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How long does kneading continue?

post #1 of 18
6/22/10 at 5:14am
Thread Starter 
Our two year old black cat sleeps with us and every morning he kneads on us, licking our shirts and purring. He is such a sweetie!

I was just wondering - I know this behaviour is reminding them of their nursing when they were kittens - but how long does this behaviour continue? Just curious.

lin
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post #2 of 18
6/22/10 at 5:48am
All their lives. Not all cats knead, but among those that do many don't outgrow it. It's a comforting behavior.
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post #3 of 18
6/22/10 at 5:53am
With our six, it has continued all their lives. Even Whisper and Bootser, our soon-to-be 16 year olds, knead us for all they're worth. Mollipop is only four months old, but she has been kneading us from the time we got her.

Banshee would lie with me and knead and purr for such a long time at night. I loved to fall asleep with her in my arms and her kneading around my neck.

If they're resting and we even talk to them, we'll see the paws start moving.

I know it sounds silly, but I rather find it relaxing. There's a sleeping kitty lying right next to me in bed, purring away and kneading my belly or my neck. She's a happy and contented little girl. Or a little boy, if it's BooBoo. To me, that's stress relief.

Am I the only one who feels that way?
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post #4 of 18
6/22/10 at 5:56am
Kneading is an integral part of most cats behavior and character, and as said, they do it all their lives.

Mazy didn't knead when she first came here, in fact she's been here 5 1/2 years and only recently started doing a little kneading, but only when she is curled up on my chest.

Jennie kneads all the time, on everything, she even makes air biscuits. Tolly kneads on me only, my stomach usually.
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post #5 of 18
6/22/10 at 5:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester View Post

I know it sounds silly, but I rather find it relaxing. There's a sleeping kitty lying right next to me in bed, purring away and kneading my belly or my neck. She's a happy and contented little girl. Or a little boy, if it's BooBoo. To me, that's stress relief.

Am I the only one who feels that way?
OH no you're not silly! I love getting massages from Tolly and Jennie! I have it on video, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FohrXcd1cW8
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post #6 of 18
6/22/10 at 6:16am
I also love a good kitty massage! Both Shadey and Imhotep are 8 years old and they have always kneaded, as do both Osiris and Cleopatra II and they are almost 6. In fact I think Teyah and Elliott are the only 2 of our's who DON'T really knead.
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post #7 of 18
6/22/10 at 6:51am
Just this morning when I was sitting on the couch reading, my 17-year-old sweetie, Katie, climbed my lap and started to knead. So sweet.
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post #8 of 18
6/22/10 at 6:55am
Both my 3 1/2 year old boys are kneaders, especially TG who really gets into it. Problem is they use their CLAWS when doing it. Ouchies!

So yeah, TG is only allowed to knead when I'm in bed and there's a duvet between me and his Claws of Doom. Ghost generally just hooks his claws in my trousers and flexes them.
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post #9 of 18
6/22/10 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
Cappy licks and kneads usually first thing in the morning. First me and then my husband. He'll lick the front of the tee-shirt I wear to bed. I find it very nice, too.

lin
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post #10 of 18
6/22/10 at 7:23am
My sweet boy Oscar loved to knead me especially and I loved it. I felt he was telling me that he loved me because he would have a dreamy look on his face. I missed it when he went to the bridge. But now I have Darby that does the same thing but he also trys to suckle as well which I discourage. Once he gave me a small hicky on my inner arm.
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post #11 of 18
6/22/10 at 7:33am
Ghostie is my kneader. He will do it when we lay down on the bed together for some cuddle time. Casper makes air biscuits ... Archie makes the kneading motion when he's getting his tummy rubbed. Jakie opens and closes his toes when he is content.

There was this beautiful white cat in the rescue cages at the local pet store yesterday named KitKat. Shaved down b/c he was a mess when he came in. As soon as I started talking to him - knead, knead, knead on his bed! A very sweet boy!!!
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post #12 of 18
6/22/10 at 9:45am
All 3 of mine knead. Monster kneads when he is in a lovey mood.. He will drag clothes to a spot he wants to lay in and suck on it and knead it, purring away the whole time.. He likes to knead blanets, and since he sleeps with my MIL, he sometimes wake her up in the middle of the night by kneading on her boobs.

Mittens only kneads sometimes, she doesn't suckle, and when she does knead, its little, tiny kneads and she only does it for a couple minutes.

Precious absolutely LOVES to lay on my tummy and suckle her tail, kneading my belly. I think it is sooo cute when any of them knead..
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post #13 of 18
6/22/10 at 9:53am
Once, my Mom saw Penny kneading on my bed. She asked "Is she gonna poop or what?" I told her not to worry- it's just a quirk.

She was a grown cat (almost 3 years old I think) when this happened.
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post #14 of 18
6/22/10 at 10:00am
Isn't an age thing but 'personality' thing.
Some of mine knead more than others and some are more consistent when some are more reactive. Like I'll get more kneading from one of the boys who is lesser baker when we have been away and he missed me or when he's had a really good/bad day and needs to cuddle up. Then again one of my boys will always use a good opportunity to give me a little massage. One mostly needs to have a very secure situation (no witnesses) to really let himself go but when he does it's a big drooling, nuzzling, bake-fest.
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post #15 of 18
6/22/10 at 11:54am
I love this thread. Great stories!
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post #16 of 18
6/22/10 at 12:14pm
Genever kneads a lot, especially if she jumps on my or BF's lap. Then we'll say to the other "I'm getting biscuits!!!" and we get all happy.
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post #17 of 18
6/22/10 at 12:29pm
All cats knead and it's lifelong - but some only do it under specific circumstances. Sho will only knead on Tomas, for example - likely because they're bonded so closely.
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post #18 of 18
6/22/10 at 12:42pm
Mine knead more the older they get. Some cats won't even knead YOU though, just the floor or the air. When they're air-kneading I call it swimming. I love the big paws when they swim... Awwwwwwwww.....
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