Pawing Cat

Tyran keeps pawing at me. This is really wierd. She's never done this before, but now that she's started doing it, she does it all the time. When I'm in bed, snoozing, she'll walk around me and on me, then stop, and paw at me. One morning, she was laying on my chest with her front legs stretched out in front of her, and she began to paw my chin, lightly. This morning, I was laying on my stomach and part of the blanket was up and she reached in and began pawing at my side. At first it was light, then she began using her claws and it hurt a bit. There was no tag/string/ect that she was going after, just my side. Any reason why she is doing this? She loves to play but she rarely uses her paws to paw at me during play, so I'm not sure if this is a playful behavior or what.

By pawing, do you mean perhaps what we call "makin' biscuits?" A kneading motion, pressing with one paw and then the other? If so, that's the same motion they use as tiny kittens when they're nursing, and a lot of cats seem to do it when they're either feeling contented or perhaps in need of some reassurance.

So most likely, she's remembering her mama. When my kitties do this, I consider it a great honor! But since claws are sometimes involved, it's an honor I enjoy most with a nice thick blanket between the kitty and me. :-)

If that's not the motion you mean, then gosh, I don't know... unless she's just trying to get you to wake up and give her some attention!

Pawing is just a friendly, playful greeting. Unlike kneading, your kitty wants your full attention. My babies do it all the time and yes, sometimes their claws are out. I think it is a sweet gesture and it stops once I distract them with toys or food or simply by petting them.

Radar paws at me whenever he wants something, be it food, play, or if he wants a door opened. If I ignore him it turns into leaping up and grabbing on with his front paws. He can reach my shoulder. It doesn't pay to ignore Radar for long!

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

By pawing, do you mean perhaps what we call "makin' biscuits?" A kneading motion, pressing with one paw and then the other? If so, that's the same motion they use as tiny kittens when they're nursing, and a lot of cats seem to do it when they're either feeling contented or perhaps in need of some reassurance.

So most likely, she's remembering her mama. When my kitties do this, I consider it a great honor! But since claws are sometimes involved, it's an honor I enjoy most with a nice thick blanket between the kitty and me. :-)

If that's not the motion you mean, then gosh, I don't know... unless she's just trying to get you to wake up and give her some attention!

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Alley, the older cat (female) does this to me but never Persi (male) who is still a kitten. However, I also had a cat (female) that lived to be about twenty and she kneaded me (and needed me) her whole life.

Zoey and Saki dont usually do this but my feral cat Patches does it all the time! (well only since I've socialzied her ) She gets up on my lap and paws at my neck or face. Its SO cute but not so cute when she uses claws

Luvbug is the pawer here at this point, especially when he wants attention, food or to play. Sometimes his nails are out, but not normally. I think its cute. He also likes to jump on the bed and knead and purr as well. And this is a former stray.

No, its not making biscuits. This morning she was using her claws to 'gently' paw and scratch at my back and side. Lets just say mommy got up quick. hehe. I think it is an attention thing. Miki doesn't do it.

My cats do it when they're hungry. Not that it's time to eat, but they're trying to get me to feed them.