All people who live with cats know that when a cat rubs against them it means that they want something, that is, it is a form of communicationThey try to tell us that they have some need, be it food, company, affection or simply a form of greeting. But, Why do cats rub against things?
In this article on our site we will explain what could be the reasons why a cat rubs against inanimate objects, such as shoes, chairs or even the floor. Below we reveal the meaning.
Cats and pheromones, a form of communication
Pheromones are chemical substances that transmit a message from one organism to another, causing a response in the recipient. Both the emitter and the receiver of the pheromone must be of the same species.
These chemicals are often found in the natural body fluids, such as urine, sweat, specialized exocrine glands, and mucous secretions from the genitals.
In mammals, pheromones are detected through the vomeronasal organ or Jacobson's organ, located in the mouth, at the end of the palate hard, so it's normal to see a cat sniff something with its mouth open.
Types of pheromones in cats
Cats have different types of pheromones depending on the part of the body that releases them.
There are pheromones with a sexual function, released by the perineal glands, in the urine or secretions of the reproductive organs. These substances serve to indicate to the opposite sex the reproductive state in which a cat is at that moment. In addition, they are used to mark the territory. So an unneutered male cat will mark the home with urine. A cat will do the same thing when she is in heat
Likewise, cats release pheromones through their paw pads. These pheromones are released along with sweat. Cats only sweat from this area of their body. These substances also serve to mark the territory If we already have a cat at home, used to sharpening its nails on a scratching post, the next cat that comes in will learn much faster where to perform this behavior, because the pheromones released by the old cat on the scratching post will attract the new one.
Finally, cats have pheromone-releasing glands on their lips, cheeks, and chin. This type of pheromone is able to change the negative mood to a positive one or maintain a good atmosphere in the home, which is the cat's territory.
Why do cats rub their faces against other beings or objects?
When a cat rubs his face against an object or even the legs of his human companion, he is exploring and marking it as a known and safe object. It is normal that just after brushing against each other, he smells it with his vomeronasal organ, to make sure that the object has been marked correctly, in addition, a positive and pleasant stimulus is produced in his brain.
A study published in the German scientific journal "Journal of Animal Psychology" concluded that both male and female cats combine sex pheromones with facial pheromones to attract the attention of the opposite sexIn addition, they discovered that rubbing against an object not only had a marking function, of whatever type, but also forms part of the cat's visual communication
So, if a cat butts its head or rubs against something a lot in the presence of another cat or animal that it knows, trusts and appreciates (for example, the human it lives with), is showing you a friendly behavior In other words, if a cat performs this behavior in front of another cat or any animal, it is saying "I feel comfortable, comfortable and safe"
What is my cat trying to tell me when he rubs against my legs?
In short, the reasons for facial marking of cats can be summed up in three:
- Spatial Location Feature: Cats mark objects to mark their territory. In addition, they mark objects that, within their field of vision, are striking, creating a map of scents that guide them within their territory.
- Emotional Stabilization Feature: When a cat arrives at a new location, after a quick scan, it will start marking territory with your face, so that it is familiar to you and produces calm and confidence.
- Communication function: in cat colonies or multi-cat households, the fact that several individuals rub against each other same objects creates a kind of “herd smell”. This has a unifying effect for the group of cats living together.
This is why when your cat rubs against your legs, he is communicating with you in a very positive way
