Tears Over What Older Cat Learns To Do From Younger Sibling: ‘I’m Crying’

A video of a pair of cats making biscuits on the couch has gone viral on social media, and internet users can’t stop crying over it. 

The heartwarming clip, shared on TikTok last Saturday under the username @ken.you.n0t, shows the felines lying on a heated blanket on their owner’s couch, both making biscuits with their paws, usually a sign of comfort and happiness. 

But the reason why the video has gone viral is what their owner wrote in the caption. “Reasons I’m crying today: my older cat has never made biscuits before and he learned how to from my younger cat. Why is this so cute to me.” 

It is not unusual for felines to knead by rhythmically pushing their paws into soft surfaces—action usually referred to by cat owners as “making biscuits”—but what makes them do this?  

Experts at Pet MD say that this instinctive behavior typically starts in kittenhood when kittens knead their mother to stimulate milk flow, and some cats continue this into adulthood because it remains calming and comforting.  

Wild cats also knead grass or bedding before resting, and domestic felines may do the same to prepare a sleeping spot.  

Cats have scent glands between their toes, so kneading transfers their scent, marking territory. When a feline kneads you, it can signal relaxation, stress relief, comfort, or affection and may also mark you with their scent.  

Kneading triggers feel-good chemicals in a cat’s brain, so excessive kneading can sometimes indicate anxiety or discomfort, and, in those cases, a vet should be consulted.  

To manage kneading that bothers you, don’t punish the feline; instead, provide appropriate soft items to knead and keep their nails trimmed so the behavior is safe and comfortable for everyone.