Four-legged kneading

My 7 yr old NM, Moose and my boyfriend's 9 yr old NM Norton (not in the same household) both knead with all four legs. Norton has always done this with a furry mouse toy in his mouth and Moose has just started, without a toy.

I gather this is fairly common, but some of the motions appear sexual in nature. Is kneading purely a show of love, or could it also be to release anxiety or are there other reasons?

Thanks

Lucy

Cats kneading goes back to kittenhood when they would feed or try to feed, and they would kneed into mummys fur to stimulate milk flow. When they do it now, it is a sign of relaxation and it is an instinct. They do use their back paws as well, but obviousely it is the front ones you see more because they get the most use for everything. This is a perfectly normal occurance. Cleo our blind kitty needs to have her toys alot or she wont be content. She has a favourite ball and teddy bear she likes to curl up with. Sometimes cats just need security blankets.

Has Moose moved into a different house, or has new bedding or new people? If your cats are perfectly healthy, and apart from the kneading, personality and routines have not changed, you should have nothing to worry about.


Sorry lol, i had a whole bunch of windows opened and i thought i replied in a different section of TCS...*apologies to Kerry*

Nothing has changed, at least from my point of view. When I'm home all day, he will knead 6 or more times. He just can't seem to get enough!

Around here, kneading is called "makin' biscuits" -- and when my Pearl does it with all fours, just as you describe, we call them "four-wheel-drive biscuits."

When our Arthur kneads with all 4 feet, he usually starts humping his momma's arm. He does not like to be interupted. None of our girls do this.

Hi!
Cats knead as a way of showing trust and affection. It is carried over from kittenhood when they would knead their mom to stimulate milkflow. In adult hood it is a display to show trust and affection to the mom-like person that filled mama cat's place, You.
Norton is kneading on the toy because the feel of the toy is probably very similar to the feel of his mom's fur. The feel of the toy and memory comforts him and takes him back to his kneading days, in which he begins kneading.
It is also common for some cats to knead with all four paws if they came from small litters where they had room to stretch out and knead with all four or sometimes it is developed as a means to keep other kittens away when nursing if they came form a large litter, so really either is a possiblity in this case. Well, I hope this sheds a little light on the topic.
Take care,
Kerry

Originally Posted by clpeters23

My 7 yr old NM, Moose and my boyfriend's 9 yr old NM Norton (not in the same household) both knead with all four legs. Norton has always done this with a furry mouse toy in his mouth and Moose has just started, without a toy.

I gather this is fairly common, but some of the motions appear sexual in nature. Is kneading purely a show of love, or could it also be to release anxiety or are there other reasons?

Thanks

Lucy

Click to expand...