Does he also suckle on the blankets when he kneads? From my experience with cats, I would bet that your cat may have been taken away from his mother too soon, or was a bottle fed orphan, and this is why he still suckles like a kitten or kneads the blankets like he is pressing against a mothers belly for milk. It is a comforting thing for him to do. Totally harmless, but if he is humping while he is doing this, then I have to ask if he has been neutered. If not, then this could be breeding behavior and he is just "in the mood". Nothing to worry about. Just a way for your cat to comfort himself.
My cat is doin it right now, on a blanket I have over me. It's just a physiological need they have, just like us humans. It's not smelly and won't leave any marks. If you don't like him doin it on your blankets, find him a fuzzy one and try to keep it at his reach so he can use it anytime he wants. It won't harm you neither your kids. Just like you don't harm them when you're doin' it...
Although your cat's hormones are "taken care of", there are still some reflexive signals coming from his brain. Although he might seem like he is taking pleasure from humping, odds are he doesn't know what's going on either, or he would be looking for a female companion. Don't worry, this behavior is very common in male cats. Don't be grossed out, but feels like he needs to hump much like clawless cats feel like they need to scatch on things. Get him a stuffed animal or a blanket and put it in a special place where he will be able to exercise his need. (you might want to try somewhere where you can't see him). Don't give up on him! Often male cats given lots of attention and love will get over this habit, or at least do it less often. Good luck!
They may attack or growl/hiss if your near because they fear you will take away their "mate" like you hear about animals, they fight for the female and the alpha male does his thing.
Its perfectly normal but if you find it annoying don't blame the cat, its instinct just buy him a fuzzy stuffed animal and place it somewhere suitable for him when the need arises.
My cat also does this...He looks up at you with a creepy look too. He is not yet a year old and he is neutered but he sure loves to hump the soft blankets...I just think he is a weirdo!
I always joke that my cat is trying to make baby blankets. He's doing it right now, in fact. There's no problem, no stress. He's very happy in a good home. So quite frankly, they do it because it feels good.
It's his natural sexual urges and personally I think it's fine just to leave him be when he does this. Maybe move him to a specific area in your home if you don't like him to be near you when it happens. Unfortunately, my cat likes to try and mate with my bare arm. It's very bizarre. I just hiss a lot and toss him off.
Hi, I work in a Veterinary Surgery and I would advise if you are unsure whether he is 'fixed' or not then you should take him to the Vets and double-check he is definitely 'fixed', otherwise if you let him out he is able to 'sew his wild oats' and you may not want that to be happening as male's can get rather boisterous after they have and then are 'fixed'.
My cat does the same exact thing!!!! He kneads my fluffy blanket, bites it, meows weird, and than he comes running to me to try and bite me. I'm so confused!!!! He's neutered too. I love him, he's the cutest
Oh my, I am so glad I found this page. My male neutered cat is about 14 and has just started doing this at night when I am sitting in bed reading. At first I thought it was just kneading and he wanted attention but he would snap at me and growl/meow loudly. I found it very very disturbing! He has his own soft blanket at the end of my bed but usually just kneads a minute and then lies down to sleep. I may try the stuffed toy because I never get to just sit and pet him anymore. I hate it!
@Warrior and Malysa.... As a long time cat owner myself, I do not believe in any surgery that is unnecessary including but not limited to de-clawing and neuter/spaying when they are strictly home bound. Unless the behaviour of the cat becomes impossible to control any other way, I truly do not favor "fixing" your cat. HOWEVER there are instances where it is healthy for the cat, and I've noticed it is especially helpful with female kitties who have hard time with her "time of the month" or males that are too aggressive. It is more favorable to do when there are small children or the elderly in the building, as well. I only support people who de-claw their cats when there more at-risk peoples involved, especially the elderly. The surgery performed on cats has become MUCH MUCH MUCH more humane in recent years, so getting the procedures done is far less "barbaric" than when the practice first came about. Just remember that taking your cats man/woman-hood affects them in much the same way it would you or I, and that taking their claws off is like taking the top knuckles of your fingers off. Yes you still have hands, but they can't be used nearly as well as they should be. With proper care and handling, every cat has the potential to make a wonderful house mate. I just didn't want anyone thinking one way is better than the other. It comes down to personal preference. There /are/ too many strays in the world(around 50 million estimated by the Humane Society of the US), but that doesn't mean you have to take your buddy's nature away from him. Trap-neuter-return is a great way to stop overpopulation in your community, and the HSUS has great information and resources (even financial aid) for those looking to give their outside kitty neighbors a better life. Giving him/her the love, health, and safety they deserve is well enough for them. :)
On a more related note.. My male cat grabs my blankets and has his way with them (and often my leg or my boyfriends) all the time. He's just having his fun. It often doesn't take long and he'll be off playing again in no time. I want to try and get him a stuffie, though. Gets kind of annoying, and the look in his eye gets creepy from time to time, haha!
I don't want to sound gross but it could be two things 1-the smell from sexual intercourse or 2- smell from your menstrual cycle, if you still currently do both. I have had that happen to me in the past.
The best way to stop this is by getting him fixed, if you choose not to do that it is just a natural thing male and female cats seem to do especially during the spring, which is their heat season
Wow, look at all the 'get him fixed' people. Ouchie!
I know the arguments about getting male and female animals fixed, but we use these nice terms to describe these barbaric acts. You know, a nice term makes mean and violent things seem respectable, like, um, 'putting them to sleep'. That means to kill them. No, really.
Getting a male animal fixed means to rip off his man-stuff and getting a female animal fixed means to tear out her girl-stuff. Okay, let's let a medical professional dismember them so we don't have to di it ourselves. That makes it all better, right?
So, all the barbarism aside, if you have a real cat - you know, a fully 100% whole cat, and he is humping stuff, like your leg or otherwise, then bless you for not having had him needlessly butchered. Bless you and bless your manly, studly, macho man-cat. Go forth proudly together. Revel in your own wholeness and in his.
Do not surgically destroy a guy just because he acts like a guy. Please. Just don't.
