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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat behaviour - what does this mean?

22 replies

Youcanringmybell · 27/10/2012 08:14

I was wondering what cats are actually doing when they do the following...
Every afternoon, evening etc my 1 year old female spayed cat climbs up to my chest and paws at my shoulder/ chest, clawing gently, intensly purring.

She licks my shoulder and or neck/ chest at the same time. No matter what I am wearing...If I am in the bed she does it on top of the covers. If I am busy drinking a cuppa/ crafting etc it is very difficult to get her off me - she is insistent that she wants to do it for atleast a few minutes. She keeps coming back until I let her do it.

This is very different behaviour from when she had her first season 6 months ago - that was HELL..Grin She is not presenting herself or anything (thankfully)

I like to think it is an affectionate thing - can anyone shed any light? I used to have a cat behavior book and lost it.

OP posts:
BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 27/10/2012 08:16

Ate. They not trying to suckle from mum?

My old Tom did it all his life.

I assumed he left his mum too early.

Think they find it comforting.

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 27/10/2012 08:17

Are they not trying to imitate suckling from mum-should have said!!Confused

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 27/10/2012 08:27

A friend once said the same thing...she doesn't do it to anyone else in the house.

OP posts:
SecretNutellaFix · 27/10/2012 08:44

yep- she sees you as mum.

My boy cat does it to me. He is happy to sit on me a purr and drool and knead for hours if I'd let him.

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 27/10/2012 08:52

Oh how cute...I find it less annoying now Blush
I thought it was more a mating thing but now she sees me as her mummy I feel all emotional Blush

OP posts:
HermioneHatesHoovering · 27/10/2012 09:00

Where they do the sort of "kneading" on you with their paws is what they do as kittens around the mothers teats to get the milk to come down, I think.

cozietoesie · 27/10/2012 09:05

Interestingly, I've never had a Siamese that 'kneaded'. I wonder whether that's because reputable Siamese breeders won't let them go to new homes until they're at least 12 weeks old - so properly weaned?

musicalendorphins · 27/10/2012 09:07

They knead and purr when they are happy. I have heard it is when they have been weaned too early, not sure if it is true as every cat I have had does it.

musicalendorphins · 27/10/2012 09:20

No, don't worry, it is not a mating thing for sure. They yeowl and raise their behinds in the air towards you when in heat, treading their back legs. You are safe from that as your cat is fixed.

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 27/10/2012 09:39

My cat came into heat first at 4 months and it went on until 6 months when I had her spayed. She called and I had 'mael callers' waiting outside the window hoping she would be allowed out to play Grin She was presents her backside to both kids all day - it was hysterical to them!

She stayed in until a few weeks after her spaying and has been going out. She is tiny but so fierce - she patrols the garden and sits in the guinea pig and rabbit run garding the small animals. She is so brave.

I rehomed her when she was 8 weeks from another couple who impulsed bought from a farm type place. She was teeny then so I suspect she was removed a little young from her mother.

Now I know it is called 'kneading' - she gets quite insistent about it!

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 27/10/2012 11:04

Cat speak for " I LOVE YOU MUM oh and is it dinner time yet". The tail less wonder only recently started this now she is truly settled in her forever home.

EnjoyVampirebloodResponsibly · 27/10/2012 11:11

My Tom aged 8 months does it too. Only to me. It creeps me out a bit TBH, but the vet says he'll probably never grow out of it. His sister (sae litter) doesn't do it.

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 27/10/2012 14:40

Oh I feel so happy now. Cannot wait to get comfy on the sofa tonight and have her come over for her kneading. I feel very honoured tbh Smile

Thanks everyone !!!

OP posts:
Themumsnot · 27/10/2012 15:44

My big ginger and white boys does this with me. He especially loves it when I am wearing a fleecy dressing-gown. Sometimes I think he sees the dressing gown as mum, rather than me.

alistron1 · 27/10/2012 17:05

My baby cat does this to our big boy cat. The big boy cat does it to me - it's a sign of love and your cat sees you as her mummy Grin

sashh · 28/10/2012 01:46

Mine does this, she actually prefes to do it first thing on a morning before I have had a shower / bath, and (yes this is gross) her ideal it to put her nose in my armpit.

My carer and I refer to this as 'pussing', as in 'were you pussed this morning?'.

If there is no human arouond, or I'm doing something like cooking she will find a blanket or piece of clothing that I've worn and 'puss' that.

musicalendorphins · 28/10/2012 01:46

Aww! I love it too. A purring cat makes me feel loved.

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 28/10/2012 08:00

Well I was kneaded last night, drooled on. She got quite firm with her kneading because I didn't put her off! Ouch - she tried it on my bare arm.

Very sweet but when i tried to move her she gave me a little nip Shock
I told her off and made her get down. She has an attitude now

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 28/10/2012 08:17

Ignore it. They try to push the boundaries - so a little remonstration every so often is to be expected. I shut my boys outside the bedroom/room door for an hour or two if there's exceptionally bad behaviour. (Luckily, rare when they're adult.) They soon have an attitude adjustment.

Original poster
Youcanringmybell · 28/10/2012 08:26

Thanks cozie - she has always been a little bit of a nipper if she doesn't get her own way but never hard. Cats know how to stare you down don't they. When I made her move and told her off she glared at me solidly for few minutes giving me 'evils'.

OP posts:
PetiteRaleuse · 28/10/2012 09:26

Mine does this suckling too. It gets worse during pregnancy and just after. We got her at just under 6 weeks as the owner of the mother wouldn't keep them any longer Hmm and we put it down to her being taken away too soon :(

PetiteRaleuse · 28/10/2012 09:26

I mean it gets worse when I am pregnant and just after. The cat doesn't get pregnant.

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