Young kittens instinctively knead their mother's nipples with their tiny forepaws while nursing. The kneading stimulates the flow of milk. When a kitten kneads the lap of his owner, it is mirroring the same happiness that it felt nursing at his mother's belly.
While most people recognize and appreciate the privilege a cat bestows when kneading on their person, if the kneading is uncomfortable, too enthusiastic, or continues too long, the cat can be gently discouraged by simply distracting it. Keeping the cat's nail clipped short helps too.
Burying Food
If a cat does not like the taste of wet food on a plate, it may try to 'bury' it by scratching repeatedly on the floor or covering it up with whatever might be in the area - a mat, bed, or toy. Even if the cat likes the food, if there is more than it can eat at once, it will scrape its paw along the floor as if covering the food. This is an instinctive behavior left over from when a wild cat would bury the remains of a kill to eat later.
Running Water
The sound and motion of water pouring from a tap is mesmerizing to many cats. It is probably a feast for the senses as it stimulates hearing, sight, smell and touch. Many cats prefer to drink from a running tap, as the water is fresh. Water that has been standing even a few hours loses some of its oxygen content, which changes its taste.
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