When you have a pet, you’ll notice a lot of behaviors you haven’t seen before. Living with an animal gives you a whole different look at how they act and behave. Cats are a good example. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if they love you or hate you. One minute they’re demanding belly rubs and the next they’ve got their claws out.
Maybe you’ve noticed that your cat loves rubbing their face on things. Wonder why that is? We have the answers from vets.
Cat Rubs Serve Multiple Functions
Dr. Wailani Sung has a very impressive set of credentials: MS, Ph.D., DVM, and DACVB. He says that when cats rub their faces on objects–or you–it can serve multiple purposes.
Cats have a variety of scent glands on their heads, located around their mouths, chins, sides of the face, neck, and ears.” So, when they rub against things, that is a way to transfer their scent onto the object. This process is known as ‘bunting.’
Cats “tend to choose conspicuous objects [for bunting], such as a corner that sticks out, whether a wall, the edge of a coffee table or sofa.”
Male cats tend to bunt more than female cats. (1)
Bunting For Other Cats
Cats often use bunting as a way to say, “Hey, I’m in the area!”
Some cats tend to bunt over the scent markers of other cats. However, that’s not always the case. Cats appear to be able to tell how recent a bunt mark is by scent. That means they can tell if another cat is likely to still be in the area–and that tells them whether to fight, flee, or relax.
If you’re wondering, ‘what about urine markers?’ Pam Johnson-Bennett, vet tech and author of nine books on cat behavior, can explain. In a multi-cat household, it is usually the less dominant cats who announce themselves with urine markers. “It’s not the subordinate, shy, squirrely cats that bonk other cats,” she says. “It’s the confident cat, the one who is everyone’s friend in the house. His purpose is to spread the colony smell and groom everyone.” (1, 2)
Cat Bunting To Show Love
When cats bunt you, your dog, or your furniture, it’s about more than leaving a scent marker. “They’re saying ‘I love you. You’re so wonderful but you’re also a little stinky. Let’s get you smelling like us,’” Johnson-Bennett says.
So how should you feel to be on the receiving end of a bunt?
“You should be thrilled that they’ve chosen you,” Johnson-Bennett says. “Enjoy it and take it as a compliment that you’re worthy of their affection—that they’ve deemed you good enough.” However, it’s still important to be aware of your cat’s boundaries.
“Some cats may not be comfortable with a response. So wait until it bunts you the next time. Then maybe you can reach out your hand to build trust,” she says. “The more you foster a relationship with your cat the more she will want to head bunt you.” (2)
