Of all the cats I've ever owned as pets, they have always rubbed themselves on my legs as they were passing by. My two current cats have never done this. Why do cats do this in the first place? And why don't mine do it?
2006-09-21 06:14:19 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
*** They're both about a year old. Maybe I already smell like them because our apartment is so tiny and they get into everything I own!
2006-09-21 06:21:49 · update #1
It's scent marking. Cats have little glands all over their bodies....more than some people realize. It's their way of showing other animals and people that you are "theirs". But some cats don't do it....some mark scent in other ways. My cats don't rub around my legs too much, but my male is always headbutting me, and my female is constantly rubbing the side of her face on my hands...and sometimes my ponytail, lol.
(I don't know why people keep separating the parts of a cat's body to determine their actions. Usually any rubbing is to scent mark, and when done on a living thing, scent marking generally shows affection. Cats have scent glands on the sides of their faces, at the bases of their tails, etc.)
Oh, here we go.
Why does your cat rub up against you?
Cats have scent glands along the tail, on each side of their head, on their lips, base of their tail, chin, near their sex organs, and between their front paws. They use these glands to scent mark their territory. When the cat rubs you, he is marking you with his scent, claiming you as "his." Too, he is picking up your scent. Cats rub up against furniture or doorways for the same reason - to mark the item as "his". (Urine spraying is also a territorial marking, by the way.)
2006-09-21 06:19:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some cats do, some don't, it's their personalities. Cats rub to mark you with their scent, and as a signal that they want something from you or just because they like you. As long as your cats are affectionate in other ways, it's ok. In some ways it's better because then you won't be tripping on them and running the risk of stepping on them.
2006-09-21 13:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 cats. One rubs on my legs and face and the other one doesn't do it at all. This is the first cat I've ever had that doesn't rub! And I've had lots of kitties!
2006-09-21 13:19:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL Cats have scent glands where their whiskers are. They rub the side of their face on things to "mark" them as their own. Like THE book for women, Maybe your cats "just aren't that into you."
2006-09-21 13:19:54 · answer #4 · answered by SweetD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way that I always heard it was that rubbing their bodies against things or people is a way of marking their territory and rubbing their heads against you or against other things around you is affection. Like people, they just have different personalities. We have one cat who rubs against us all the time. The other only comes near when he wants to be petted or wants to sleep near somebody.
2006-09-21 13:20:34 · answer #5 · answered by pag2809 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kitties I have owned do this to say "Hey Pet Me, I'm Down here Rubbing on your Leg, Give Me Attention!!"
The crazy kitty I have now is quite old and he takes his paw and taps me to pet him. When I don't pet him and just ignore him, he starts to bite me light at first. Then he gets upset and bites hard.
My kitties had also rubbed on my leg when I was feeding them. Again to say "Feed me, I'm down here, Give me Attention."
2006-09-21 13:34:58 · answer #6 · answered by galbee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they do it to rub their scent on you so other cats know that you belong to them. I'm not sure why yours don't rub up against you, how old are they maybe they haven't figured it out yet.
2006-09-21 13:18:06 · answer #7 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats rubbing on you or anything with their faces is a way of marking what is theirs. It is a was of saying "Your mine".
2006-09-21 14:42:20 · answer #8 · answered by Little Flower 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they rub against you for the same reason you pet them
2006-09-21 13:22:46 · answer #9 · answered by norsmen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmmm, this is how the cats put their scent on you and 'claim' you as their own.
evidently these two cats either don't feel the need to claim you or they don't like you.
2006-09-21 13:17:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋