Why Do Cats Knead?

SciShow tackles one of the cutest questions ever: Why cats knead. You might have heard the theory, but do you know what adult cats would hold on to kitten-like behavior? The answers await!
----------

----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?

Sources:

[keb]

"It's cute because kitty loves you. But it's also painful because kitty's love is made out of little tiny knives." hahahahahaha! Funniest thing I've heard today!

[jeebersjumpincryst]

they knead cause in their past lives they were all bakers...

[sceerane]

I have a strange feeling my cat just sees me as a thing that pets it and opens the elusive monolith which is the door.

[GigaBoost]

False, the cat is kneading you to locate your internal organs so it knows where to strike when the time comes.

[alexhasaname]

my adult cat never kneaded until we got a kitten and he saw the kitten do it.

[NotTheCIA]

I literally have come back to this video just for the "It's cute because kitty loves you. But it's also painful because kitty's love is made out of little tiny knives" quote.

[xTreetable]

My dog learned it from my cat and keeps doing it...

[RSvidsincorporated]

My cat is always needing something.
Oh knead? Yeah he does that too.

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

Next time you see a cat kneading, throw it some dough. My cat made a pizza out of dead birds and mice.

[chemistryguy]

Felis silvestris.  Sylvester the cat.  This just added a level of awesome to Looney Tunes.

[TommyAndGracie]

Both of my adult cats knead on soft blankets.

[RavenJay]

"It's cute, because kitty loves you. But, its also painful, cause kitties love is made of little tiny knives" ~ Hank Green
Words of wisdom

[SuperSaiyanMaze]

When I was a kid, I called it the purr-purr dance. Also, lol at love in knife form.

[Caroline-qbjc]

"It's cute because kitty loves you. But it's also painful because kitty's love is made out of little tiny knives." hahahahahaha! Funniest thing I've heard today lol Hank!!!!

[piranha]

-Hank : Why Do Cats Knead?
-John : I Don't Even Know.

Your timing made my subscriptions page really look like a dialogue :-)

[emilio]

Cats knead to check our internal weakness so they can kill us

[taffycat]

This truly made me smile. I once came into contact with a wild and homeless cat. After feeding her and giving her blankets and lots of love, she grew to trust and love me. Her favorite activity was snuggling up on my lap and kneading me. We eventually had to send her to a shelter because winter was growing near. This left a huge hole in my heart. I do wonder where and how she is today :( Thank you for reminding me of her love and trust for me 😽

[rubiolo]

my cat does it to me every night, hes 3 years old but i dont mind, i have a rough skin and im used to it, but i laugh when he tryes on my father and he screams for help

[SoldierUSA]

"Kitty's love is made out of tiny knives."

HA HA HAAA *snort* HA HA HA

[MagnumForce]

I used to like cats like you, but then I took a claw to the knead...