Why do cats paddle

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. Do you ever see your cat shifting his front paws back and forth just before settling down for a nap? My own cats knead before taking a nap near me. While they are kneading, they purr — one of them gets so relaxed, he sometimes drools. Kneading usually occurs near a favorite person. At the same time, the kitten usually purrs, which is a sound created by rapid vibrations of certain throat muscles.

Purring is a signal for attention. Using these two behaviors, kittens are asking their moms, also known as queens, to remain still so they can continue suckling. Kneading in kittens. Kittens start kneading soon after they are born. If you're ever around newborn kittens, you will see kneading pretty quickly after birth. A kitten kneads on his mother's abdomen as a way of telling her he is hungry and ready for her milk. Read More. At the same time, the kitten usually purrs, which is a sound created by rapid vibrations of certain throat muscles.

Purring is a signal for attention. Using these two behaviors, kittens are asking their moms, also known as queens, to remain still so they can continue suckling. Young kittens usually fall asleep while suckling. Kittens stop drinking their mother's milk by about two months of age.

So why do cats continue to knead as adults? Ready to relax. This kitten is kneading on her favorite blanket. Kneading seems to be more common in some cats than others. If your cat doesn't knead, it could mean he is a little stressed -- or it could just be that your cat doesn't display relaxation or affection in that manner.

But many cats do continue kneading into adulthood. It's pretty safe to assume a cat who is kneading is feeling calm, content and ready to settle down, just like a kitten settling in to suckle and sleep. You may already know that when your cat bunts, or butts his head and rubs his cheek, head and body against your leg or an object near you, he is putting his scent in these locations.

Cats also have scent glands between their toes, prompting some people to suggest that cats are also putting a familiar, comforting scent on their sleeping area when they knead.

Don't bother to look for these glands on your own cat. They are not easily visible. Subtle signals. Kneading may also be a form of communication between cats and their people.

If you've been around dogs, you know most are quite obvious in letting humans know they want something or like someone. For thousands of years, people have purposely bred dogs to be fun companions, as well as to have useful behaviors such as herding, tracking or guarding.

The most oft-repeated explanation states that kneading is a leftover behavior from kittenhood. During nursing, a kitten will knead the area around its mother's teat to promote the flow of milk. In adulthood, a cat supposedly will knead when it's feeling happy or content because it associates the motion with the comforts of nursing and its mother. Adding further weight to the explanation: Some cats even suckle on the surface they're kneading.