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Why Cats Massage With Their Paws: The Magic of Instinctive Behavior and Gentle Touch
11.12.2024 06:10
The everyday behavior of domestic cats is filled with amazing mysteries that continue to delight and intrigue owners with their unpredictability and deep meaning.
Cat paw massage is a unique manifestation of a complex set of instinctive and emotional reactions.
Every touch carries a deep biological and psychological context, formed by many years of evolution.
The origins of the maternal instinct
The root cause of this behavior lies in the kittens' deep infantile memories.
Newborn babies stimulate their mother's mammary glands with gentle massaging movements of their paws, promoting milk production and establishing an emotional bond.
As they grow older, cats retain this instinct as memories of the warmth of maternal care. Paw massage becomes a way of expressing comfort, security, and emotional well-being.
Territorial markings
Cats have special glands on their paws that produce a unique scent. Soft movements on soft surfaces serve as a way to mark territory and objects belonging to the animal.
Experts say that such behavior serves as a clear signal to other individuals of its species that this place or object is personal property and evokes an emotional attachment in the animal.
Psycho-emotional regulation
Paw massage is an effective mechanism for relieving stress and achieving psychological comfort. Animals use this technique to calm down and feel safe.
Scientists have proven that such movements activate the production of pleasure hormones, which allows cats to feel relaxed and protected.
Physiological features
Soft massaging movements of the paws help to activate blood circulation and relieve muscle tension.
The paw pads contain many nerve endings that help animals obtain additional information about the environment.
Some researchers associate this behavior with animals' innate need for physical contact and emotional closeness.
Individual characteristics
Each cat has a unique character and personality. Some animals are more active in using paw massage, while others are more reserved. Genetic characteristics, upbringing, and individual experience play a significant role in the formation of such behavior.
Attentive owners know that such gentle touches serve as a vivid manifestation of the emotional state of their pet and its attitude to the world around it.
