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Cats can be a little, well, catty, with their volatile temperament, meaning their owners are often ecstatic when they do decide to show some affection.
This love can be manifested in many ways, but one of the most pleasing is when cats rub their face against their human's legs.
This feline behavior feels nice and seems affectionate, but cats can be tricky little critters, so are they being sweet or is there something else going on?
Why do cats rub against us? After speaking with experts on all things kitty, it seems this behavior is a little bit of both.
Why Do Cats Rub Against You?
The International Cat Association (TICA) President Vicki Jo Harrison suggests this act of a cat bumping into you is called "bunting", and is often a sign of affection.
She told Newsweek: "Headbutting is one method, amongst many, cats exhibit to communicate and show affection and admiration to us humans."
There are, however, many specific signs for why your cat might continue this behavior.
Headbutting
Harrison said: "Headbutting is one method, amongst many, cats exhibit to communicate and show affection and admiration to us humans."
Rubbing
Rubbing behavior is learned and passed down from mother to kitten," continued Harrison.
Vicki Jo Harrison believes this is usually a sign of marking territory, acceptance, or greetings and adoration, adding: "Rubbing against something can also be used to gain information, as cats rely heavily on their sense of smell."
Saying Hello
The TICA President suggests cats like to greet others with their head or body against your leg when they are happy to see you.
She said: "You may notice this more when you've been gone for a longer time and return home."
Spreading their Scent
Cats are possessive creatures and will claim their humans as part of their territory, and smelling themselves makes a cat feel at ease.
Cats release friendly pheromones from glands in their cheeks and chin, so when your favorite feline is rubbing its face on you, it usually means they are marking you as a friend.
Dr. Jill Sackman, senior medical director for BluePearl Veterinary Partners', told PetMD: "It's an affectionate gesture that can also be used as a form of greeting."
Harrison said: They have scent glands around their cheeks, chin, top of their head, and base of their tail. When they want to share information about themselves to the world they will rub their scent glands against objects, spreading pheromones wherever they go.
"When cats rub their face or tail against humans, other animals, or household items, they leave behind their pheromones.
"If your cat decides that they want to leave their pheromone on you, it should be considered a badge of honor, as it is one step closer to being accepted into their feline world."
"Each time you leave your house and return home, your cat's personal scent has left you.
"Rubbing and head butting is their way to mark you again with their scent. This allows your cat to reclaim their territory, and increase their endorphins, which gives them a sense of calm, happiness, and safety."
Body Language
Cats often use rubbing and headbutting as a way to communicate that they need something.
Harrison said: "For example, if your cat rubs against the cabinet that contains their food, they are likely trying to alert you that they are hungry or need freshwater or as a reminder to clean out their litter box.
"That's why it is important to monitor and learn your cat's behavioral prompts so you can understand when they need something from you."
Medical Issues
TICA's Vicki Jo Harrison said: "Make sure that the rubbing does not become compulsive and is not linked with abnormal behavior, as this can sometimes be related to medical issues, such as allergies, fleas, an ear infection, intracranial disease (tumor, infection, or inflammatory issues), and feline hypersensitivity disorder.
"Consult your veterinarian if you notice that your cat is rubbing excessively, or you have any concerns about their behavior."
Why Do Cats Rub Against Things?
Cat expert Celia Haddon believes, although most of us know that when a cat rubs against us, it is universally acknowledged as a "friendly gesture and often a gesture to get our attention."
She told Newsweek: "It is not just a tactile gesture. Your cat is spreading the scent from its cheek and chin on to you, and also picking up your scent at the same time.
"This mixture of scents is what makes a family scent. Creating family scent is important for your cat to feel secure. This is one reason why they hate redecorating.
"They have rubbed on you and on various areas of the house to create this mixture, then redecorating destroys their carefully crafted family scent profile. So they have to start all over again.
"It is also one reason why redecorating sometimes makes cats spray urine in the house—this is a strongly scented territory marker, a sort of shout-out that the area is not fully secure. Good cat owners do not clean their skirting boards."
