JaneK writes:

I guessed that is why they do it. My female kitty nursed for along time, she
was with her mother too long. She does this all the time.
I think the reason they do it to people, is because they have adopted us as
thier families.
One time, she was in my lap doing it, and, I looked down at her, and, said,
girl, you ain't gonna get any milk out of THAT!

By the way, why did you call the poster a bonehead? This should be a place to
ask questions and talk about cats.
For a bunch of cat lovers, I have always noticed that many people here are
awful cranky.

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You are both right. Kittens will initially "knead" to stimulate the milk
from mother tit. This action is instinctive. About 50% of cats grow out of
this habit, but probably good 50% will continue kneading  (or take it up
later on) cos, in a way they like it, because it reminds them(positive
association) of comforting days with their mum, the warmth, the security and
the no worry in the world.

Most adult cats will do the kneading as a foreplay to sleep. They do it
generally on a  surface that is worm soft and as close to mothers tummy as
possible(fleece being the favorite material I found). Often cats will only
do it only to one human they feel relaxed with, and in case of my Tigger, in
only one position I'm lying in.

Despite the popular belief, the reason for kneading does NOT mean the cat
was taken away from their mother too soon at all. My Tigger moved in at 3
months old, was always perfectly happy and only took up kneading at 6 months
old, to day(4 yrs old). Tiara only started (rare) kneading at 5 yrs old and
she was taken away at 6 weeks old.It;'s not the age, its the comfort thing.

Saying that,odd one out is my Charlie, a former stray, will (only rarely)
knead on a fleece blanket, associating this action with sex, as he is
holding the blanket in his mouth and knead as if mounting a female (he has
been done of course). I never actually watched mating between male and
female, so I dunno know if kneading is a standard part of a ritual, perhaps
someone can clarify this for me please, or is it just Charlie and his few
leftover hormones playing up :)

But otherwise, kneading is a positive and complimentary action to the human
cat is kneading. The nails can be an obvious problem though, so I always cut
nails of my 4.5 cats :) (one is shared).

Gee

Yeah, but the cats know that a human is NOT their Mother?

Absolutely.
Humans make their cats feel like kittens again - stroking simulates mother's
licking and serving catfood, bringing home a kill.
Thus they often revert to kittenish behaviours - including kneading mother's
breast and purring.

........bonehead