If you have a cat, you've probably seen it push in and out with its front paws, alternating between left and right. This behavior, known as kneading, is sometimes called "making biscuits," for how it resembles the act of kneading dough, according to Broadway Pet Hospital in Oakland, California. Cats often perform this motion on a soft surface, such as a blanket, a person's lap and other animals, per the American Animal Hospital Association in Lakewood, Colorado.
So why do cats knead? Although the reason is uncertain, the most likely explanation is that it is a leftover behavior from kittenhood, Susan Hazel, an associate professor of animal behavior, welfare and ethics at the University of Adelaide in Australia, told Live Science. During nursing, a kitten rhythmically treads its paws on the mother's body to stimulate the flow of milk.
