Does Your Cat Ever Give You a Massage?

[Placebo]

My cat sometimes sits on my lap and for 30 straight minutes paws at my arm or leg. She's always done it, and I have no idea what she could possibly get out of it. She gets really into it, like she's drugged or someone put her into a trance, and you can almost do anything to her as long as you don't stop her from pawing.

Anyone else's cat do the same?

[MuseRider]

1. Milking?

Like when they are kittens? Is that what you mean? One of mine does that but not ever for that long but he does seem to be very quiet and content when he is doing it.

[MADem]

5. That is exactly what they are doing

It means they like you, just like momma....some will do it for eons--just depends on the cat. I had one who used to like to claw my head in that fashion, usually at two in the morning.

[Placebo]

7. Is that what it's called?

I didn't know.

[Somawas]

14. I read in a cat book its called tug-toeing.

eom

[MuseRider]

15. I have no idea

that is just what I call it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Mine sits on the top of my chair

and 'milks, my head. It feels really good.

[catgirl]

3. She loves you

2 of my cats do that. It's a comfort, affection thing.

[sadinred]

4. Your kitty is happily dreaming of Mom. She 's saying

oh, how I loooove you!

She goes into a kittenhood trance, you're right. She's lucky you enjoy it too. Happy cat!:bounce:

[arwalden]

6. Only If I Promise To Give Her A Big Tip

[MuseRider]

16. LOL n/tip

[barb162]

8. is the cat "kneading" bread like they do when kittens are drinking

mommy's milk? My 7 yr. old female does this once or twice an evening. They usually do it before going to sleep...it seems to calm them in the same way a pacifier calms a baby.

[Merlot]

9. Yes, and he gets that trance look in his eyes

For some reason, he like my shoulder. Purrs really loud when he's doing it, can last for 10 minutes or so. When he's done he jumps away very quicky.

It's definatly a fix for him.

[lenidog]

10. Mine does it too

She will do it for hours if you let her. It makes for a very content and happy cat.

[NV Whino]

11. Yes.

Drives me nuts. Usually they do it to a pillow or blanket. I suspect the ones that do it were weaned too young. The one cat that I raised from birth doesn't do it. My two adoptees do.

[catgirl]

13. Actually I have had Pepe since birth & she does it.

[sadinred]

18. You're right. The mom cat usually decides Enough Is Enough

at X number of weeks and the kittens learn to NOT kneed. If they're taken away too young, before Mom teaches this, they will do it forever!

[Ruffhowse]

12. Yup, we call it Happy Paws. He mostly does it on my stomach when

I am lying down on the couch. Lots of purring so I know he's happy doing it.

[Moochy]

17. 'Making Muffins'

Placebo,
I read somewhere (the Usenet cat FAQ I think?) that this behavior is a nursing instinct, and the article suggested that early weening of a kitten increases the chance for this behavior.

Your cat is kneading your leg like she did when she nursed.
It means she's very content, and feels safe.

Moochy

[Placebo]

19. Thanks Moochy!

:hi:

[kedrys]

20. Makin' biscuits...!

The little black one will come into bed at 7am (oy!) and proceeds to lacerate me with multiple stab wounds. She also purrs and drools. She's very very pointy, but she's soooo cuuuuute I can't bring myself to stop her. She's sort of the S.O.'s cat, and she wouldn't give me time of day for 2 years, and now she won't leave me alone. :)

[Placebo]

21. Mine drools too!

Just a lil bit ;)

[giant_robot]

28. Mine shreds me to ribbons when he does it, too.

My parents had cats that would gently knead you with just thier paws, but my cat claws the hell out of me with all ten (that's right, ten, not eight) of his claws. I know he's just being affectionate, but I can't take it for very long.

[democracy eh]

22. Makin' Butter

those crazy cats

the question is why?

[seafan]

23. Official term for this is "mushy feet."

;-)

[signmike]

24. Miss Freeway Tuxedo gives me a full body massage

massages my fingertips with her full body.

[yellowdogintexas]

25. Mine massage me, also

but they were born in this house, and weaned by their mother in her own fashion. She actually left them, she apparantly got tired of them and went off to new adventures . AT this point they were about 3 months old. They were weaned completely at about 8 weeks.

Some cats just love to do it.

[ironflange]

26. All three do

Amber, on the right, loves to knead, especially me. Unfortunately, she has huge feet and claws, despite being a tiny cat, and is so squirmy I can't clip those claws. Getting a massage from her is an agonizing experience. That's a pretty old pic, she's all growed up now, a walking fur ball.

Cleo, in the middle, will only knead me, but only rarely and then in a rather desultory manner.

Nicki never kneads me, but does the wife and kids. She really gets that glazed look in her eyes as she does, and her nose drips like mad.

edit: "me," not "ma."

[Placebo]

27. Well I'm just happy that I'm not alone.

:D

[flamingyouth]

29. Yeah, Papa does that

Especially when I'm sleeping on my stomach - he'll come up and "knead" my back. Unless he needs his nails trimmed, I love it! :D