OT: Why would a senior kitty start to knead?

Laurinda

This is kind of fashion-related, it involves my fleece jacket.

We adopted Miss Blanche DuBois from a family member in June. She is 13 or 14 years old, and I've known her for 12 of those years. She is getting along fine as our only pet.

This afternoon she found a fleece jacket of mine and started kneading (making biscuits) and purring. I've known other cats that have done this from kitten-hood, but this is the first time I have seen this behavior in Miss D.

She seemed perfectly content, I'm simply curious why she might have just started doing this.

13 years ago

Off Topic

8 replies

Latest reply was from Irene

(website)

Veteran

I thought all kitties made biscuits . . . out of the 8 I've had, every one of them did. Are you sure the cat never did it before, or did no one ever notice?

13 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

Perhaps the texture awakened a memory. I've read that kneading is a comfort thing and cats do it when they are content. We've had Davey for just over a year and he just started making biscuits in the last few months.

13 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

I think your jacket must remind Kitty of her dear old Mom!
Apparently this is what kittens do to stimulate the milk let-down when they are feeding.
My cat does this alot and the wrapt expression on his little face is priceless!

13 years ago

Anonymous

Awww, sounds like she is a very happy kitty! Maybe she's always wanted to knead but she was waiting for just the right texture?

13 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

I agree with the above. Also, it smells like you, I imagine, and makes her happy.

13 years ago

Louise

Veteran

My kitties sometimes do it when they are 'making' their bed, usually while purring. I always feel its its a sign of a happy, contented, relaxed fur baby x

Eta wish I could post piccies with my iPad as fur baby Marley is doing it now x

13 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

Thanks all for the insight, and I love hearing your kitty stories!

The jacket was a coral fleece that is still new enough to be kind of 'squeaky', or it might have been the color.

Miss D. is a dark cream long hair. She was a rescue kitty so we don't know about her parents but she looks like a mix between a Persian and an orange tabby. She started doing this during a light thunderstorm. (Just a few rumbles in the distance. If it were a louder storm she would have sought shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture). I wonder if she was trying to comfort herself? Silly kitty is too clever by half sometimes.

13 years ago

Irene

Veteran

I wouldn't know, my cat does such weird things that kneading but be considered normal for her lol

Wait until she waits for you at the door, wants to leave the flat (sometimes, and especially when you are waving visitors goodbye at the front door), says hello to every single person entering the house AND plays around their feet (and that includes allergic to cats people and the guy working on the new bath), crying when one of us (we are four) is out, telling you to go to bed at a set time, then waking you up when she thinks it's time to do so, crying for any reason, claiming for your attention all the time and peeing and pooing when everybody is around, and she enjoys it especially if you are eating.

13 years ago

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