Cats like to imagine that every vaguely soft surface is a dough of bread, so they tend to act as if they were kneading the “bread”, which mystifies cat owners and observers alike.
It may seem like such a random action, but there are many reasons why cats like to knead. This is especially true with cats who were close to their mothers. While some speculate it is because they miss being a kitten or they were weaned too early, sources claim that there is no significant difference between the kneading behavior of cats regardless of when they were weaned.
The most common reason for cats to knead is to show affection and platonic pleasure. Cats usually knead when they’re about to snuggle into a petting spot or when they’re feeling their owner’s skin.
Another theory, relating to the napping one, is how wild ancestors must have kneaded tall grass into cushy piles, so this behavior may still be instinctual in the domesticated cats of today. This is similar to how dogs run in circles to establish a spot as theirs.
Lastly, they may knead to mark their scent onto a surface, letting other animals know that they were there at some point. This facilitates communication between species and even inter-species.
Whit kneading is generally harmless, it can sometimes be irritating or break furniture if their claws are not trimmed beforehand. Declawing is bad but claws can be trimmed up to a certain point. There may also be specialized tools that help with trimming claws.
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