Why do cats rub their feet?

Cats have their own ideas about the world they live in. They perceive everything by smell. Here, during the above described "ritual" they perform the so-called olfactory marking – "mark" their territory and its members. During rubbing, the cat applies secretions of its sebaceous glands to the human body and other objects around (such as pheromones marking sign objects).

Zoologists found out why cats rub people's feet

Every cat owner must be familiar with the ritual, when an animal rubs its head on people's feet, then its whole body and finally its tail. Sometimes it purrs and snuggles, as if hugging you. What is this? A gesture of affection, a sign of attention or love, or maybe something else entirely? How do you explain this behavior? In fact, cats rub their owner's feet for many reasons.

As strange as it may sound, rubbing your master's feet is a kind of display of love and trust. It is as if it is marking you, letting others know that it is its owner and it is better to stay away from him.

After the owner returns home, the cat discovers that he has lost his usual scent. It performs the ritual of rubbing its owner's feet and tries with all its might to get it back.

The cat rubs its legs in order to use the sebaceous glands between its eyes and ears, around its mouth and at the base of its tail to mark familiar territory and people on it. This behavior indicates that the marked person does not pose a threat to her. In this way, cats also warn potential rivals that this is their territory and it is not worth violating its boundaries.

In fact, rubbing the feet of the owner is a more hygienic alternative to relieving minor needs. Of course, it doesn't sound very pleasant or even funny, but that's nature.

Such a ritual as rubbing his feet is a kind of training for the owner. Your pooch thus signals that he is hungry and it's time for dinner, wants to play or needs affection. If your cat rubs you, but does not touch you with its nose or ears, just its torso, pet it or hold it in your arms. Attention means a lot to cats.

Cats especially often and actively rub their feet when they are "hunting". This way, the animal informs its owner of its needs and forces him to pay attention to itself.

The reasons why a cat rubs its legs

As we have already said, cats try to "mark" their territory and the people living there. They are like owners: they "mark" the owner with their scent and scare other cats away from him. To do this, they rub their owner's feet and apply special pheromones to them.

Cats often consider their owners as members of their family (personal world). When they rub their owners' feet, they often want to say something.

• They need affection (for example, when a cat rubs its feet and purrs, it shows its love for its owner);
• the animal wants to attract the attention of its owner (for example, if the person has been away for a long time, the cat has experienced stress from the separation and therefore wants to remind the person that it is time to feed);
• the cat rubs because of territorial reasons (it marks its territory, like dogs, to show dominance);
• Cats rub their owners before they are in heat (if a cat has been very restless lately and is constantly demanding attention, it may be that she is about to start her heat. However, you should not suppress sexual desire in cats on your own, it is better to consult a doctor).

You should not wean a cat off rubbing its legs or forbid it to do so.

Otherwise the animal can be very stressed. After all, the "marking" of the territory plays an extremely important role in its life. In addition, it is possible that the cat simply lacks attention and affection. When a person treats his pet well enough, he rarely feels the need to annoyingly rub his feet.

A cat's purr can tell you a lot about its mood and desires

Scientists have not yet found out how cats purr and what they feel when they do that. According to some theories, cats purr because of the electrical impulses that cause the muscles near the vocal cords to contract. A cat purrs with its mouth and nose at the same time, and the vibration of this sound is transmitted throughout the body.

Most of the time, cats purr when they need something from a human (to get food, affection). However, it is not uncommon for animals to purr because they are lonely and in pain. By purring, they try to pacify themselves.

If their purr is loud, the cat is happy and grateful to humans for their attention. If its purr is soft and quiet, the cat is most likely falling asleep. If a cat purrs softly but loudly, it indicates that it needs something (this is the sound most often heard when an animal meets its owner at home).

Why do cats rub people's feet? Veterinarian's opinion

Veterinarian B. Galkin told the publication Newsthat when the cat rubs the legs of the owner, it expresses trust and love, and also "marks" it. According to the expert, the smell is the responsibility of the special glands of the cat, which are located near the sweat and sebaceous glands.

When the cat rubs its owner's feet, it marks him with its own pheromones, demonstrating its trust and love. This is also how an animal attracts attention to itself and shows that it is bored and wants affection.

Cats are excellent manipulators, but they can not be hypocrites – they immediately show their displeasure if they do not like something. For example, the four-legged animals are able to refuse food for several days, if they want something tastier.

Recently, veterinarian L. Korocheva told radio Sputnik , for what reason cats start to eat houseplants. Usually it is caused by the animals' need for vitamins and fiber. This happens if the basis of the cat's diet is dry food.

According to recent studies, the number of dead birds and bats during migration increases because of wind turbines.

Whale watchers in California recently witnessed a rare case where a white cub was spotted among a flock of killer whales, also known as Orcinus orca.

Why a cat rubs up against a person's legs: video

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Veterinarian explains cats' habit of rubbing people's feet

Veterinarian Bogdan Galkin said that when cats rub their owners' feet they express their trust and love, and also "mark" him. In a conversation with News.ru on Wednesday, April 5, the expert noted that cats are mostly oriented by sense of smell, so they share their smell with the owner, as if "marking" him. In addition, it is a sign of recognition and disposition. According to Galkin, the special glands of cat, located near the sweat and sebaceous glands, are responsible for the smell.

"Rubbing the feet of the owner is a ritual in which the cat marks you with its pheromones and shows that it loves and trusts you," the veterinarian said the TV channel "360". In addition, by rubbing the feet of the owner cats attract attention, and also show that they miss you, and require affection. Galkin said that cats are skilled manipulators, but they can not be hypocrites, and therefore they immediately show discontent if they do not like something. For example, they may refuse to eat for a few days in a case where they want "something tastier," writes the website kp.ru.

On April 2, veterinarian Lyubov Korocheva told why cats may start eating houseplants. According to her, it usually happens because of the need for vitamins and fiber. This usually happens if the animal eats dry food. On March 28, Yuri Kuklachev, the director of the Moscow Theater of Cats, told the NSN that cats feel good or bad attitudes and always reciprocate love and respect in return. Last October, the therapist Lyudmila Lapa told RT that pets have a positive effect on children and adults and contribute to a balanced psycho-emotional state. Thus, for example, children are accustomed to care, notes the TV channel "Star".

Smell

Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to interpret the world around them. When they snuggle with your head or rub their bodies against your feet, they pick up various smells that tell them where you've been and what animals you've been in contact with. It's just the way they get information in their own way. It's a gentle gesture, too, and they just let you know that they are happy to have you around, regardless of the other cats you may have stroked!

Cats have several different scent glands on different parts of their bodies that release certain pheromones, including on their tails, cheeks, forehead, paws and anus. When they rub their bodies against you, it's their way of marking their territory and putting their unique scent on your clothing. It's their way of telling other cats that you belong to them!

Researchers have documented how wild cats rub each other's heads, showing that they belong to the same pack or tribe. It's a form of communication, recognition and acceptance in the tribe, and when cats do this to their owners, they mix their scent with yours and mark you as a member of their tribe.

Cats who don't like someone usually don't do this, which is a strong indication that this person is not accepted into their tribe!

Attachment

Seeing you as part of their tribe and family, cats will rub up against you and bang their heads against you as a sign of affection and acceptance. Although cats are unlikely to rub against a person they don't like, they may rub against a stranger to get new smells and information. In some cats this may be a sign of affection, but in others it is simply a way to get information, not necessarily an invitation for attention and affection.

Cats will rub against furniture for the same reason they rub against your feet: to convey their scent and mark their territory. This is usually accompanied by scratching the furniture with their claws, which is usually undesirable for cat owners!

Reasons

Cats are adorable creatures. They are so unique that people really need to study their behavior to better understand them. Since 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 the 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 person. 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 the territory seems to extend to their beloved humans 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 objects as tall as the head are usually marked by swiping from the corner of the mouth to the ear.

Cats may rub their chin and throat against lower objects. When cats meet each other, they actually make social connections. 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.

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I love you in a cat way

The most pleasant part of cat signals consists of confessions of fluffy in love to his man. After all, it is also an instinctive desire – to give affection and feel mutual care and love, because for a cat his people – his pack.

• The cat is moving its paws over your body, slightly releasing its claws. He may also purr quietly. This is a habit from childhood, so the kitten mashed his mother's belly.
• Gifts – a dead mouse or a bird in a slipper indicate a desire to please, to prove his love and loyalty. So the cat shares the prey, the toy, shows his man what a nimble and brave hunter he is. Be sure to praise the animal for the feat.
• A long look in the eyes is a cat's kiss. If the cat is also slowly squinting its eyes, then it really likes you.
• He gives you his belly – the highest degree of trust, because that's how a cat reveals the most exposed part of his body to you. He feels at ease and comfortable with you. But do not flatter yourself: very often, when you hold out your hand to the belly, you run into a sly "bite". No need to be offended, it's a cat's nature – now you've been caught playing.
• Biting – a sudden attack, pawing and biting indicate a playful mood and perception of you as a wonderful partner to play with. Sometimes a cat may miscalculate the strength of the bite, because cat skin is stronger than human skin, but there's no point in scolding you for that – the cat won't understand why.
• Purring – if the cat near you "winds up the motor," it's love. Sometimes a cat may purr for self-soothing.
• Stalking – the cat follows you around when it wants attention and at the same time protects you from potential danger. And sometimes this is her way of reminding you that it's time for a snack.

To demonstrate the cat's feelings the pet may start rubbing his owner's legs. You want to prolong this very pleasant behavior and not to think about the reason for it at all. Why does he do that and is everything so clear for the cat?

Why does the cat rub itself against the human?

Every cat lover has experienced this at least once, when a cat greets at the doorstep with a special ritual of greeting. First she rubs her head and sides against your ankles and wraps her tail around your leg. Then it can stand up on its hind legs and reach its forehead to the lap of its master or to touch the outstretched hand. Certainly, such feelings would not be shown to a stranger, because it is a direct sign of love and affection of a furry friend. But there is a deeper meaning.

We are talking about olfactory marking. In other words, it's how the cat tags you. When the animal rubs itself, it transfers the pheromones secreted by its temporal glands onto its host's body, restoring the scent to members of the cat's territory. The marked person is a permanent member of its personal world and poses no danger to it. In the same way, the cat marks any other familiar objects – it is only worth rubbing against all the corners, furniture, and interior objects.

But special attention is required when a cat rubs its muzzle on the head and face of the owner. It is an unconditional adoration and manifestation of the pet's tender, reverent feelings.

Whatever the underlying reasons, physiological or emotional, for the cat's behavior, they invariably make their owners happy and fill their lives with special meaning.