My male cat kneads intensely when aroused. How can I stop it?
There's no reason for you to put up with this behavior. Rather than punish him, when he does this, get up and move away from him, denying him your presence and attention. Ignore him for about 15 minutes, then, if he comes to you and wants attention in an acceptable form, such as rubbing and head bumping, by all means, indulge him. As soon as it progresses into unwanted behavior, walk away from him. If he persists, you can clap your hands loudly to startle him out of his mood, or you can make a shake can by putting pebbles or pennies into an empty soda can and taping the opening shut. When he does something you don't like, shake the can or drop it to make noise and it should startle him enough to discourage the behavior but not frighten him. Also, consider giving him a stuffed animal to 'make out' with. If you aren't planning on breeding him, getting him neutered will help diminish the unwanted sexual behavior.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025