Almost all people have noticed that the cat, having jumped on the owner, begins to walk around him, as if dancing, marking time in one place. He always starts out carefully, then speeds up, moves more sharply, then seems to forget himself and, at this time, can release his claws. Many people wonder why a cat tramples you with its paws and what this ritual means, does it have any meaning for the pet or for the owner?
Reasons from the point of view of scientists
Of course, no one can accurately answer the question of why a cat tramples you with its paws. People have only some assumptions why she does this:
- Childhood memories. According to natural data, in order for a kitten to receive mother's milk, it is forced to put pressure on the mammary glands. This is how stimulation and release of nutrition for the baby occurs. Childhood memories settle in the kitten’s mind, and already in adulthood, in moments of calm, out of inertia, he performs similar actions. After all, he experiences the same warm feelings for his owner, and the cat is rewarded with such signs of attention only by his loved ones, and not by everyone living in the same house with him.
- The next assumption why cats trample is a natural instinct. In ancient times, when cats were wild animals, they made their own den. To do this, they trampled down the vegetation, thereby making it soft, and at this time they walked in a circle. Now they do not need such movements, but the instinct is passed on from generation to generation.
- Another version is a sense of ownership. Zoologists claim that cats have special glands in their paw pads that secrete sweat, with such a subtle odor that only cats can smell it. In a similar way, the pet marks the owner from other cats, thereby saying that he is busy.
- Another idea why cats trample is to check the territory. That is, with such movements they check whether everything is in order for comfort. It is with their paws that pets check for cold and sharp objects.
- Another version of why cats trample, which people really adore, is that a person and his pet understand each other so well that they feel the emotional mood, whether there is any disorder or even depression. If cats trample us with their paws, then in this way they want to improve the internal state of the owner. During these actions, the pet releases a hormone of joy: endorphin, which has a calming effect on the owner and pet.
- Another assumption is that the cat at this time feels a hormonal surge and the need for a cat. Neutered cats also suffer from this; their needs for the opposite sex do not go away immediately, but after some time.
Endorphins
Endorphins, hormones of joy and pleasure, are produced in pets when moving their paws. Thanks to this technique, cats can fight stress, improve their mood, or even cope with pain.
Misconception
One theory is that the cat uses its stomping to heal its owner. But don’t rush to rejoice if she started doing “massage” on the problem area - it’s not about her sensitivity to your diseases. Of course, cats help relieve tension and spasms. However, they trample not where it hurts, but where it is convenient for them.
Interesting fact
Perhaps you have felt that when your pet gives you a “massage” and accompanies it with a gentle purr, you relax and calm down, and nervous tension gradually fades away. In the UK, they noticed this fact long ago and now provide the opportunity to chat with a furry friend for a fee.
This service consists of bringing a kind, loving cat to the client, which does its “job”: tramples its paws, purrs gently, enthusiastically accepts stroking, thereby plunging the person into a state of calm and lifting his spirits. It really helps combat stress in a busy lifestyle.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Maine Coon cat breed. What owners of long-haired beauties need to know
Helpful advice
Fingering with paws may not always please the owners. This may be due to the fact that some pets trample in the neck and chest area, releasing their claws and sometimes scratching the skin. In this case, you should not scold the cat, because in this way she can show her love for you. It’s better to put her on the sofa or any other place where she can happily continue her trampling and will not cause you any harm. And so that such a “massage” brings pleasure to you, take care to trim your pet’s claws in a timely manner.
Whatever the reason behind the cat “massage”, you should not drive your furry friend away - this can cause you to lose trust. It’s better to respond with tenderness, stroke his back or scratch his chin, and the pet will be grateful to you.
How to behave when cats trample on the owner's body
Many do not understand how to behave if cats trample on a person with their paws, when they jump on us with a tender face, position themselves like a master and begin to trample, as if kneading dough. Moreover, cats can calmly release their claws at this time, but their reaction shows that these actions were not part of their plans.
Sometimes we have an ambiguous reaction to this, especially if sharp claws are pierced into a soft part of the body. There is no need to drive your pet away; you must remember that in this way he shows trust and love. If the cat is driven away at this time, it will suffer emotional stress and may even harbor a grudge.
When cats, trampling with their paws, put their claws into the owner's skin, then for safety reasons you can try to trim their nails. It is better to carry out this procedure by a specialist so as not to injure the animal. You can also use a special machine for this, which trims the claws a little, literally by 1-2 mm. It is better to carry out this procedure together so as not to injure the animal.
When the owner knows that his pet is prone to actions that cause him discomfort, then some tricks can be used to calm the animal's ardor. When a cat begins to trample the owner with its front paws, you need to hold them back a little and try to distract the pet with affection or a toy. Another maneuver during unwanted behavior is to gently pull the cat down. This way he will calm down and go to sleep. An option to distract from unwanted cat actions is to change the timbre of the voice; when the owner changes the intonation slightly, the pet becomes alert and changes its behavior.
What healers say
Many people know firsthand that cats have a healing effect on humans.
After an animal undergoes a cat massage session, many people note a significant reduction in pain.
At the same time, the four-legged healer, with an instinct known to him alone, identifies the sore spot and begins to stomp on exactly where the problem is.
Of course, this version can be considered quite controversial, but official science does not refute it.
As a result of exposure to the skin with paws and claws, local irritation occurs.
In this area, blood circulation increases and processes similar to those occurring during a professional massage occur.
Home massage therapist
Popular opinion
Traditional healers, when asked why a cat tramples on its owner, give a different interpretation. It is likely that the mustachioed magician finds a place that has less vital energy. By performing a massage with their front paws, they seem to be treating us, bringing energy balance. When a cat seems to enter into a role, trampling on a person’s body, it seems to be in a misunderstanding of what is happening at this moment. It is at this time that the exchange of bioenergy occurs between the animal and its owner.
Eastern sages, studying this phenomenon, claim that cat energy is closest to human energy. This phenomenon does not occur in any other animal. During bioenergetic contact, healing occurs. Eastern medicine claims that 15 minutes of cat massage can relieve depression, and it’s not at all scary when a kitten digs its claws into the skin, thereby stimulating the active zones of the body. They act like needles during acupuncture.
Experts believe that there is no difference whether a purebred pet or a barn cat does the massage. The main thing is that the pet warms up to the owner, so that he likes the person. Cats have an amazing ability to lie down and massage the area where there is a problem.
Thanks for the compliment
As a rule, the cat chooses one person as the object of “trampling”. You won’t envy this “lucky one”... The one whom the pet recognizes as its mother now becomes a nanny for the purring family member. Feed on time, clean the tray, take to the veterinarian, play - all these worries will fall on your shoulders.
And do not console yourself with the thought that you took on these responsibilities voluntarily. This is your pet, having given you a compliment, “appointed” you as responsible for his happy existence.
On the other hand, this is even for the better. You will be able to receive sessions of relaxation and confidential communication with your cat more often than others.
Are there cats that don't have this habit?
Artificially raised kittens that have never fed their mother's milk are deprived of this habit. For this reason, they did not develop a conditioned reflex. Sometimes, when a mother cat has a large amount of milk and few kittens, her babies also do not have the need to trample a person, because they receive food in abundance. They had no need to obtain additional food.
There are many versions of this question, but the only ones who can reliably answer it are our tailed pets. But they don’t allow people into their secret world yet.
Why do cats trample on us with their paws and purr?
The main reason why cats knead their owners with their paws is an instinct inherent in them from birth.
During the feeding process, when kittens suck their mother's milk, they knead it with their paws , trying to improve its flow. At the same time, they experience a feeling of comfort, safety and security.
During the feeding process, when kittens suck their mother's milk, they knead her with their paws.
Not only small kittens, but also adult cats always need this feeling. That is why, wanting to communicate with the owner, they not only jump onto his lap and enjoy being stroked. In an effort to surround themselves with an atmosphere of safety, animals begin to lightly trample human skin with their paws, and in moments of highest pleasure they emit a loud purr.
I trample my feet at the call of my ancestors
Once upon a time, freedom-loving animals avoided the company of people; they had to hunt on their own, raise offspring and, of course, arrange a sleeping place for the night. Small animals love comfort, and therefore, to build a bed, they raked dry grass and leaves with their paws, crushed plants and scared away insects.
You can turn a section of forest or steppe into a cozy nest suitable for sleeping if you trample it thoroughly. Thus, the representative of the feline rhythmically compacts the cozy bed.
People's opinion
Many people think that by purring and trampling its owner’s body with its paws, the animal performs some kind of therapeutic manipulation.
There is an opinion that cats are able to stabilize the energy balance in the human body. If a cat starts doing its “massage”, it automatically exchanges biological energy, removing bad energy and giving the person its own positive energy. It has been noticed that cats most often lay down on problem areas of the body. However, this effect is not inherent in all pets, but only in those that have a powerful emotional connection with the owner.
Cats have long been credited with various mystical powers, including healing humans. At the same time, the effectiveness of feline therapy is confirmed by the results of numerous studies on this topic. There is even official information that confirms that cats can sense a pre-infarction state and find areas of localization of malignant formations.
As for therapy with cats, the famous cardiologist A.I. Lavrushin states that the animal, by trampling on the body of its owner, tries to normalize blood circulation.
