Why do cats headbutt you?
Most cat owners are familiar with the headbutt—when your cat approaches you and uses their head to make contact and rub their cheek along your face, leg, arm or whatever body part they’re near! Headbutts, or head bunts as they’re also known, are a behavior that domestic cats share with their wild counterparts.
Pheromones and headbutting
Cats have glands on their cheeks, forehead and chin that contain pheromones. Pheromones are produced by animals as a type of scent communication, and while people can’t detect pheromones, cats can. So when a cat headbutts you, they’re rubbing their scent, or their pheromones, on you. But why do cats want to mark you with your scent? Is it to claim you as their own? Or is there something else that is driving this charming cat behavior?
Many people think that headbutting is a sign of affection and then may feel a bit disappointed when they see their cat doing it to a piece of furniture. While it’s true that headbutting isn’t necessarily a sign of love, it is, however, a sign of trust. When your cat headbutts you, they’re rubbing pheromones on you from the glands located just in front of their ears and accepting you into their inner circle. In other words, they’re creating a bond with you. You now smell like them, and they're reassured by that connection. Cats don’t headbutt just anyone, so they must think very highly of you to mark you!
When marking objects like a couch or cat condo, cats use the glands in their cheek. Unlike territorial urine marking, headbutting objects to leave pheromones marks the area as a safe space.
If you have a multi-cat home, you may notice that sometimes your cats will headbutt each other too. This is to create a common colony scent with other cats in the household. If your cats are headbutting, rest assured they’re besties.
Self-soothing behavior
Headbutting is also a way that cats self-soothe. Cats usually appear to be relaxed and happy when they're headbutting and often flop down playfully, purr and show other relaxed behaviors. In fact, headbutting is a sign that your cat is a happy cat! They are self-soothing and finding enjoyment in the scent of their own pheromones.
If your cat used to headbutt you or your furnishings but has lost interest, it could mean your cat isn’t feeling well. If the change in behavior is accompanied by other behavior changes, make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out an illness.
*Live Chat with a licensed veterinary professional is free for VCA clients through the myVCA mobile app, available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
