that for hours when she gets started.

Is it they like you? Trying to get comfortable?

Just curious if anyone (and I know there are lots of cat lovers here) has any information on that.

[Spinzonner]

1. Nursing Flashbacks

[Liberal Veteran]

2. They are treating you like mommy....

It's a kind of leftover behavior from nursing.

Lots of cats do it.

[izzie]

14. So I have read. Drives me nuts and my cats do not do it.

Or not when I see them. I read it is taking cats away from mother to early.

[MissMillie]

16. We had one kitten

that used to like to "nurse" off the other two cats. Mind you, the other two cats (one of which was male) would just lay there and let this little puss "nurse".

I have read that this "nursing" is a sign of being weaned too early, but not that kneading is.

[curse10]

3. My kitty has ruined my towels doing that!

But he looks so cute when he does it! But, I'm not sure why they do it.

[demnan]

4. Kittens use that motion,

which is called making bread, to stimulate the mother cat's milking process.

What the grown cat is saying to you is "You are my Mommy!"

What you say is ouch!

[MotorCityMan]

9. Ouch is right!

When Lana gets going, flexing her sweet little paws, the claws do take there toll!

[Skittles]

11. I call it patty-pawing

I particularly dislike it when I'm lying (or is it laying, I forget) on the couch and Clancy patty-paws my stomach; I always get the feeling he is kneading bread. :o

[redwitch]

5. It means she is happy

Kittens knead like that on their mommies to get the milk flowing when they are nursing. She must be happy all the time, good job! We had a Himalyan when first married- Phoebe. Loved her to bits too!

[Skittles]

12. oh yes

it is defintely a sign of affection. :)

[slackmaster]

6. Vestiges of pumping their mama cat's teats for milk

The action you describe is called "kneading". Many cats do it when they are relaxed and happy. It's really fun when my 18-pounder starts doing that to me with claws. He's torn up clothing and my skin.

[slackmaster]

8. LMAO - Six similar answers within one minute

MEOW!

[Philostopher]

7. Believe it or not ...

there is at least some debate about what that means. Not a lot, mind you -- generally, it's assumed that the gesture is a 'leftover' from when they're kittens, and tread on the mother's mammary glands to stimulate milk production. Most animal behaviorists refer to it as 'milk treading,' because kittens do it when they're nursing, though you'll find dozens of other names for it.

The only actual debate is over the meaning when grown cats do it -- but nobody really knows why cats purr, either, since they do that both when they're happy and when they're hurt or very frightened. I know they don't tend to tread when they're uneasy or unhappy, so whatever it means, it's gotta be positive. I'd think it means they're comfortable and happy when they do it.

[Bertha Venation]

10. Lana's making biscuits.

I concur w/ the others: it's a holdover from nursing. It's a comfort thing, and a way of saying (as much as a walnut-sized brain can) "I trust you and I love you."

Enjoy! And if her claws hurt you when she does it, trim them. Take care not to trim them too short -- don't cut into the quick. As long as you don't hit the quick, you won't hurt her. Trimming her claws will also help protect your furniture -- trimmed claws do far less damage.

[Liberal Veteran]

13. Dissenting opinion.....It's a calculated method of torturing you.

They enjoy torturing you with their claws and that's why they purr while doing it.

They hate you and they go out of their way to show it.

[MotorCityMan]

17. You may be right, LV

Lana always seem to pick the worst time to start doing it; when I shut of the lights to go to sleep, 3 o' clock in the morning, or while watching tv, right at the most interesting point of the program (of course completely blocking my view as the Princess needs attention NOW, right NOW.

[jukes]

15. MotorCityMan

lucky you, cat's are wonderful creatures. sorry to hear of your "late" SO; assume you meant he/she passed.

excellent responses here, only 1 thing to add:

some experts feel that if the "kneading" motion is TOO frequent, it can mean that the animal was removed from mother too soon, or they are o'wise uneasy. has to be pretty continuous for it to be a warning sign.

same w/purring; cats will often purr to comfort themselves, but generally means they're happy.

love my doggies, but i find cats to be much more complex & interesting animals. AND, if you train her to walk on a leash = bonafide chickbait!