Cat Dreaming Among Hearts and Stars

About this drawing

Before settling in, a cat on a cushion will often go through a funny routine. It presses one paw down, then the other, again and again, like a baker working on dough. That is why people call it kneading, and some just say a cat is making biscuits.

This habit starts in babyhood. Nursing kittens push their paws against their mother's belly, which helps the milk flow. Those moments are warm, safe and full of food, so the motion seems to stay linked to good feelings for life.

Grown cats tend to knead when they are happy and relaxed. Their eyes may go half shut, the purring gets louder, and a few even drool. If your cat does it on your lap, take it as a big compliment, even if the claws poke a little.

Experts have two other ideas about why it happens. Wild ancestors may have trampled down grass to make a soft place to rest. Also, cats have scent glands in their paw pads, so kneading leaves behind a smell that we cannot detect but other cats can. It is a bit like writing a note on the pillow that says this one is taken. Whatever the reason, a cat that is making biscuits feels right at home.

• cat
• kneading
• cushion
• hearts