# What do you call it when your cat kneads? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668 "2010-09-05T05:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/41 "2010-09-06T02:52:38Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > They’re contacting the mother ship when they do that. I call it the same thing–I don’t recall whether I picked it up from you or from ChefTroy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/42 "2010-09-06T03:20:14Z")
Don’t have time to read any responses right now, but Wifey and I have always called it “pumping.” . ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/43 "2010-09-06T03:26:31Z")
“Kitty biscuits” is what my mother called it when our old cat did it. Or just kneading. You do knead biscuits. You don’t knead muffins. (You don’t even stir them very hard.) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/44 "2010-09-06T03:29:11Z")
Another vote for “making biscuits” - usually followed by “oh, Mina, it’s time for a pedicure”. Then, “oooh, oooh, that’s cute but it HURTS!” ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/45 "2010-09-06T04:24:32Z")
I’ve never heard “making biscuits” but when done upon my tummy I call it a total insult to my dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/46 "2010-09-06T05:07:24Z")
Something like “Awwwww, liddle puddy footies!” Sometimes I’ll start up the puddy footies talk while they’re just laying there minding their own business. I’d say about a third of the time, it starts up the puddy footying while I’m talking in in that tone of voice. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/47 "2010-09-06T05:09:50Z")
Another vote for “making biscuits” but we also call it “piddy-padding.” ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/48 "2010-09-06T05:11:48Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > On a related topic, does anyone else have a name for when your cats stick one leg WAY up in the air to lick their butts? We used to refer to it as ‘doing his laundry’ but a good friend of mine calls it ‘playing the cello,’ so that’s our new phrase. > > Silly human. Cats can’t play cellos. Pianos, yes, but not cellos. > > They’re contacting the mother ship when they do that. [falls over with LOL] This position is referred to as “gear-shift kitty.” Never heard of the “playing the cello” bit, but it makes sense. I, for one, welcome our feline overlords!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/49 "2010-09-06T08:29:09Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > > > They’re contacting the mother ship when they do that. > > I call it the same thing–I don’t recall whether I picked it up from you or from ChefTroy. I’m pretty sure that I started using the phrase after reading it on this board, and it might have been **Troy** who said it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/50 "2010-09-06T08:54:31Z")
I always called that position leg o’ lamb, or leg o’ mutton. But kneading has always been kneading (or sometimes kuh-needling). My younger cat, Shiva, was probably weaned too early since he does the kneeding and suckling bit on my shirts while I’m wearing them. It’s cute, but damp. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/51 "2010-09-06T09:33:54Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > > [@Balance](#): > > > > I call it the same thing–I don’t recall whether I picked it up from you or from ChefTroy. > > I’m pretty sure that I started using the phrase after reading it on this board, and it might have been **Troy** who said it. Heheh we’ve picked it up too. We like to speculate on what it is that she’s communicating each time. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/52 "2010-11-01T14:49:38Z")
So, one cat in the family makes muffins. She’s small and petite, and appropriate. Her SISTER on the other hand is large and rolypoly and we’ve determined she makes Bear Claws. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/53 "2010-11-01T15:31:34Z")
I usually tell them “aw, I knead you too”. It’s nice to feel kneaded by someone. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/54 "2010-11-01T16:02:21Z")
Making biscuits. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/55 "2010-11-01T17:12:14Z")
Happy feet. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/56 "2010-11-01T17:15:42Z")
Well, since my girl Roxie usually does it while suckling, we refer to it as “making out” - “Roxie’s making out with the blanket again”. She occasionally does it without the suckling, but not as often. As far as the leg in the air, well, that’s either 5th gear or the Eiffel Tower pose. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/57 "2010-11-01T17:56:11Z")
Happy feets. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/58 "2010-11-01T18:21:53Z")
The Other Shoe’s family refers to it as “making tacos” which I’ve never understood, and also “pressing biscuits,” which makes marginally more sense. Oddly, neither of our cats kneads. Well, the older one’s declawed, and the younger one was separated from her mom way too young (judging by how tiny she still was when Other Shoe’s own mother found her, starving in the rain under a bush) so maybe that factors in. Well, okay, I’ve seen her do it mayyyybe once or twice, and she just turned 3. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/59 "2010-11-01T19:08:51Z")
We call it kitty massages. Lucy does it - to my armpits. Why my armpits need to be massaged, I don’t know, but its her world, I just live in it. The leg up is called “sexy pose” or “PlayKitty pose”. It’s even better when you say their name and they look up with their tongue hanging out. ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668/60 "2010-11-01T22:30:16Z")
We call it “Happy Feet”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-it-when-your-cat-kneads/552668.md?page=4)