Why cats trample and crush with their paws: an explanation of the “milk step”, how a person should react to such a “massage”

What is a “milk step” and where does it come from?

Fingering with the front paws, accompanied by purring, is most often associated with childhood memories. It is called the "milk step". Kittens use this kind of massage to knead their mother’s mammary glands. It stimulates milk production and allows the baby to eat heavily.

The feeling of satiety and security “under the wing” of a mother cat brings very pleasant emotions, so many animals retain this habit even into adulthood.

People's opinion

Many people believe that by trampling the body of its benefactor with its paws and purring affectionately, the cat performs various medical manipulations.

It is believed that cats can stabilize the energy balance in the human body. If a pet gives a “massage”, it performs an exchange of bioenergy, removing negative energy and giving the owner its positive energy. It has long been noticed that cats often lie down on painful places on the body. It is worth noting that this effect is not inherent in all cats, but only in those that have a strong connection with their household.

Since ancient times, cats have been credited with various mystical abilities; this list includes curing humans from many ailments. At the same time, the effectiveness of cat therapy is confirmed by the results of many studies on this topic. There is official data that says that cats sense the imminent onset of a heart attack and accurately look for the localization of benign and malignant tumors.

As for feline therapy, qualified cardiologist Alexey Ivanovich Lavrushin says that a pet, by trampling on the human body, tries to improve blood circulation throughout the body.

Avicenna and other sages of the East are sure that when cats move their paws, it is a massage procedure: this is how the animals relieve a person from physical fatigue and moral stress. And if the cat also uses claws, then this treatment can be easily compared to acupuncture.

Why do cats knead their paws?

All existing reasons explaining why cats knead their paws are divided into instinctive and conscious. The first include:

preparing a bed;
sexual desire;
marking the territory;
hunting.

Unlike instinctive ones, conscious reasons are explained by a real desire for the act of trampling. These include:

demonstrating love and trust;
host treatment;
stress relief.

Below you can get acquainted with all of the above in more detail.

Memories of a protected childhood

Touching a person with their paws after a hearty meal or stroking them is a sign of gratitude, love and trust. After separation from the mother, her role is taken over by the owner, since it is he who is responsible for the satiety and protection of his pet.

At the moment of trampling, some animals manage to suck a human finger or other parts of the body, smacking their lips with pleasure with their eyes closed.

Sometimes similar actions are performed in relation to soft things: blankets or large plush toys. Such “betrayal” should not be taken seriously, because your knees are not available 24/7, and no one has canceled the “milk step” according to the schedule and spontaneous desire.

Preparing the bed

The second reason explains why cats knead their paws before going to bed. It is associated with instinct, preserved from wild cats.

Animals who want to take a nap necessarily crush the grass under them. By marking time in one place, they not only create the most comfortable shape for the future “bed,” but also drive out the insects that have accumulated there with their vibrations.

Despite some common features, getting ready for bed and the “milk step” are still different. In the first case, purring is very rare, and kneading is often accompanied by scratching.

Sexual desire

The onset of heat is easiest to track in females. They arch their backs, raise their butts and fussily move their hind legs. This unusual behavior is accompanied by loud meowing and occasional rolling on the floor.

Under the influence of hormones, males show interest in soft blankets and toys. Having chosen an object of adoration, they begin to knead it with their front paws and purr with pleasure, periodically shifting their hind legs.

In contrast to the “milk step,” arousal is accompanied by small tremors throughout the body, and after completion of the immediate imitation of sexual intercourse, the animal begins to actively lick the genitals.

Showing love and affection

But it’s not just the desire for control that animals express in this way. Cats often place their paws on top of their hands when they are overwhelmed with feelings of tenderness, affection and love.

Animals whose owners are away from home for a long time especially often express their affection in this way and caress people. Cats left alone for a long period of time begin to feel bored and melancholy. And by placing their paws on top of a person’s hands or on a person’s face, the animals try to keep the owner close to them and receive as much attention and affection from him as possible.

Unconfirmed assumptions

The remaining reasons are considered unconfirmed assumptions. They also explain why cats knead their paws, but they have some nuances that do not allow them to be classified as the main ones.

Marking territory

The sweat glands of mustachioed pets are located directly on the pads of their paws, so in the heat they leave wet marks on the tiles. In addition to cooling the body, the enzymes released help repel uninvited guests. This feature is actively used for marking territories. Most often, females resort to it, since males spray an odorous secretion when urinating.

When marking territory, cats practically do not trample, but simply scratch with their paws. Unlike regular kneading, such touches increase the coverage area and increase the security of the territory.

Hunting

If we consider all possible reasons, then it makes sense to note the hunting instinct. He explains why cats crush the surface with their hind paws before attacking. In this case, this movement helps to ensure safety: the absence of noisy leaves and too soft soil under the paws in which you can get stuck.

Despite the fact that in most domestic animals the role of prey is played by a toy mouse, and the role of soil is a stable laminate, the habit inherited from wild ancestors is still preserved.

Host treatment

Cats love warmth, so they can sense inflammation a mile away and prefer to “heal” their owners. In fact, they simply settle down on the warmest and softest place possible, massaging it before curling up into a ball.

Vibrations during purring really have a beneficial effect on health, but the removal of negative energy and the miraculous treatment of diseases with their help is just a myth. If after a cat massage your mood and well-being improve, then it is important to understand that “after” does not mean “as a result.” Most often, these problems are solved by banal rest and taking medications.

Stress relief

The last unconfirmed hypothesis explaining why cats paw is associated with endorphin, the pleasure hormone. Cat pads are equipped with many receptors responsible for the sense of touch. Trampling soft and pleasant to the touch surfaces stimulates the production of endorphins, reducing stress levels.

Because of this, many pets wrinkle the blanket after returning from the veterinarian or a recent punishment for stealing sausages. At such moments it is better not to touch them, since before the steam is completely released they can take out their dissatisfaction on your hand.

What materials can be used for sewing

Before sewing a product, it is necessary to study its design, select materials and need tools. The purpose of production determines which pattern is chosen for the bag and what dimensions it will have, and the following points should be taken into account:

material for sewing the base of the bag. The material for the bag is selected depending on the intended use of this product. It is better to test natural or synthetic fabrics for strength in advance and only then use them in the creative process; selection of material for making the lining. A lining is needed for products used to store easily soiled items. If liquid medicines or hygiene items will be stored in the bag, it is better to make the lining from a plastic bag; tie design to secure contents. To tie the finished bag, you can use different options and solutions. This can be a drawstring (threaded tie) or a ribbon sewn on the side; the tie does not need to be sewn to the bag itself; external decor and how the bag will be decorated. Like any good gift or beautiful thing, it is recommended to decorate the bag

For this process, you can use various accessories and techniques, and it is important that the design style matches the theme of the holiday.

A fairly large bag, designed as gift wrapping, can easily be converted into a beautiful bag, especially if it is made of durable fabric. Any product made from natural and high-quality materials can be given a second life, with a minimum of effort and spending a little money.

What should an owner who is in pain from the “milk step” do?

If a cat tramples you with its paws and at the same time actively releases its claws and scratches your skin, do not rush to drive it away or scold it. Such an attitude can destroy the established trust. Instead of punishment, it is recommended to try more harmless options.

Laying soft cloth

The easiest way is to carefully place a soft blanket or thick clothes under your pet that you don’t mind. Thanks to this cape, the massage will bring extremely pleasant sensations.

If the long and sharp claws continue to scratch even after placing fabric, try distracting the cat with a toy or gently turning it over on its side. Once in a lying position, she will calm down and go to sleep. It is also recommended to simply stroke the paws on top. This action will cause the claws to retract instinctively.

Cat manicure

Timely cat manicure not only prevents scratching and damage to furniture, but also prevents delamination of the claw covers. During the procedure, only the light part is cut off with a nail clipper, and the shortened claw must be trimmed with a file.

If you are afraid of harming your pet, seek help from a groomer or purchase silicone anti-scratch caps. They are fixed to the claws with special glue, which is included with the main kit.

What you should never do

In most cases, trampling on the owner is a way of showing love, so it should be encouraged, not suppressed. Prohibited actions during the “milk step” include:

screams;
repulsion;
spanking and other types of physical punishment;
surgical declawing, or onychectomy.

A sharp reaction can lead to severe stress and other unpleasant consequences.

Pets have the hardest time undergoing onychectomy, as this operation deprives them of a number of vital functions. Due to numerous mental disorders, painful recovery and the development of dangerous complications such as osteomyelitis, in most European countries declawing is equated to animal cruelty.

Reasons for behavior

From time to time, domestic cats stomp on a person with their paws, wrinkle the blanket and clothes of the owner, and often purr and squint their eyes. The first thing you should know about this peculiar behavior of a pet is that he feels good and comfortable. Secondly, the fluffy gives the person a signal that he loves him and cares about him, and also that the things around him are his territory. Animal psychologists identify several main reasons why a cat tramples its owner’s paws:

infant instinct;
massotherapy;
belonging to “one’s territory”;
manifestation of tender feelings.

Genetic memory

Representatives of the cat guild are often called sybarites - they really love comfortable conditions.

In the house, the cat chooses its own bed, settling in the most comfortable, clean and warm place.

A fluffy beauty curled up into a ball is the personification of bliss and comfort.

Some researchers explain the desire of cats to create comfortable conditions even in the wild for their habit of trampling a person, bed or toys with their paws.

It is believed that a wild cat, in its desire to make its sleeping place as comfortable as possible, tramples down leaves and branches so that it can sleep sweetly and comfortably.

Cats of all breeds love to trample their paws, from baby munchkins , graceful bengals and ending with giant pets like ragdolls or caracals .

Domestic cats also sometimes like to make a nest for themselves and sleep in the grass

Memory of childhood instincts

When a kitten is born, the movement of “flicking with its paws” is one of the first that it makes unconsciously. Newborn kittens thus knead the belly of their cat mother, provoking milk production. That is, this movement is genetically embedded in them from birth. The cat remembers how warm and cozy it was to lie against his mother’s belly, so he tries to reproduce such pleasant memories. This instinct allows us to answer the question why cats knead the blanket with their paws and purr.

Thanks for the compliment

As a rule, the cat chooses one person as the object of “trampling”. You won’t envy this “lucky one”... The one whom the pet recognizes as its mother now becomes a nanny for the purring family member. Feed on time, clean the tray, take to the veterinarian, play - all these worries will fall on your shoulders.

And do not console yourself with the thought that you took on these responsibilities voluntarily. This is your pet, having given you a compliment, “appointed” you as responsible for his happy existence.

On the other hand, this is even for the better. You will be able to receive sessions of relaxation and confidential communication with your cat more often than others.

The benefits of being friends with a cat

Friendship with your pet cat can be not only pleasant, but also mutually beneficial, since the owner receives many pleasant bonuses in return:

When you pet a cat, you get the same pleasure as the pet, since these actions can seriously reduce the stress accumulated during the day.
A long-term friendship with a cat will relieve the owner from prolonged depression, because every evening the cat will help relieve tension.
People who keep a cat at home do not feel loneliness as clearly, which is why lonely people are more likely to have pets.
Even conversations with your favorite cat can provide psychological help to a person.
The rumbling and warmth of a cat's body can create comfortable conditions for influencing human sore spots and reduce the symptoms of various diseases.
A cat massage is sure to bring you pleasure and relaxation.

Results

Cats are very sweet pets, whose presence in the house can bring real joy to their owner. You need to understand that sharpening its claws is a natural behavior of any cat, so you should not scold it for such actions. If you don’t like this cat’s “activity,” simply switch the cat’s attention to another object or toy. Treat your pet kindly, and he will definitely reciprocate you with love.

Why a cat tramples its paws: the main reasons and what it means