A little about cat physiology and the reasons for this behavior
These creatures differ from other animals in that they have a highly developed sense of touch. Whiskers, eyebrows, paws are areas that expand the perception of the world. There are many receptors and glands on the pads, the whiskers play the role of an indicator of the emotional state, and vary in shape, depending on the breed.
Cats tend to stomp around in one place, moving their paws as if kneading dough, sometimes releasing their claws, accompanied by purring. This movement is called the “milk step”. These tender expressions of affection apply to humans or other animals as well as to inanimate objects.
Psychological release
Pets experience stress associated with lack of attention, a trip to the veterinarian, a new neighbor and other reasons. Offended or upset cats relieve tension through a release ritual - they trample furniture, extending their claws, or knead a soft blanket or pillow with their paws. During such therapy, the animal releases endorphins, which helps it calm down. If you interfere, it may bite your hand.
Childhood memories
This instinctive movement of the paws in kittens is one of the first, appearing at birth. Babies, nudging into the cat’s belly and massaging it, stimulate milk production. Animals associate feeding time only with positive emotions. They remember how warm and cozy it was next to their mother. Having reached adulthood, feeling full and safe, pets involuntarily reproduce movements from childhood, shifting a blanket or sofa.
Preparation for sleep
Another cat instinct is related to preparing a place to sleep. In their natural environment, animals trample, crushing grass and leaves to prepare a bed. According to some animal psychologists, this instinct has survived to this day, but only in a number of pets. Therefore, the pet tramples the already soft pillow with its front paws before going to bed.
Mating season
The time of mating also forces the darlings to perform this simple action. Estrus is a period of sexual arousal that is extremely difficult to confuse with something else, since the cat begins to actively knead the blanket, arch its back, and move its hind legs, accompanying this with an expressive meow.
You should not disturb the animal at such a time, it may bite.
After 10-14 days or with the onset of pregnancy, this will pass.
Taking care of the owner
Mustachioed pets show care for a person both through purring and a kind of massage.
Cats feel the approach of a disease, therefore, by sitting on the same part of the body, they try to treat the owner, taking away negative energy. If the cat constantly lies only on his lap, it is better to check if everything is in order with the health of the joints.
Love and devotion
Animal psychologists argue that a high level of trust in a person is another reason for such behavior. So if a pet crushes its owner with its paw pads, it is showing love.
Cats can trample on the body, expressing gratitude for stroking. When the pet, purring, runs through the hair with its paws, it marks the person as its property, trying to protect it from competitors.
Other reasons
The reasons listed are the most common, but it is worth considering less frequent motives for such behavior.
Hunting instinct
Experienced breeders attribute some of the behavior of their pets to ancient instincts. Pets crumple soft things and scratch furniture not in an attempt to annoy them, but in obedience to hunting reflexes.
The wild ancestors of modern cats checked the surface under their paws so that nothing would interfere at the moment of attack, neither too soft soil nor rustling. Cats have not yet forgotten their natural skills, but they do not always use them for their intended purpose.
Territory
According to one theory, this action is a desire to mark territory. There are many glands located on the paw pads. The secret they secrete remains on the surface of the object that the pet crushed. This behavior is more characteristic of cats than cats, and means that the animal is marking its territory.
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.
Mr. Cat recommends: Owner actions
If the owners do not like this manifestation of care, they may have a desire to drive the pet away, scold them or spank them on the paws, but this is strictly forbidden. The cat came to the person for a reason, he shares his energy with him, expresses a desire to play or show his love. These manifestations of feelings do not deserve censure.
Instead of shouting and assault, you need to pet your pet, stop him and carefully lower him to the floor or other soft place, in this case he will not lose trust and will not withdraw from communication.
If you like the cat massage, but your pet puts out its claws, catches clothes, scratches its hands, you need to cut the claws on its paws with special scissors. But no more than 1-2 mm, so as not to touch the blood vessels and not cause pain to the pet.
In addition, you can resort to the following tricks:
- stroke the top of your pet’s paws, this action will cause him to remove his claws;
- carefully place a thick blanket under the cat and continue enjoying the massage;
- Put the cat down with soft strokes on the head and back; in this position, he will not move his paws;
- gently distract him with a toy, let his attention concentrate on it.
You can be proud of this attitude on the part of the cat; it shows that the pet feels love and care.
Is it possible to wean a pet from trampling its paws?
Often a cat releases its claws when it tramples with its paws, and digs them into the owner’s body quite painfully. Therefore, sometimes the question arises whether it is possible to wean a cat from trampling.
This can be done completely only by creating unfavorable conditions for her life. So that the animal does not have any desire to relax, so that when it sees its owner it hides in hard-to-reach places and is constantly on guard. It is also not recommended to roughly drive away a cat if it causes you pain in the process of trampling. Imagine yourself in her place: you came to your person, relaxed, decided to take a nap, completely trusting him, and suddenly you are rudely pushed away and even shouted loudly. You will be offended, and so will the cat. And an insulted animal is capable of revenge.
During the process of trampling, a cat can release its claws, but not dig into them. If your pet usually doesn’t give you any discomfort and suddenly this happens, it means he’s unhappy and you did something wrong. Think, remember and try to improve.
It is necessary to teach an animal not to cause unpleasant sensations during trampling from early childhood. Patience and consistency are important. If you stop unwanted behavior in one case and don’t pay attention to it in another, there will be no educational effect. As soon as the kitten has released its claws and dug them in, carefully take the paw and lightly squeeze or press on the pads and quietly but sternly say: “You can’t!” This should also be done in other cases when the kitten puts out its claws inappropriately. If you are patient, the older cat will not want to scratch.
You need to train your cat not to cause you discomfort from early childhood.
Some owners trim their pets' nails. This procedure is only needed by people who are more concerned about the condition of their furniture than the real needs of the animal they have adopted. Trimming cats' claws is a useless procedure that can cause irreparable damage to their physical and mental health. If you missed the moment of correctly forming the habit of trampling paws in raising a kitten, try switching the cat to another object:
- place a soft toy, pillow, old blanket, bedding under her paws;
- gently turn your pet on the other side, scratching behind the ear or stroking the back: he will continue to simply knead the air, the main thing is that he is next to you and in an atmosphere of complete trust and pleasure.
Therapeutic effects on humans
According to professional breeders, pets are capable of healing. This theory is partly true. It has been scientifically proven that they can help a person.
Treatment with cats or feline therapy is a therapeutic technique that anyone can resort to if they are not allergic to wool. Cats are able to sense the owner’s mood; if treated gently, he will come to the rescue when you need to relieve tension.
In addition to the fact that cats help you feel better, their purring calms the human nervous system.
However, rumbling has another function - thickening the bones. Pets use it to heal fractures, since the frequency of sound vibrations from 20 to 50 Hz has a positive effect on bone tissue.
Doctors recommend communication with cats for people diagnosed with schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, and autism. Regular communication will help in socialization of children, becoming a good friend. The care shown by pets normalizes the human condition.
What healers say
Many people know firsthand that cats have a healing effect on humans.
After an animal undergoes a cat massage session, many people note a significant reduction in pain.
At the same time, the four-legged healer, with an instinct known to him alone, identifies the sore spot and begins to stomp on exactly where the problem is.
Of course, this version can be considered quite controversial, but official science does not refute it.
As a result of exposure to the skin with paws and claws, local irritation occurs.
In this area, blood circulation increases and processes similar to those occurring during a professional massage occur.
Home massage therapist
Version 4: caring for your loved one
Not a single pampered domestic cat will lie down in the first place it comes across. In order for the dream to be truly pleasant, she will carefully examine her “bed” and probe it. The best way to check the bedding is with soft, sensitive paw pads.
Walking through its favorite place, the animal checks to see if there are any sharp corners, hard or cold areas. This is probably why cats stomp not only on their owner’s lap, but also on the sofa, and on their pillow – wherever they decide to take a little nap.
Surface Study
Trampling can also serve another purpose. The wild ancestors of cats have always hunted, and for a successful result it is important to quietly and silently get close to the victim, and then accurately jump, pushing off properly. Therefore, it is very important for the animal to explore the surface on which they move in order to properly adapt to it. Under the paws of a sneaking cat, not a single twig should crunch or a dry leaf rustle. The support for the decisive throw must also be absolutely reliable. It is these instincts that often awaken in pets who want to understand whether the surface chosen is soft and warm enough for a sweet sleep.
Is it possible to scold for affection?
How should an owner react correctly to excessive displays of love that cause pain and damage furniture? Do not scold your pet under any circumstances if you want to maintain a trusting relationship with it. Always remember that your cat releases her claws out of an excess of love, not at all wanting to hurt or harm. Show patience and affection, and then your mustache will respond with boundless love and trust. If the “massage” has become especially unbearable, contact a veterinarian, who will slightly shorten the “instrument of torture” – the sharp claws.
Date: 01/29/2014.
Updated: 09/08/2016
Photo: pixabay.com
Version 3: possessive behavior
Have you ever wondered why a cat tramples you with its paws? Just you, and not the people who came to visit? Perhaps it’s not a matter of instincts at all, but a sense of ownership? This theory also has a scientific basis.
A cat's paws have sweat glands near their pads. By shifting, the cat stimulates the secretion of an odorous enzyme from these glands and thereby “marks” its territory, that is, the owner’s knees. Only animals feel the smell, and it is for them that the occupied place is designated.
