Why Do Cats Knead?

2. Marking Territory

Cats can be very territorial and use scent to mark their property or space. There are scent glands in the soft pads on a cat's feet that produce interdigital semiochemical. One explanation for kneading states that cats are activating the scent glands on their paws to mark surfaces and express ownership. While it may seem odd that a cat wants to mark his or her human as property, it is actually a compliment. The cat is marking that particular human as safe.