Expert: Karen Craft - 8/14/2007

Question
QUESTION: I once read a site that technically or medically described the cat behavior of "kneading" as a mild form of, and the term used was "masturbation".  Have you ever heard of this unusual description?  Is there any vet documentation of this phenomenon.  I have only found one site that alludes to such behavior and had not saved the original.

http://www.cat-health-behavior.com/cat-behavior-kneading.html

Thanks,

Rich

ANSWER: Hi Rich,

No, most times it is the cat regressing to kitten behavior and doing what it used to do to mom. I hope that helped you. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Found it...any insight?  Can a vet would verify(?)
-------------

http://www.pet-manual.co.uk/showthread/t-27904.html

Ted Davis
On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 07:07:31 GMT, J <remshan@yahooNOSPAM.com> wrote:

>I recently adopted a 2 year old tabby mix from the local Animal Rescue
>League. He is a great little guy and is fitting in well with my four
>year old tabby male.
>
>I noticed the other night as he was getting ready to bed down that he
>was kneading an area around my calf, which to me wasn't unusual, but
>then the little fella started to strangely move his back legs... It
>only took a nano-second to realize what he was doing (humping) and I
>gently pushed him away.
>
>He has done this another one or two times and this brings about some
>questions:
>
>He's neutered...I have never seen this behavior in a neutered cat in all
>my years of owning cats..has anyone here?
>
>How can I modify his behavior so that this stops, without alienating
>him? I don't want him to think I don't want him around...
>
>meaningful appropriate suggestions are welcome...

The occasional neutered tom will masturbate using some variation of
kneading. Since the cat does not subscribe to any belief system that
considers this sinful or harmful, and it give much pleasure to the
cat, I don't see any reason to stop it unless he is biting or clawing
someone. Blocking this behavior might even have negative effects on
the cat's behavior - after all that would be preventing the cat from
experiencing intense pleasure from being affectionate toward you.

Many years ago, I had such a cat - he did it in my lap. I just
started keeping a towel handy to put under him when he started to
catch the ejaculate.

--
T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu)  

Answer
Hi Rich,

I haven't come across this in all my years of cat guardianship. This sounds like someone pulling a leg. The biggest tip of is that the cat is neutered. His testes are removed. No testes, no sperm. There would be no ejaculate. Your cat may be feeling intense pleasure from kneading but he is not masturbating. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen