Why Do Cats Make Biscuits? (AKA Knead) The Answer May Surprise You
Cats are notorious for being more standoffish than their canine contemporaries. But sometimes, they condescend to climb onto their people and ‘make biscuits’ (or “knead” – a pushing motion cats make with their paws, alternating from left to right).
This unusual behavior can be painful for the person but is obviously a sign of affection from the contentedly purring cat. So, why do cats make biscuits?
Why Do Cats Make Biscuits?
There are various reasons cats make biscuits, the most common are: territory marking, expressing their comfort (with a blanket, or potentially with you), showing affection, or “burrowing” from predators.
Territory Marking
Like dogs, cats claim ownership of people, places, and things by covering them in pheromones. There are pheromones in the cat’s cheeks, which is why they brush up against you when they walk.
But there are also scent glands in their paws, so when a cat kneads you, they mark their territory.
Conveying Comfort
Another reason why cats make biscuits is that they are expressing comfort. A kneading cat often purrs while they knead.
Its true purring can be self-soothing, but there’s a difference between a cat’s anxious purr and a contented one. Most cat owners learn the difference quickly. And the purring that accompanies kneading behavior is the relaxed, luxurious purr of a happy feline.
Why Do Cats Make Biscuits on You?
So, that’s why cats make biscuits. But why do cats make biscuits on you?
One theory is that this is old nursing behavior. Kittens knead their mothers to get them to express milk. When the milk appears, it promotes a positive association between making biscuits and food.
And whereas dogs see humans as a different species, cats think of their owners as oversized fellow cats. So, when cats make biscuits on you, they are tapping into kittenhood and creating other positive associations between them and you.
Why Do Cats Make Biscuits on Blankets?
There are several reasons cats make biscuits on blankets.
Partly this circles back to our earlier discussion of comfort. Cats are creatures of comfort, and one reason why they make biscuits on blankets is to get comfortable.
But it also hearkens back to cats’ days in the wilderness. Undomesticated cats occupy a dual place in the food chain. They are simultaneously predators and prey. Domestic cats have never forgotten that.
They are acutely aware of their vulnerabilities, especially when asleep and unprotected. For that reason, many domestic cats favor den-like, burrow-style or cave beds.
When cats make biscuits on blankets, they tap into an instinctual need to make a den to keep them safe from bigger, fiercer predators.
Why Do Cats Make Biscuits Before Bed?
That’s also why cats make biscuits before bed. Even cats that don’t burrow tamp down their sleeping quarters. It guarantees comfort, and it reassures them that they will be safe from lurking predators.
Why Do Cats Make Biscuits in the Air?
Cats knead bedding for safety and comfort, and they knead humans to show affection. But why do cats make biscuits in the air?
This is one of cats’ more baffling behaviors. The popular theory is that cats knead the air to stretch their claws. There are an astonishing number of muscles in cat claws, and kneading gives your cat a chance to stretch them, especially after a nap.