Why cats bump their head against a person's head

Vestibular disease is characterized by sudden and somewhat abrupt disorientation in cats, which can cause your cat's head to bob. Common symptoms include falling or leaning to one side, tilting or shaking the head and often nausea and vomiting. This condition is caused by an abnormality in your cat's inner ear, the vestibular apparatus, which is responsible for balance and coordination. The exact cause of this condition has yet to be fully elucidated, and the diagnosis is made based on clinical signs.

What does it mean when a cat's head is pounding?

Head bumping is common among both feral and domestic cats. Cats have glands in various parts of the body, including their cheeks, lips, nose, forehead and ears, and they rub these glands on people, other animals and objects to leave their pheromones. Common scent is an important component in groups of cats in the wild, so one of the reasons cats bob their heads is to create a safe space with a familiar scent.

The cat's pheromones left behind by bobbing also allow it to return to its hunting grounds and retrace its routes with scent. Cats also bob their heads to greet and show affection, a process that goes back to communication between cats and kittens.

While head bumping is a safe and healthy behavior for cats, it is important to distinguish it from head bumping, where an animal compulsively pushes its head against a wall or other hard object, which can be a sign of serious illness.

Marking the territory.

Cats bump their heads to mark objects, other cats and people with a familiar scent, most often by rubbing their chins, foreheads and cheeks. In cat colonies, bobbing is independent of dominance. All cats in a group exhibit this behavior, and cats without the same scent can be ejected from the group, which means that group scent is important in shaping a cat's identity and allows cats to be assured that another cat they encounter is allowed within a certain geographic area.

Domestic cats typically bob their heads on many objects in the house, with this behavior being at the harmless end of the behavior continuum, which can develop into scratching and urine markings in some cats with behavioral problems.

In addition to marking familiar territory, head bobbing allows moving cats to retrace their steps with a scent. This is important for feral cats looking for prey, and they also use marking to mark productive hunting grounds to which they may later return. After showing aggression or fighting with another cat, cats will often mark nearby areas with their muzzle as a sign to unfamiliar cats that they are in the wrong territory.

Reasons

Cats are fascinating creatures. They are so unique that people really need to study their behavior to better understand them. Because they don't speak human language, they have learned to communicate using body language and vocalizations.

Did you know that cats have different sounds for different needs? Although their behavior is unusual and interesting, it can sometimes frustrate owners. Consequently, knowing cat psychology can really help you get into the mind and behavior of a cat. So, how does head rubbing apply to us here, you may ask.

Cats like to rub your face for many reasons. Here are the most common reasons they practice this action.

First, you need to understand one thing about cats and why they rub their faces: they don't do it because they itch. Cats like to show you that you are their personality. It's similar to how dogs use urine to mark their territory.

Cats have glands in their chin, ears, neck and sides. So, when a cat rubs against you or an object, the glands are activated. It's a form of feline communication, and it's called "head banging" or "pawing." Cat experts say that cats communicate with other cats by leaving a trail of scent through rubbing, which contains feline facial pheromones.

Cats mark objects with a scent that lets others know they have been there. This is part of the claim to their territory – and it seems that the territory extends to their loved ones as well.

Some cats may seem like overbearing creatures who don't care about their environment. However, cats are gentle, fragile and, yes, independent little creatures who love their humans immensely.

In addition, cats love to snuggle up to you when you are in pain, and many claim that they have healing powers? Couldn't a creature that cares for you when you are sick or sad love you? Or have you been treated harshly?

Feline pheromone glands.

As mentioned earlier, cats have glands all over their bodies. They are located between the toes, temples, under the chin, along the length of the tail, and in the ears.

This is why cats sometimes use their entire head for luxurious rubbing. Which part of the head is used depends on the height of the target object.

The ears and forehead are usually rubbed against the tallest objects, while head-high objects are usually marked by swiping from the corner of the mouth to the ear.

Cats may rub their chin and throat on lower objects. When cats meet each other, they actually create social bonds. This is usually done among friendly and familiar cats.

In most cases, this practice is initiated by the more dominant cat so that all the cats in the colony "smell" the same.

Scent recovery.

It's not just tenderness that encourages a cat to "bob". When we come home from work or a walk, we bring thousands of unfamiliar smells with us. This doesn't please our whiskered friends at all. In cats, in addition to the nose, the Jacobson's tube, an organ located on the palate, is responsible for smells. With its help cats can detect the most delicate scents, which are not available to humans. It is no coincidence that many people believe that the world of the cat is a world of smells. An animal can get jealous if you smell like another cat or frightened if you smell like a dog.

So when you come home from the street, the cat needs to "restore the balance of scents." He will start rubbing up against you to feel safe again. The owner will smell home again and no other scents will confuse the animal.

Cats rub against furniture for this reason as well. After all, this does not mean that your pet has particularly warm feelings for the table or couch. This is exactly the case when the cat "marks" the territory. He removes foreign scents from the object and makes it "his". A little bit of pawing and it's done! The cat is safe again.

Scent Glands

So why do cats prefer to rub their heads instead of their tails?

The thing is that cats have special glands that secrete odors. Some of these glands are located on the paws. Therefore, do not take the claw point only as a game or a prank. This is how your cat leaves his scent and marks the territory, so that henceforth he will feel safe in that place.

There are scent glands on the chin, temples, corners of the mouth, on the ears and on the head. It is not yet known whether the glands in cats secrete the same scent, but it is obvious that it is the head that cats use when caressing. And when aggressing, they use their paws.

Depending on the height of the object, the cat will rub differently. She uses her ears and forehead for "hitting" high objects, her chin and neck for low ones.

Bacterial infections.

If your cat has a bacterial infection, which is more common in older cats and kittens, it may be the cause of their head shaking. It will almost always be accompanied by other symptoms, including fever, lack of appetite, runny nose, lethargy and vomiting. You will need to take your cat to the veterinarian for a physical examination to determine the exact type of bacterial infection and the need for antibiotics.

A head injury may also be the cause of your cat's head bobbing. Your cat may have fought, fallen from a height, or even been hit by a car, and any of these incidents may result in a head injury that can cause cognitive dysfunction, resulting in head shaking. Check your cat's head for any signs of bumping or trauma and, again, they may also need to see a veterinarian.

Genetics

Although quite rare, your cat's genetics may play a role in their head bobbing. This is especially common among purebred animals, where poor breeding practices among a small gene pool can result in unhealthy animals.

A good example of this is the Burmese cat. These cats sometimes suffer from a hereditary condition called hypokalemic polymyopathy, which is characterized by weakness in the neck muscles that can lead to head shaking.

Why cats bump and rub their heads

Rubbing the forehead, muzzle or nose is a common but sometimes misinterpreted form of feline communication. Cats often rub their heads on their owners' faces or necks when their owners pick them up or try to go about their business. What does this mean? Is it just a distraction or an attempt to say something?

Nose rubbing, forehead rubbing, muzzle rubbing, poking – there are different names for this characteristic movement. During this "petting," the owner feels a slight nudge of the forehead, which is called a "bumping." This is similar to a fist salute between people.

As with other oddities of catsthat may baffle their family members, head rubbing has a definite purpose. Cats rub their heads against everything to demonstrate affection and mark their territory by leaving their scent everywhere.

Affection

Cats have many glands on their heads that release pheromones, particularly in the nose, mouth and chin. With each rubbing against the owner, these glands leave behind a "trace". By rubbing its head, the cat is trying to say that it loves you. In response to such efforts, the pet is likely to receive a lot of affection. This is a powerful incentive for her to do it again and again.

In addition, the cat bangs its head to get to know family members better. Animals have a very highly developed sense of smell, and they use smells as one of their primary ways of gathering data about their environment. Stephanie Borns-Vale, a veterinary animal behaviorist at Tufts Animal Behavioral Sciences Clinic, told the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts UniversityShe said a cat can rub its head against a human not only to express affection, but also to "gather information about the human." The rubbing of the pet's head transmits a scent that helps it get to know others better, especially the first time it is introduced to them.

Why a cat rubs its head against the owner

Quite often cats do not rub their heads against their owners, because not all of them like to demonstrate their affection. But this does not mean that pet does not love him. .

One of the factors influencing the tendency of a cat to rub its head is its breed. Some affectionate members of the feline species, such as ragdolls и Maine CoonsThe behavior of cats can also be influenced by their age.

The behavior of a cat can also be influenced by its age. For example, kittens are usually more playful than adults. But a cat's need for attention usually increases with age, says the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and many older cats become perfectly tame animals.

If a cat rubs its head against its owner's face or bumps, you may consider yourself a favorite furry friend. That's real luck!

Contributor Bio

Christine O'Brien is a writer, mom, and longtime owner of two Russian blue cats who are the mainstay of the home. Her articles can also be found at Care.com, What to Expect and Fit Pregnancy, where she writes about family life, pets and pregnancy. Subscribe to her on Instagram and Twitter @brovelliobrien.

The tail is an indicator of a cat's mood

Observing a cat's tail can tell you what kind of mood your pet is in and what her intentions are.

1. If the tail is "straight," it means that the cat is in good mood. She is full and happy. But, on the contrary, if the tail is "loose", the cat is not in mood for friendship.
2. If the tail of the cat is down, most likely, it is tired, or dissatisfied with something.
3. A flattened tail indicates that the cat is offended by something or just frightened.
4. Tail twitching is a sign that the cat is not in the mood. She does not like something, she is angry. If the cat is kicking its tail on the sides, at such times it is better to leave the cat alone. She is aggressive and may attack.
5. Is the cat moving the tip of its tail? Something clearly interested her.

By the way, with the help of tail gestures cats communicate not only with people, but also with their congeners.

Other movements and postures

Here are a few more transcripts of cat gestures, which will help to better understand the pet:

• A cat lies on its back, squinting its eyes and putting its belly up to be scratched – the highest degree of trust in its owner, a friendly attitude.
• A cat shuffles from paw to paw as if kneading dough, while slightly letting its claws out – it means the cat shows its affection.
• A cat with a straight tail gets under your feet, rubbing against them – it's trying to attract attention, trying to ask you to feed it or invite to play.
• Clamped ears and a twitching tail indicate feline fear. She is tense and ready to either hide or attack.
• An extreme degree of interest is demonstrated by a cat that rises on its hind legs. Its ears are set vertically.
• It stares intently at its owner, and when the latter pays attention to it, it runs away with a purr, thus inviting the cat to play catch-up.
• He looks around and then carefully licks himself – so the cat shows that he is calm. Or it is a feigned calm.
• Sits with its paws tucked under itself and its tail around its body. This pose indicates that the cat is relaxed or waiting for something. Or maybe it's just observing what's going on.
• "The cat's kiss with its eyes" is a sign of love for its owner. This is when the cat stares intently at the person, does not take its eyes off, and then slowly closes its eyes.

Peculiarities of physiology

The behavior of four-legged cats is due to their physiology. Animals have special glands that secrete aromatic substances. They are located in several places:

The smell of each animal's secretions is unique. With their help, it is as if a cat leaves its mark on those people and objects that are important to it. In the wild, predators mark their territory this way – then the other animal understands that the place is occupied.

Showing affection

If a cat wants to show affection and love, it will start to rub its head vigorously and lightly forehead to the object of his adoration. Besides the owner, this "honor" can be bestowed upon other people who attracted the cat. It happens that the cat expresses in this way his sympathy for other pets, even dogs.

Researchers have not yet determined whether all cat glands secrete pheromones with the same odor. However, it is reliably known that to express their feelings, furry pets use glands that are located in the ears and at the temples. Behavior with different people and animals can also be different:

• A cat will gently tap its forehead against the feet or hands of its beloved owner or mistress;
• Depending on his or her mood, the cat may rub or wiggle around his or her feet;
• If a cat tries to get close to its owner with its eyes wide open, it means that the cat trusts him, and this way the animal shows its best to the owner.

More often than not cats show that people are important for them and they consider them their friends.

😾Why does the cat kick?

Cats are such intelligent and affectionate creatures that they are more often breed by other animals. But beyond that, they are also independent, yet despite their freedom-loving nature, they need human companionship. And they show their attitude to humans in their own way, in the cat way.

Everyone who keeps cats, noticed for them such a strange habit as fighting. While communicating with humans, cats begin to poke their head or forehead at the owner. This way they can bump their feet, hands and almost any part of the body.

If there are other pets in the house besides the cat, the cat may "bump" them as well.

Cats always express their emotions with different sounds, signs, postures and gestures. Cats never pretend, they express their feelings emotionally and sincerely. And one of the ways to express their affection for their owner is to fight.

Cats behave this way only in relation to the owner, his family members and animals that live with him.

The owner usually assumes that if the cat starts to kick, it means respect, love, trust and affection. That's right, yes, a cat can show its love that way, too.

But in addition to the above, when a cat kicks, it exchanges smells. And that, perhaps, is the main reason for this strange habit of kicking.

Cats survive because of their unique powers of hearing, sight and smell. Smell! – is what helps a cat separate friends from enemies, healthy food from unsuitable food. And if a cat lives in your house, it owns its territory, considers itself the mistress. And it's very important to her that everything in the house smells right.

A show of affection

Marking territory is not the only reason why cats bump heads with humans. Similar behavior is observed within the pack. Animals communicate through smells. Head bumping is a way of expression:

The pets rub against each other for this purpose. The behavior also helps create a "pack smell." By bringing its head close to the other cat's muzzle, the animal shows trust.

When communicating with humans, pecking is a way of expressing feelings. A cat rubs its muzzle against its owner's head when it is happy or wants extra attention. During this, the animal purrs and can make characteristic kneading movements with its paws.

Cats kick in various ways

Animals, like people, have different personalities. One cat will bump so much that it may hurt the owner's hand, while another will limit itself to a light touch.

Marking territory and recognition as a "member of the pack" is what it means when a cat bats its head. This expression of feelings is a sign of absolute trust. A cat can only pull its head or bang its head forcefully against a person. Additionally, animals express affection:

Thus, the pet will climb on his lap in the toilet, stretch out on his laptop or documents. If the cat gets enough attention during the day, the number of such expressions of affection is reduced. But the outcome depends on character and environment. Cats living with congeners or other pets get plenty of companionship while the owner is at work. But they, too, require a ritual of greeting or evening petting.

It is important to remember that head bumping is normal behavior. To varying degrees, it is common to all cats. The activity depends on the nature of the animal, its attitude toward humans. You should not be worried if the pet, despite its general affability, does not tend to bump. But if the cat sits for a long time with its forehead against a wall or other hard surface, you should show it to a specialist. This posture is a sign of problems with the nervous system: from a concussion sustained while playing to the development of a tumor or other pathology.

And in what cases does your cat bang its head against your hand? Write in the comments.