Cats knead (or “make biscuits”) mainly because it is a comforting, instinctive behavior that starts in kittenhood and carries into adult life. It usually signals relaxation, contentment, and a positive emotional state, not that anything is wrong.

Kitten instinct

• Kittens knead their mother’s belly to help stimulate milk flow while nursing, so the motion becomes strongly linked to warmth, safety, and food.

• Many cats keep this behavior as adults because repeating it brings back that same soothing feeling and can even trigger feel‑good brain chemicals.

Comfort and affection

• Adult cats often knead when they are very relaxed—on a soft blanket, your lap, or just before settling down to sleep.

• When a cat kneads on a person, it is usually a sign of affection and trust, as if treating the person like a safe “parent” figure.

Territory and nesting

• Cats have scent glands in their paw pads, so kneading also leaves their scent behind, quietly marking a bed, blanket, or person as “theirs.”

• The motion may also come from wild ancestors that pressed down grass or leaves to make a more comfortable nesting or resting spot.

When to worry

• Kneading is normal, but if a cat suddenly kneads much more, seems tense, or also shows signs of pain or anxiety, it can be a self‑soothing attempt and worth a vet check.

• If the claws hurt you, trim the cat’s nails and give them a designated soft blanket or bed so they can knead without damaging skin or furniture.