What is Cat?

Kneading is muscle memory from infancy, plus emotional regulation.

Origins:

Kittens knead their mother’s belly to stimulate milk flow. That motion gets permanently wired to comfort and safety.

What it means as an adult:

• You = safe surface
• You = warm
• You = emotionally familiar
• Sometimes: mild territorial marking (scent glands in paws)

When a cat kneads you:

• Their guard is down
• Their stress is low
• Their nervous system is self-soothing

If claws are involved, that’s not aggression—it’s overconfidence.

Cat logic:

“This feels like home.”