If you love cats—or cat memes—you may be familiar with kneading. Forelimbs outstretched, a kneading cat will press each paw in turn into a soft surface as if walking in place, often purring as it does ...

Kneading is a behavior that’s ingrained from birth. When kittens nurse, they press their tiny paws against their mother’s belly to stimulate milk flow. This movement optimizes their ability to feed ...