Baby Harley: The cat who doesn't knead

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I realised this morning, during a morning cuddle with Baby Harley on the bed, that he never "kneads", even when he's in total bliss. He purrs a lot—even more than the two older ones—but he doesn't knead. Since this reflex is linked to early kittenhood and nursing, and as he was taken from his mother at just a month old, could that be the reason? Did he not have enough time to pick up the habit?

Félia and Gatsby both knead, though in different situations. For Félia (who was with her mum and siblings until she was 3 1/2 months old), it's on my lap when she's having a cuddle, and for Gatsby (who was with his family until he was 3 months old), it's when he's about to settle down somewhere particularly soft and fluffy.

What surprises me is that I thought one of the signs of a kitten being separated too early from its mother was actually excessive kneading while suckling on fabric. Could my baby be an exception?

Napping right up against his big sister

Baby Harley: The cat who doesn't knead

My little teddy bear ;)

Translated from French
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    Civa Icon representing the flag French
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    No, he’s not the only one! My daughter’s cat, a little ginger who’s five months old now, has never kneaded either, but he purrs a lot!

    Translated from French
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I think the kneading reflex is something they're born with since it's used to stimulate the milk flow. Not all cats necessarily knead as adults, or perhaps they do it in other situations and not on you, which might be why you feel like he doesn't do it.

    At home I've got Guizmo, who kneads all the time as soon as he's in my arms (which is pretty much constantly since he never leaves my side).

    My little velcro cat

    On the other hand, Goupix hardly ever kneads; usually, during big cuddle sessions, he turns into a giant purring teddy bear and pulls all sorts of weird positions to get some scritches, but he doesn't knead. The only time he kneads is when he's asleep, so he's kneading the air, but very, very rarely on us.

    I really should have called him Garfield

    Translated from French

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