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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Black Moggie
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 30
21-07-2011, 08:05 PM   #1

why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


Just curious really. also im new to owning cats and would like to know why they do it?

I watched Mika rub her face aginst my american bulldogs mouth She also rubbed her face on my staffies buster collar whilst he's been wearing it.

Any ideas?



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Phoenix's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 cats black/white and one tabby
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Somewhere or maybe nowhere
Posts: 4,296
21-07-2011, 08:08 PM   #2

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


Cats rub against objects and people to scent mark. It can be seem as a mark of affection but it's just the cat saying "This is mine".



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angieh's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
21-07-2011, 08:08 PM   #3

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


Cats have scent glands in their face and they are scent marking "their" territory. This sort of marking usually means that your cat is happy and contented, as opposed to marking with urine spray.



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Shelley123's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Preston UK
Posts: 6,995
21-07-2011, 08:12 PM   #4

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


yes they are scent marking. The funniest thing i saw was a cat butting up to a Hen !



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
21-07-2011, 08:17 PM   #5

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


As all have said, scent marking.



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Black Moggie
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 30
21-07-2011, 09:15 PM   #6

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


Quote:
Originally Posted by angieh
Cats have scent glands in their face and they are scent marking "their" territory. This sort of marking usually means that your cat is happy and contented, as opposed to marking with urine spray.
Thats good. I think she's getting closer to the dogs, which is what I want. they all get on and she sometimes sleeps with the dogs!



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Black Moggie
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 30
21-07-2011, 09:16 PM   #7

Re: why do cats rub themselves against objects/things?


Thanks everyone it makes sense now!



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