Rescue Cat Gives Sheep Pal a Relaxing Massage

In this sweet post from autarcamatricultura, a friendly calico cat named Luci is giving her sheep buddy Waffles a relaxing massage before nap time. According to the owners, Luci was rescued soon after Waffles, a Tunis sheep mix, lost her sister. This unlikely duo found comfort in one another’s company and they’ve been best friends ever since. So it’s no surprise to see Luci giving her BFF some TLC.

Some Cats Are Very Knead-y

The cat’s massaging is actually a common feline behavior called kneading. It is sometimes referred to as “making biscuits.” Just as bakers knead dough, cats push alternate paws into a soft, cushioned surface like a blanket, pillow, or their human’s lap. Kneading is an instinctual behavior that starts when they are kittens. Kittens knead on their mothers to stimulate milk flow. Some experts also believe this behavior releases a hormone in the mother called oxytocin, which helps the mother and kitten bond.

Adult cats usually knead before a nap. It is often accompanied by purring. So researchers believe kneading recalls feelings of comfort and safety from their kitten days. Cats may also knead a favorite person to show affection like they did with their mothers. They could be scent-marking with the glands in their paws to claim their favorite spots as well. Regardless of the reason, most scientists believe kneading typically means the cat is happy and relaxed.

Why Would a Cat Knead a Sheep?

The video above shows Luci the cat rubbing her face on Waffles’ wool while kneading and getting comfortable. Tunis sheep wool is known to be soft and not scratchy, so it’s the perfect surface for “biscuit making.” Luci and Waffles have also developed a strong bond, so Luci may be showing affection to her sheep buddy as well.

However, there may be another reason Luci is drawn to Waffles’ wool. Sheep secrete a yellow wax from their sebaceous glands called lanolin. Lanolin helps waterproof the wool, as well as protect the sheep’s skin from infection. When sheep are sheared, lanolin is extracted from the unwashed wool for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. A popular theory suggests cats love the scent and taste of lanolin because it reminds them of the hormones their mothers release while nursing. This could also be why Luci appears to be sucking on Waffles’ fur.

Wool-Sucking in Cats

Some cats suck on their blankets when they’re kneading, especially if they are wool blankets. Scientists believe wool-sucking behavior could be caused by early weaning. So the popular theory that lanolin reminds cats of nursing could hold some weight. A cat’s sense of smell is over 10 times better than humans’, so even if we cannot smell lanolin in wool, our cats can.

Wool-sucking behavior is also common in cats that have been re-homed, indicating that the stress of being removed from their environment and their littermates is a contributing factor as well. So, as a rescue cat, Luci may be sucking on Waffles’ wool for the same reasons other cats suck on wool blankets. However, we can see in the video that Waffles doesn’t mind. The owners say the friends do everything together, including taking nice, cozy naps with Waffles’ built-in blanket.