If you’ve noticed your cat rubbing her face all over the house, you may have wondered what she’s doing. are you getting a massage? and is it normal?
when your cat rubs her head against an object, it’s called touching, and cats do this for a lot of totally normal and harmless reasons.
the dodo talked to dr. crista coppola, phd, certified cat and dog behaviorist at senior tail waggers, to find out why cats like to rub their faces against things, including why your cat rubs their face against you.
your cat can leave his scent on anything he rubs his face with scent glands located in and around his face.
“Cats have scent glands on their cheeks, above their eyes, above their mouths and the sides of their noses, on their foreheads, between their ears, and under their jaws,” says dr. coppola told the dodo. cats also have scent glands on their paws, which is one way they can find their way home.
These scent glands release pheromones, which are chemicals that only other cats can detect. their pheromones provide a lot of information about them, including their gender, reproductive status, and age.
cats rub their faces against things to leave information about them, but they also touch for other reasons.
here are some common explanations for why your cat likes to rub his face with everything.
cats rub their faces around their houses to let other cats know it’s theirs.
“Cats rub their faces with things to deposit their scent,” says dr. coppola said. “Cats use this information to mark their territory and help with timeshare areas.”
They can even tell how long it’s been since another cat was in the area by how strong or fresh the scent is. if a cat smells a recently marked area, he may want to leave to avoid a confrontation in case the other cat is still around.
Cats may also touch when in a new environment so that it smells familiar, making them feel safe. so if you have a new cat who rubs himself all over, he’s probably trying to make himself at home. or if you buy something new for your house, like a new chair, your cat might rub her scent against it to make sure the item is okay.
stressed cats sometimes touch more often because they’re trying to feel safe.
but some cats like to rub their faces against things a lot, so it can be hard to tell the difference. If your cat is anxious, you’ll notice other signs such as excessive grooming, aggressive behavior, hiding and trying to escape, as well as excessive pattering.
To help relax your cat, you can try a cat pheromone product that mimics her natural pheromones.
try this feliway classic calming cat diffuser kit from amazon for $32.75
If your cat’s anxiety doesn’t go away, you can talk to your vet about treatment options.
your cat rubs your face to show you that he loves you.
“rubbing their faces is also a sign of affection,” says dr. coppola said. “Cats can be incredibly affiliative [aka friendly], and this is one of the ways they show affection and seek physical contact with people.”
If you have other pets that your cat is super friendly with, you might see him touch them from time to time to show that he likes them too.
and similar to how your cat leaves her scent on objects when she rubs them, she also leaves her scent on you to mark you as hers. if your cat ever kneads you, he’s doing something similar, since his paws also have scent glands.
If you have a social cat that rubs your friends when they come over, they do it as a greeting.
“Cats are also very tactile, and this can be a sign of affiliative behavior,” says dr. coppola said.
It is also collecting the scents of the newcomers to learn more about them and find out if they pose any threats.
Many cats use bunting as a way to get what they want. Your cat may learn that touching you is a good way to get your attention if you pet or play with him every time he does so. so if your cat rubs up against you when you’re working on the computer, it’s probably because he wants a quick hug.
It’s most likely normal if your cat rubs her face on everything (including you). he’s just marking his territory and letting you know he loves you, or maybe looking for a gift.
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