My older cat is getting really weird with his "kneading"?
Our cat Skinny is 12 now. He's started this thing lately, when he's sleeping with DH and me mostly: He starts out "kneading" with his front paws, like usual, but now he starts really ripping with his back paws and claws too! Ouch! It gets so bad, he has to be put out of the bed at times. So, I've never had a cat do this-- is this normal? Is he getting his second kittenhood, or senile or something? He's really bright, active, normal, and doesn't act older or anything. Still runs around with our other cats, eats, sleeps, loves us up, and so on. We love him so much. So this kinda worries me, as I'm afraid it may mean something is wrong with him? Please give me some ideas about my old Skinners. Thanks
2008-03-06T19:34:18Z
Thank you, yes, we should probably trim his back claws! He detests us doing this, but with him kicking with them, it's going to be on the to-do list. Skinny was a feral cat, who we adopted and he adopted us right back. So you may be right, he may miss his Mum, and have gone away from her too soon. I get tears at the idea that I'm that much of a Mum to him; excuse my sniffles, I get sentimental about our furpeople.
allthecleverusernamesaretaken2008-03-06T19:10:21Z
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Stop worrying, your cat is just happy with what is happening in it's life at the moment.
Kneading is when a cat extends and retracts its claws, usually when it is resting on its owner's lap. This behaviour comes from kittenhood, kittens knead their mother while suckling to make the milk flow more freely. Adult cats will do this when they feel safe and contented. They see their owners as surrogate mothers and, as pampered pets, will retain some kitten characteristics through their adult life. If the cat dribbles or sucking of the owners clothes happens whilst kneading, the cat in question will probably have been taken from its mother too early and never had a chance to grow out of the behaviour naturally. These behaviours are usually for life.
So, sit back, take a deep breath, and rejoice in the fact that you are raising a NORMAL, happy, contented pet.
I don't know how old my cat is. I found her as a wee kitten and have had her for about a year now. She kneads quite frequently. She is declawed in the front, but not in the back. Luckily she only kneads with the front. She definately enjoys it and enjoys kneading on big ole' belly's even more. She loves kneading on blankets and has a wierd eye lash licking fetish when I'm trying to sleep. I think they are just stretching their lil paws (like we crack out fingers) it's their own way of getting some release.
From what I have read it is just a act of excitement. It releases scents and the peel of their nails. Don't worry...them must like what they have. And that is you!
Feline behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett, author of Think Like a Cat, says: Scratching is such a complex and important behavior for cats. Scratching serves as a visual marker and that's vital to survival in the wild. A cat will use his claws to scratch on a tree to mark territory. The visual mark can be seen at a distance and that keeps opponents far away. When the cat scratches he also releases scent chemicals from glands located in his paw pads. This way, he is leaving both a visual and olfactory mark.
Scratching is also a vital way cats stretch their back and shoulder muscles.
When a cat scratches on a scratching post or other rough material, he always removes the dead outer sheath of the nail and that keeps his nails in good condition.
Another important but often overlooked aspect of scratching is that is serves as an emotional outlet for cats. When a cat is very happy or anxious or unsure, he often goes to the scratching post as a displacement behavior. When I come home at the end of the day my cats run to their scratching posts because they are so excited.
Because of the importance of scratching posts, it's crucial that when choosing one, you pick the appropriate type. Too often, people pick fluffy carpet-covered posts and cats don't like those kinds. Choose a sisal-covered post or one with a rough texture.
Why do cats knead? That loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot of your body is called "milk-treading." When you relax and sit quietly, you're giving your cat the same signal he got from his mother when he was a kitten - that his mother was ready to let him suckle. A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out the milk, gently pushing on his mother's stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it's a good sign that they're happy, content, and probably recalling their kittenhood. So, concurring with one of the earlier responses, clipping the claws is the option.
Awwww... I have lots of cat experience and I think the one answer that is most accurate is "Who knows?" I have a cat who is 17, and every few years her personality changes in some noticable way. It is not uncommon for a cat to experience changes. I wouldn't worry too much about something being wrong with him, as he seems to have more energy, not less.
I have always been impressed with the feline behavioral knowledge of a good vet. Call the vet ans ask what they think. They will probably have no idea why he is doing this, but they may have ideas on how to make it easier on you.