I have a male cat. He is fixed and declawed. He is perfectly healthy, although a little strange. He likes to rub his gums on anything and everything. He rubs his gums on the corners of the coffee table, boxes, pencils, anything. Why?
2006-11-26 09:09:17 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...Cats are equipped with glands, located on the forehead, lips, front paws, and on their flanks and rears, that secrete pheromones. Pheromones, which are substances produced by animals, act as a form of chemical communication. Cats produce several different pheromones that send various signals and affect a number of different behaviors. One well known function of pheromones is to provide information about the cat's reproductive status and receptivity to potential mates. Pheromones also are used to mark objects and territory and some signal comfort and familiarity. Pheromones are unique, like human fingerprints, and their deposition serves as a calling card of sorts.
Pheromones secreted by glands on the face seem to have a calming effect on cats. When cats rub their faces on various objects they leave their scent, which is reassuring to the cat and non-offensive to humans. Other cats passing the object will often stop and sniff, maybe even rubbing their faces on the object to leave their scent as well. Pheromones convey information to other cats, such as the identity of the cat (if familiar), when he was there, which direction he was headed, and even what kind of mood he was in. When we stroke our cats, or they rub up against our legs, we pick up these scents, too. That gives us a group scent identification.
Cats will also use contact to communicate urgency, from gentle reminders of feeding time to a demanding insistent rub. If you have more than one cat, you may notice them butting heads from time to time or rubbing their faces against each other. Only cats entirely comfortable with each other will engage in this type of mutual head butting (so-called bunting). The physical contact of head rubbing creates a potpourri of shared scents that help cats to feel more comfortable with each other and more secure in their home territory. Bunting may also be a signal of social rank.
Although cats have earned a reputation for being independent and aloof, it's comforting to know that bunting is an affectionate gesture that reinforces a relationship based upon physical contact and aroma sharing. When your kitty rubs against you or your things, he is in effect claiming those as his own.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EPG/is_n1_v29/ai_16657961
2006-11-26 10:35:15 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You think that's bad, I have caught my cat rubbing her gums on my tooth brush. But the tooth brush, like most things in my house, have my scent on them and kitty wants the world to know I belong to her. So she marks her territory with the glands in her face. It's quite normal and not strange at all.
And yes, I threw the tooth brush out and keep the bathroom door closed now.
2006-11-26 17:25:58 · answer #2 · answered by patti duke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have scent glands on their face, they are marking their territory with their scent. My kitty rubs her face on me all the time too.
2006-11-26 17:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by Stark 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
he is spreading his sent on things that belong to him and that includes you. even thou he is fixed he will still mark his territory it in a cats nature to act like that.
2006-11-27 13:49:42 · answer #4 · answered by wolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All Cats Do That.
2006-11-26 18:26:55 · answer #5 · answered by mks 7-15-02 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
more likely their teeth is bothering them so they need to scratch it
2006-11-26 19:18:38 · answer #6 · answered by EverCharlie2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mine does that too
2006-11-26 17:39:18 · answer #7 · answered by Eat organic stuff 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋