Why cats paw and purr at humans

The second theory is based on the anatomy of a cat's paws. Woolly ones have special glands between their toes . In addition to sweat (yes, yes, cats sweat with their paws!) these same glands secrete pheromones. Aroma stations are located throughout the body mustache: on the chin, cheeks, near the ears and mustache, on the forehead, on the rump and tail. We humans cannot smell it, but cats use pheromones to communicate with each other and mark their territory. .

Why cats like to stamp their paws on people: a scientific explanation. It is the cat's way of showing its good mood and affection for its owner

Various scientists have long observed animals and conducted various experiments. They have identified several reasons for trampling objects or parts of the human body with their front paws rather than their hind paws.

1. Milk step. One of the earliest and most plausible versions means that almost all cats develop this habit in very early childhood. In order to get the right amount of milk, the kitten has to press on the mother cat's belly.

At this time it feels calm and believes that it is safe, because the cat will be able to protect it in any case. Subsequently cats repeat this massage on a subconscious level, i.e. they do it instinctively, even as adults.

For this reason pets try to get on their owner's lap or on his belly and enjoy light stroking of his paws. Sometimes you can hear them purring with pleasure.

At this time, they might even lose control and let their paws and claws do the work. However, you should not shout at the cat, but stroke it lightly and it will move its paws back.

2. Revealing love for your master. The second version puts forward the idea that a cat can have the same feelings toward a person who shows affection and care for it as it does toward its mother. Accordingly, the cat behaves with him in the same way as with the mother.

Cats can purr very loudly and massage not only the belly or legs of their beloved owner, but also the blanket or blanket to cover the person. This behavior is most often seen in those kittens who have been taken from the cat very early or have been brought from the street.

3. Genetic subconscious. There is another interesting version, which says that this behavior comes from a very long time ago. That is, back when cats were wild animals and had to make their own place to sleep.

What not to do when a cat gets too enthusiastic and lets its claws out

If a cat kneads its paws without releasing its claws, such a massage may even seem pleasant to humans. But what if the cat gets too carried away and her stomping on her lap starts to hurt her owner?

Here are a few tips to help show your cat in a non-intrusive way that it's better to get its claws out:

• If the animal has released its claws and is digging them into the skin, you can gently stroke its paw from above. This will cause the cat to retract the claws again;
• You can, while stroking the pet, pull him down and lay him down. This will help him calm down and stop kneading his paws;
• You can distract the cat with petting or toys.
• A caress from the owner will help distract the cat from releasing its claws.

You should not sharply push the pet away from you, chase it off your lap, or hit it on the paws. This behavior can severely undermine the cat's trust in its owner and may even cause him considerable stress. After that the pet may stop petting or start taking revenge, for example, by marking its territory in the wrong place.

Why does the cat stomp on your paws?

Why does the cat stomp on your feet? Some features of the behavior of these cute animals still do not have an unambiguous explanation.

Wild Roots. These animals are–known "sybarites". Even in forest conditions, wildcats strive to settle down as comfortably as possible. Researchers suggest that the "stomping" reflex is associated with the preparation of their sleeping place for the night. That is how the ancestors of modern house cats trampled grass and leaves and made a comfortable bed.
■ Trust in the owner. Many cat lovers believe that this is how an animal expresses its appreciation and love for its owner. The roots of this habit should be sought in distant childhood: kittens, when settled on the mother's belly, alternately move their paws, stimulating the receptors responsible for lactation. So this same action, transferred to adulthood, shows the pacification of the animal. Scientists call this behavior the "milk step."
■How do you respond to cat caresses? Never chase the animal away, even if its claws do not make you feel particularly positive. Praise the cat, pet it. This will make your relationship with your cat even more trustworthy.
The biological explanation. The fact is that on the pads of the cat's paws there are a huge number of sweat glands and ducts that secrete an odorous secret. When a cat stomps on a blanket with its paws, it marks it for other "competitors," fencing off its property from possible encroachment. In nature, this makes a huge difference. All members of the feline family are considered predators, and therefore need sufficient hunting territory.
■Version from folk healers. Almost all experienced cat lovers in one way or another agree with the statement that these animals are "therapeutic". After a cat walks on a sore back with its paws, it not only begins to hurt a lot less, but it also recovers much faster.
The official science quite agrees with its "colleagues". It is unknown why or how a cat determines where its owner is in pain, but it really starts to do its "massage" on that very spot.
■"Endorphin addicts." Strange as it may seem, but during stomping the cat's body produces a large amount of endorphin. This hormone promotes a relaxed, placid state, and is a natural stress reliever. Simply put, the animal in this simple way calms down, restores normalcy.
The mechanism of sexual behavior. Finally, cats often begin to stomp, arch their backs and purr particularly loudly on the first days of spring. Nature demands its own, and therefore your pet is fulfilling nature's breeding program. By its behavior, the cat shows its possible admirers its placid disposition and signals its readiness to begin the continuation of its species.
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Why do cats stomp on their owners as if they were massaging them? What is the meaning of this behavior?

What can be cozier than a soft blanket, a cup of tea, cookies, your favorite TV series, and a cat in your arms. And if the cat stomps on his paws and beats his face, it's even bliss! But why do they do it?

To date there is no detailed scientific research of this cute behavior (and what do professors do!). But there are two interrelated and quite plausible theories based on feline physiology and psychology.

The first theory is that trampling is an echo of childhood, when little kittens used to knead their mother's mammary glands with their paws . By giving their mother cat a "massage", kittens stimulate increased milk production. And not just because of the physical effect. The fact is that the massage of the mammary glands cats really like. And everything that brings us (and not just us) pleasure, provokes the production of oxytocin, the so-called "happy" hormone. .

In addition to joy, oxytocin regulates many processes in the body. For example, when people lose a lot of blood during childbirth, they get a shot of "joy." – not to reduce suffering, but to constrict blood vessels and reduce hemorrhage. Oxytocin production begins in the pituitary gland, after which the hormone enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Once in the cat's chest, the oxytocin stimulates the contraction of the mammary gland fibers and the kitten gets a big batch of milk. Scientifically, this massage is called "milk step." – and it's understandable why.

It is clear where kittens get it from, but why do adult cats continue to "trample" on blankets, pillows and your back? Because, in fact, they're not fully grown. Throughout the history of animal domestication, humans have chosen as companions animals that retain childlike features. It was such individuals showed the greatest affection to humans, because they perceive the two as a big nursing mother. Therefore, even in the behavior of adult animals, infantile habits slip through.

Why cats wrinkle their paws: causes

The characteristic behavior of an animal can be due to a variety of reasons.

Memories of childhood

The pet has long been weaned from its mother and lives with a new owner, but the habit may remain.

The cat gives its owner a kind of massage when it feels secure and calm. Through the "milk step" she demonstrates her love and trust. There is no need to interrupt it or drive it away so as not to deprive the animal of pleasant emotions.

Preparing a place to sleep

Wild animal instinct explains why cats crumple a blanket or plaid on the couch before they lie down. In the wild, a cat's "bed" might be grass, which they carefully crumple up with their front paws, preparing a place to sleep. To scare away insects, they scratch the grass with their claws. At home, the pet simply repeats the ritual, so it kneads even a soft blanket with its paws.

Cat Sexual Attraction

If the cat kneads the blanket and purrs, periodically rolls on the floor, trembles and "dances" with its hind paws, it means that the sex drive period has begun. Females become restless and meow loudly.

Unconfirmed hypotheses

What does it mean when a pet tries to "massage" with its paws the chest or stomach of a sick person? There is a hypothesis that cats sense diseases and know how to treat them. There is research on this, but no proof yet. At most, your pet can cheer you up, and stomping on your chest or belly is related to the desire for a warm place to snuggle.

In fact, when a cat is pawing and releasing claws, it's probably trying to mark territory. There are sweat glands on the pads of the paws, through which sweat is secreted to the outside. It contains fragrant enzymes that repel uninvited "guests". Only females mark their territory this way. Males sprinkle urine to mark the borders of their territory.

How should the owner react to such cat behavior?

Not everyone likes it when a cat stomps on the stomach. Should you react to such a habit?

What's the right way to react

Observe your cat. It may be the way the cat is trying to get your attention. Show tact and patience, even if the animal accidentally makes a puff on his clothes.

If stomping and "stroking" with claws does not make you happy, put a plaid or couch cushion under his paws. You can try distracting him with a favorite toy or changing his body position to make him inaccessible for the claws. Gently lay the cat on its side and hold it slightly with your hand. As a rule, after such a maneuver the cat calms down or goes to rest, sharpening its claws against a scratching post.

Do not forget to trim the claws of your pet regularly. This is not only an effective way to protect your pet from scratches, but also a necessary procedure to prevent the splitting of the claw covers.

What you shouldn't do

You should not scold your pet for "improper" behavior. We've already established why cats stomp on blankets, "massage" your belly, and set their claws in motion. There is no threat or disobedience in their actions. On the contrary, in this way, the animal expresses its affection for its owner. Against this background, a negative reaction to the "milk step" will cause your pet stress.

Knowing the possible reasons for your pet's stomping will help you respond appropriately to his behavior. More often than not, the pet starts its ritual to get pleasure and "share" it with the owner. If a cat stomps its front paws on a person or tries to stretch out a blanket, it is seeking comfort, both physically and psychologically.

The origin of this behavior

Cats learn to knead when they are still kittens and still in the lactation stage. Kneading the breast with the front paws helps push the milk out of the mother so that it comes out better and is easier for the kitten to drink. In this way, kneading becomes a reflex that the cat maintains throughout her life.

It used to be thought that kneading as an adult was not a natural behavior, but a problem resulting from premature weaning.

Over time, however, it has been proven that the vast majority of cats continue to knead as adults, regardless of how early or late they were separated from their mothers.

Just because kneading initially serves to make it easier to feed your kitten does not mean that your cat loves you because she wants to feed herself, or because she thinks you are her mother. It simply means that this behavior is acquired early in his life. This reflex is very closely related to rest and well-being.

Reasons why a cat "kneads"

There are many theories that attempt to explain. We have compiled the most popular among cat behavior experts.

1. The cat is getting ready to rest. The first reason cats knead is to prepare themselves a comfortable place to rest. In this case, this behavior may be related to the need of cats living in the wild to crush leaves and branches on the ground to create a comfortable place for themselves to rest. Regardless of origin, both females and males may instinctively start kneading a blanket, couch or you to then lie down more comfortably.

2. A cat marks its territory. Cats are territorial animals, so another reason an animal in the feline family may knead a surface or human is to mark their territory. Cats have a number of scent glands (that is, producing scent and pheromones) on their paw pads, which are activated by kneading the surface.

You can assume that your cat is trying to mark what it is kneading, including itself, if in addition to this it also rubs its cheeks, chin or whiskers. This happens most often (but not exclusively) when several cats live in the same house. So, if your cat is petting you, she may be trying to tell the world (and your other pets) that you are hers.

3. In moments of happiness. In many cases, a cat kneads simply because it is comfortable and at ease. The cat associates kneading with a situation of great well-being: when she was little and was safe with her mother and feeding. That's why kneading can occur as a reflex when the cat is relaxed and feels good. That's a good sign!

4. emotional attachment. Contrary to popular belief, cats form bonds with their human owners and even with other pets in the house and are very fond of their company, to the point of always following them around the house. If you have another cat, dog, or even a rodent in the house, your pet may also "knead" them and lick and chew on them at the same time. An attachment, an emotional bond, may form with other animals as well. In other words: your cat probably kneads you simply because she loves you and likes being with you. This is especially likely if your cat is one of the most affectionate breeds of cat in the world.

Tips for owners

If your cat is distracting you from important things with its paws, or if for some reason touching makes you uncomfortable, try to gently divert your cat's attention. For example, you could:

• Pull out your cat's favorite toy;
• Take a few minutes and play with the cat to satisfy its request for attention;
• Stroke its paws and soothe it;
• Offer the cat something soft to trample on, such as a rug or your sweater.

But what you shouldn't do is punish the fluffy cat, use force and even swinging, raising your voice or not reacting at all. It is quite possible that the cat came to you to receive or express love, and therefore any negative reaction, as well as a complete lack of reaction may traumatize it.

Effects on Humans

Cats have a positive effect on their owners, a fact proven by many researchers. In psychotherapy there is even such a thing as "feline therapy": it is a way of treating psychotrauma or its symptoms with cats, which is suitable for everyone who is not allergic to fur.

First of all, cats alone relieve people from loneliness: you can – and sometimes must – talk to them (by the way, doctors recommend cats for socialization to patients with autism or schizophrenia). Cats also help you cope with the accumulated excess of love – when you have a cat in the house, you will always have someone to take care of and pay attention to. And, of course, a pet develops in a person a sense of responsibility, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, because without a human cat, even in the home, can not cope.

Secondly, the purring of cats affects people as an "audio-soothing": the sound of purring helps to relax, to switch from unpleasant thoughts, and sometimes even fall asleep. The same effect on a person and massage with paws – if at the time of "procedure" you do not need to concentrate on work or other tasks, try to just close your eyes and enjoy. The main thing is to trim the pet's claws beforehand, otherwise you may be left with small marks.