It may be one of the nicest feelings in the world when your cat, settling in for a nap, alternately presses their front paws into your lap.
當(dāng)你的貓咪用前爪交替地推搡著你的膝蓋，趴在那兒打盹兒的時(shí)候，這大概是世界上最美好的感覺之一了。

This is called kneading , and there's a heart-melting reason why it's such a special part of your relationship with your cat.
貓咪的這種行為被稱為撫弄，這之所以被當(dāng)作你和你的貓咪相處時(shí)的特別之處，其背后是有一個(gè)暖心的理由的。

The kneading action actually starts right from when kittens are born - one of its functions is to stimulate milk production in the mothers' mammary glands.
實(shí)際上從小貓出生之后，它們就開始有撫弄的行為了，其功能之一就是刺激母貓乳腺產(chǎn)生乳汁。

Other behaviours that accompany the action indicate that it's a juvenile behaviour carried over into adulthood, so it doesn't mean the cat is trying to make you produce milk.
伴隨著這一舉動(dòng)的其他行為表明，這種幼稚的行為會(huì)延續(xù)到貓咪成年，所以當(dāng)貓咪撫弄你的時(shí)候并不意味著它想讓你提供乳汁。

It's usually accompanied by purring and followed by a nap - both behaviours that are also observed in kittens during and after feeding.
貓咪做出撫弄的動(dòng)作之后，通常會(huì)打盹兒而且還會(huì)打呼嚕，而在貓咪喂食期間和喂食之后，你也會(huì)觀察到這兩種行為。

According to a veterinarian-run website, adult cats in the wild use their paws and claws to tread down and soften a small area for sleeping.
一個(gè)由獸醫(yī)運(yùn)營(yíng)的網(wǎng)站指出，野生成年貓咪會(huì)用它們的爪子拍平一小塊區(qū)域，并使其變得柔軟，然后用來(lái)睡覺。

And, since cats have scent glands in their paw pads, they're probably also indulging in a bit of territorialism, marking you or their bed as their property.
而且因?yàn)樨堖涞淖|上有氣味腺，它們可能還會(huì)肆意地做出一些類似圈地的舉動(dòng)，把你或它的床標(biāo)記為自己的所有物。

It is important to note that, despite popular belief, kneading is not the sign of a cat who was weaned too early - most cats seem to do it.
值得一提的是，雖然人們普遍認(rèn)為，撫弄并非太早為貓咪斷奶的征兆，但多數(shù)貓咪似乎卻是這樣的。

Even if they're trying to squish you down to make a bed or trying to mark you as their property, a cat kneading you means you are very loved, in that special kitty way.
一只貓咪用爪子撫弄你，即使它們是為了把你推倒當(dāng)床，或者把你標(biāo)記為它們的所有物，這也意味著你被貓咪以它們特有的方式所喜愛著。

"If you do have a cat who kneads their bedding, or better yet you, it's because they're feeling very loved and comfortable," Katie Armour said. "You should absolutely take this as a compliment!"
“如果你確實(shí)有一只貓咪揉捏著它們的寢具，或是用爪子撫弄你，這是因?yàn)樗鼈冇X得被愛護(hù)著，并感到舒適，”卡蒂·阿穆爾說(shuō)道?！澳憬^對(duì)應(yīng)該把這當(dāng)成是一種贊美！”

（翻譯：Dlacus）