Cats kneading one’s legs means they’re contented
DEAR JOAN >> When our tabby cats start purring while sitting on my lap, they very often, for some reason, decide that they must knead my legs with their front paws. Why is that? — Torsten Jacobsen,
Walnut Creek
DEAR TORSTEN >> I find many cat behaviors charming, and this is my favorite, even though I couldn’t begin to count the number of snagged sweaters and throws I’ve had from my cats making biscuits on my lap.
Like many things to do with cats, no one is quite certain why they do it, but there are some very plausible theories.
The most popular is that the kneading is a sign of contentment. When cats are kittens, they knead their mothers to stimulate more milk production. When the kittens become cats, they might be mimicking that intimate behavior on pillows, blankets and us as a way to relive the comforting experience.
Another theory is that it’s a behavior that goes back to the days when cats were — and I use the term loosely — domesticated. They would knead the grass or foliage with their paws to soften the area and make a comfortable sleeping spot.
Still others think it’s a way for cats to mark their territories. Cats carry scent glands in their paws, and by kneading us, they’re saying “This lap belongs to me.”
I think the first theory is correct. There’s no doubt that the cat is usually mellow, or becomes so, when kneading. As the recipient, we tend to feel contentment as well.
DEAR JOAN >> Last summer, we had to cut a limb off a tree because it was blocking a new satellite dish. Unfortunately, that action unknowingly disturbed a group of woodpeckers living in nearby trees. Instead of hiding their stash of nuts in the missing limb, they found an alternative in our metal roof that provided them with a nice pocket for their nuts.
Last year, they constantly came to our house to hide the nuts, and often attacked their reflections in the windows, so we installed a predator bird caller that went off every few minutes. But they just kept coming, not to mention that the bird caller was driving us crazy — us more so than the woodpeckers, who eventually learned to come between the soundings of the caller.
We had hoped they would find an alternative this year but already they are stashing their nuts in our roof. The activity is endless, sometimes as many as six woodpeckers charging the house, and the flow of birds is almost constant.
Last year we also tried hanging a bird-scaring balloon that blew in a gentle breeze, but that too soon lost its effectiveness. I am hoping you have some suggestions for us to try to discourage the woodpeckers from using our roof for their nuts.
— Jill F., Los Gatos
DEAR JILL >> As you’ve tried all of the traditional woodpecker scares that I would have recommended, it appears your best, last hope is the direct one. You need to modify your roof to eliminate the pocket or to close off access.
Cleaning out the nuts and installing metal flashing is one simple way, but be prepared to defend other areas of your home because the woodpeckers won’t give up easily.