Why Do Cats Knead?

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Kneading is the action cats do when they are clawing an area and trying to make it more comfortable.
It involves a circular walking pattern and looks like they are planning a bowl movement but then simply collapse onto the prepared area.
There are many theories as to why a cat does this, but these theories only offer a mild glimpse into the psychology of these pets.
One of the theories is that cats knead because they were weaned off of their mother's milk or bottle formula to early.
When this happens, it can have serious psychological and sociological on the kitten's mental health.
Cats that are weaned to early tend to be withdrawn and slightly more angry that cats that are weaned properly.
To wean a cat properly, stop nursing around 4 weeks after they are born.
Another reason a cat kneads is to sharpen and use its claws.
Think about it, when a cat is domesticated, it bottles up many of its natural inclinations to hunt, attack, kill, and eat its own prey.
Not to say that they won't do this when they are out exploring, but because owners feed cats, they really don't need to use them.
Kneading is a way for cats to still use their claws for something other than hunting.
These animals may also knead because of they are trying to make an area they are going to lay or sleep in more comfortable.
Cats are naturally moody creatures for a variety of different reasons.
They also like to be as comfortable as possible when resting or sleeping.
Kneading is a way that cats prepare an area to make it much more comfortable to lay on.
Female cats who have just given birth may also knead because it is way to improve ground for nursing their young.
Scientists now believe that kneading helps stimulate the milk production in a mother cat's mammary glands.
If this is true, than kneading can also serve as a biological based bodily function that is designed to help a mother nurse her young.
In general, cats are very hard to figure out because people don't speak cat and they seem to live in a world all their own.
When looking at why a cat kneads, there are a variety of feasible explanations.
Cats may knead to make an area more comfortable, stimulate the production of milk, want to use their claws, or because they were not weaned properly as a kitten.
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