what do you call it...

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

When your cat kneads you with his her paws(and claws) when purring and happy?

For many generations of cat lovers in our house (and cats) it has been known as 'dough dough-ing' because it's like they are kneading doug with their claws.

However when I said to a friend the other day that one of my cats left claw marks in my neck dough dough-ing on me, her ???? look made me realise that other people have different words!

So what do you call it?!?!

[WhatKindofFool]

I've always just called it "clawing" cos it hurts.

[thecatneuterer]

I'm stunned at all these different terms! I really thought that the whole English speaking world called it either 'padding', 'paddy pawing' or 'kneading'. Who would have thought there could be almost as many variations as there are people - or so it would seem. I'm loving 'the milk trot' though. I'm sure I'm going to be using that in future.

[gobbin]

Puddling here.

[TataClaire]

milk treading and my cat dribbles and purrs away throughout!

[VenusRising]

Let down patting. For the milk let down. Love that German word: Milk trot!

If you look at all feeding mammals they all pat the mothers boob to get the milk let down. Goats and sheep for eg butt the mother's udders, as do cows and horses.
All these little cats are thinking you are their mum, and milk is on the menu. Very cute.



Do you not clip the sharp points of their claws? We never have the needles, as we clip the points off. Much better for the milk trot :)

[iklboo]

Padding here.

[Sparklingbrook]

Ooh blimey. Sparkling Cat needs counselling I think.

[GranToAirMissiles]

Yeah, trying to get blood milk out of a stone.

[cozietoesie]

Then Sparklingcat has got a real psychological crisis, Gran !

[GranToAirMissiles]

I would call it treading or kneading. German has an 'official' word for it - Milchtritt (milk-step). The cat thinks you are its mother.

[teatrolley]

Padding. Or tenderising.

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

One of mine dribbles.. profusely! I love her but it's a bit off putting to be kneaded and made soggy :D

[Fluffycloudland77]

Does everyone else's dribble at the same time too?

[Sparklingbrook]

Silvery I think we will have to change it to 'playing the organ' here. That's hilarious.

[RugBugs]

Needling, elf cat particularly likes to clamber up your chest with her boney paws then stick you with her needles.

[ordinarygull]

we call it 'ucking' - no idea why though!
My latest two aren't really uckers, although previous cats have been...

[MoonlightandRoses]

We use 'marching' - seems a bit dull though, may have to adopt some of the terms on here instead.

[cozietoesie]

[TheSilveryPussycat]

We used to call it 'playing the organ' - which in the light of the info above seems particularly appropriate for Sparkling Cat

[sashh]

Paddy Paddy here.

[Darmont]

We call it marking

[Sparklingbrook]

She loves DH so much Fluffy. He doesn't appreciate it at all though. When she has woken him up in that way she is up on his chest wanting a fuss. If he is snoring she has been known to stick her nose in his mouth.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I call it milk treading.


Sparkling cats so cool. Your poor dh though. Acupuncture for testicles can't be nice!

[Iseeall]

Paddy pawing here

[eminemmerdale]

Padding here!