There is also another quite different theory as to why cats are kneading, that is that kneading originated back to the cats wild ancestors who had to tread down grass to make a temporary nest in which they could rest. When the cat kneads it presses downwards with it’s paw and exposes its claws. It closes it’s claws as it lifts the paw and the process takes between one and two seconds. Most cat owners see kneading as a problem, as it can be quite painful for the cat owner if the cat is kneading sitting in the owners lap.

Many cats purr when they are kneading, so this may be an indication that the cat is actually enjoying itself when kneading. This is the main reason why the first theory is the most likely one, and you can read about why do cats purr here.

Female cats are known to purr when giving birth, if this is cause of the pain they are experienced or just to relax themselves is not certain. Cats do sometimes purr when they are injured, in pain or dying, so purring is not always a sign that the cat is feeling well. Some people claim that cats also purr to reassure humans, sitting close when their owner is upset and purr. Other people think cats sometimes purr around humans to indicate that they are hungry and want food.

Purring involves activation of nerves within their voice box, and these nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords. Air is pushed in and out of the vibrating cords and thus creating the musical purr. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act, meaning that a cat only purr when it wants to.