Cat owners spend hours watching their pets, equally entertained and bemused by their behavior. Felines have scent glands in their paws. by Mary Lougee . Cats start to knead as kittens while nursing from their mother. But ask a vet who specializes in cats, and he'll tell you that no one is 100 percent certain why cats knead; we just know that they do it, from babyhood through the geriatric stage. Cats are extremely happy when kneading rhythmically nd often have a far-away, calm look in the eyes accompanied by the sweet sound of purring. A cat arranges her bed in a blanket for security. A nursing kitten instinctually kneads to help stimulate the mother’s milk production. Why Do Cats Knead Blankets? But why do they continue to knead past nursing age? If the cat is kneading you, keep a thick blanket or towel so that the claws do not come in direct contact with you. You might find your cat kneading blankets, stuffed animals, or other soft objects around the house. Kittens suck on blankets if separated too early from their mothers. Mimicking Nursing. In case this doesn’t work and you still want to keep the cat from bothering you, try to make the cat lie down so that it can get comfortable and sleep. Cats have many quirky habits, but among the most notable is kneading and sucking on blankets. This means that they can claim the blanket as their ‘territory’ by kneading it. Mother cats may knead on blankets to form them into a nest for their kittens. Ever wondered: Why do cats knead? In other cases, cover the surface with a couch cover to prevent scratches . 1. Watch a cat knead, tapping at a soft blanket, your favorite souvenir sweatshirt, or her own bedding. Kneading is a common behavior seen in domestic cats, in which the feline pushes in and out with its front paws, alternating between left and right. Why Cats Knead Blankets and Other Soft Objects. Why does your cat stomp on her favorite bed or blanket (or your leg or chest) with her front paws, as though making dough for biscuits? Cats have scent glands on their paws, which they use to mark people or places as their own while kneading. When cats are kneading blankets, they use a motion much like making bread, thus the term kneading. Cats knead a soft cuddly blanket as … Also, kittens knead their mother’s nipples to release milk. Wild felines knead on soft grasses and leaves outside to mold them into a comfortable sleeping surface. This answer to “Why do cats suck on blankets?” makes sense in some Freudian way, but I’m not sure it holds water. The Need to Knead.