Kneading (or pundling ) is an activity common to all domestic cats whereby, when in a state of contentment, they push the surface on which they are standing with their front paws. This may have an origin going back to their wild ancestors who would have had to tread down grass or foliage to make a temporary nest in which to rest: kneading is often a precursor to sleeping. The action is complex—the cat exerts firm downwards pressure with its paw, opening its toes to expose its claws, then closes its claws as it lifts its paw. The process takes place with alternate paws at intervals of one to two seconds. They may do this while sitting on their owner's lap, which may prove painful if the cat is large or strong or has its claws intact. While cats will sit happily on a hard surface, they will only knead a soft or compliant surface.

In a garden where cats are to be found, sheltered areas can often reveal the "wild" results of kneading: round, cat-sized nests trodden into long grass.

Cat behavior