The short answer to this is relative. Some cats like it when you rub your face on them, while others generally don’t. Just like humans, different cats also have a wide range of personalities and preferences. If your cat is friendly and cuddles a lot, there’s a big chance of her enjoying a face rub. In other cases where your cat is reserved, she probably won’t be big on face rubs. In the end, it comes down to what your pet enjoys.
Further Reading: “Learn About Black Tabby Cats Personalities“
Table of Contents
Do Cats Like You To Face Rub Them?
Every cat is different in its particular way. And this one of the likenesses we humans have with our pets. Just as we have different personalities, our furry friends do too. Whether a cat will like it when you rub your face on her depends on her personality. If your cat is naturally playful and all lovey-dovey, it will probably enjoy face rubs. The conclusion comes from the personality traits your cat is exhibiting daily.
On the other hand, if your cat is naturally withdrawn, it may not enjoy it as much. An aloof cat is not necessarily a violent one but just one that likes its space. Now, you rubbing your face on it can make your pet uncomfortable. But this is particularly common with cats that hate being held or picked up. Your cat might get defensive if you rub your face on her against her will.
Further Reading: “Do Cats Dream About Their Owners?“
Just like humans, different cats also have a wide range of personalities and preferences. If your cat is friendly and cuddles a lot, there’s a big chance of her enjoying a face rub. In other cases where your cat is reserved, she probably won’t be big on face rubs. In the end, it comes down to what your pet enjoys.
Why Does My Cat Rub His Face On My Face?
It is common for cats to face butt their owners. While it may sound strange, they actually do this as a display of affection. Over the years, scientists have researched to understand the behavior of our feline pets and research proves that felines develop close attachments with their owners.
Rubbing for cats, in general, is majorly about marking, but it depends on what they are rubbing on. The glands on our pet’s faces have scents that stick to whatever they have body contact with. So when they rub on something, that’s their attempt to claim it for themselves. Now, relating this to you, they rub upon you to show affection and ownership.
Even though it may sound strange, in the same way, you own your cat, it also owns you. When your pet rubs its face on you, it is trying to display its affection by maintaining body contact. Your cat is also showing ownership of you by transferring its scent to you. The sense of ownership here majorly applies to making other cats aware of it in your life. That will warn other cats to refrain from touching you. Yes, your cat did scare them away from you.
Further Reading: “Why Does My Cat Lick The Bottom Of My Shoes?“
Do Cats Like When You Rub Their Head?
It is a common gesture amongst pet owners to rub pet their animals on the head a little. Felines love this act! Although cats generally have different reasons for why they enjoy it. However, the most dominant one is that it is comforting for them. If you have noticed your cat closely, you know that its head is almost inaccessible for it. Cats are unable to use their paws or tongue on their head as they cannot reach it. You are doing them a favor by massaging that part of their body.
In some cats, this gesture reminds them of events in the past. For instance, it could remind them of their mother liking the top of their heads while they were kittens. Rubbing your cat’s head is a form of grooming service to your pet
Is It Okay To Rest My Head On My Cat?
It is evident from the sizes of cats that they aren’t built for weight. An average human head weighs as much as 9-11 pounds. That is also the weight of your pet’s entire body. Now, a human resting his entire 100-pound bodyweight on a cat is dangerous. Most times, cats love to snuggle up on our rib area or our backs. That is relatively safe, but you must let your cat leave when it wants. Also, avoid rolling over your pet.
The bottom line is this: Resting your head on your cat is a bad idea. Your pet’s body is soft, primarily in the abdomen area where all the vital organs reside. Resting may crush an organ or bone in your cat or make breathing difficult. It is common for cats to lay above your head while you lie down. That feels good for them and gives them the option of leaving whenever they want.
Further Reading: “Are Tabby Cats Good Mousers?“
Why Do Cats Rub Their Faces On Things?
In the wild, most animals in the cat family are territorial, and they mark their territories with certain gestures. Your cat is not very different from its cousin. As a cat owner, over time, you would have probably noticed how your pet rubs on things at home. And on some occasions, it rubs on even you. Well, we all know cats are intelligent animals, and there is a reason for this behavior.
Cats have several scent glands around their head and even up to their neck area. These scent glands become active when they rub on things. Your cat marks its territory through this process by claiming its environment. The behavior does not end at home. Even when you take your cat out, they sometimes mark things outside. That is their way of warning other cats of their presence. In some cases, they attempt to rub their faces on things already claimed by other cats. The behavior is normal and comes naturally to them.
Further Reading: “Why Is My Cat Licking The Carpet?“
Final Thoughts.
Cats are loving creatures and are some of the most domesticated animals in the world. Their popularity is a result of their adaptive nature and intelligence. In the wild, cats mostly live in social groups and rub on each other as greetings. If you own more than two cats, you might have noticed your cats rubbing on themselves. It is a display of affection for the animal. The gesture reduces a cat’s anxiety, especially in a new environment with other cats. It is a way for them to give off scents and also receive them.
Likewise, cats like when you rub your face on them. They extend this nature to you as their owner from time to time as a show of affection and ownership. Cats are complex and can express strange behavior that is plainly an expression of love for you.
