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.

　　当你的猫咪用前爪交替地推搡着你的膝盖，趴在那儿打盹儿的时候，这大概是世界上最美好的感觉之一了。

　　This is called kneading , and there's a heart-melting reason why it's such a special part of your relationship with your cat.

　　猫咪的这种行为被称为抚弄，这之所以被当作你和你的猫咪相处时的特别之处，其背后是有一个暖心的理由的。

　　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.

　　实际上从小猫出生之后，它们就开始有抚弄的行为了，其功能之一就是刺激母猫乳腺产生乳汁。

　　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.

　　伴随着这一举动的其他行为表明，这种幼稚的行为会延续到猫咪成年，所以当猫咪抚弄你的时候并不意味着它想让你提供乳汁。

　　It's usually accompanied by purring and followed by a nap - both behaviours that are also observed in kittens during and after feeding.

　　猫咪做出抚弄的动作之后，通常会打盹儿而且还会打呼噜，而在猫咪喂食期间和喂食之后，你也会观察到这两种行为。

　　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.

　　一个由兽医运营的网站指出，野生成年猫咪会用它们的爪子拍平一小块区域，并使其变得柔软，然后用来睡觉。

　　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.

　　而且因为猫咪的爪垫上有气味腺，它们可能还会肆意地做出一些类似圈地的举动，把你或它的床标记为自己的所有物。

　　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，虽然人们普遍认为，抚弄并非太早为猫咪断奶的征兆，但多数猫咪似乎却是这样的。

　　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.

　　一只猫咪用爪子抚弄你，即使它们是为了把你推倒当床，或者把你标记为它们的所有物，这也意味着你被猫咪以它们特有的方式所喜爱着。

　　"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!"

　　“如果你确实有一只猫咪揉捏着它们的寝具，或是用爪子抚弄你，这是因为它们觉得被爱护着，并感到舒适，”卡蒂·阿穆尔说道。“你绝对应该把这当成是一种赞美!”