Cats have pheromone scent glands on their chin and whisker pads. These invisible scent markers are for other cats to know that Someone Else likes whatever it is. Different cats are going to react in different ways. All three of my cats chin rub my hands, one after the other, because they all get along and share me. For cats with a hunting territory, it’s a warning signal that this is claimed ground, and intruders should watch their step.
They might be inviting a Mind Meld. They certainly want to show affection.
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A cat showing affection with their head is a higher degree of trust than rubbing a shoulder on our leg. It’s a compliment, and should be received as such.
An insecure cat might shy away when we reach for their head. We should then reach for their chest, which implies a more respectful distance. Uncertain cats will be more likely to enjoy the chest rub than having a hand cover their head.
Also, we should not reach for the head when meeting a cat we don’t know well. We should extend our fist, which is nonthreatening, and if the cat is feeling polite, they will examine it and smell us. If this is a friend’s cat we will be seeing again, we are building a friendship.
A rub under the chin or around the base of the ears is a good way to move up from the chest and expand our respect for the cat’s face and head.
We can find the cat will be more open to face to face contact if we put our hands behind our back as we exchange eye contact and the slow blinks that means “we are friends.” It might then be easier to get our faces close.
When a cat stares at us, they are trying to get our attention. Next time, ask them what they want. They will probably find a way to tell us.
If we pay attention to this most expressive part of the cat’s body, we will find our communication works better. The cat is giving out several signals with their expression, their ears, and their head gestures.
They love to get a conversation going.
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There’s more ways to get our cat to be affectionate in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my CAT AFFECTION posts.
My cat that I adopted when she was 10 was very private and I think she was depressed when she came to live with me…she was raised with a dog and I think she missed him. I had to put her down two weeks ago….from being an un affectionate cat she started to sleep with me on my bed about six months before she passed…the last month she actually got on my chest and just slept….I am putting all of the little signs together…like her loss of apetite, her sleeping, her incontence (at the end) I really felt bad letting her go but I knew I couldn’t go on hand feeding her and when she lost lost control of her bladder I knew I had too. I am wondering if her affection at the end was a way of her telling me to PLEASE LET GO?????
From Mary Ann Michaels…when I adopted Princess she was 10 or 13 years old and I had her 3 years before I had to put her down….
this is a very useful post for the people who have cats their like me.. article to understand more our cats. on how they show their affectionto us.. thanks for the post!
when i was still in high school i have a cat who always follow me wherever i go. when i sit down she go to my lap and rub her face in my arms. when i go to sleep she stay at my side..
Over this last fall and winter I have been taking care of 3 cats at my parent’s farm.
The cats are ferile, or pretty much so. They sometimes let me touch their heads but not always. A few days ago I went out there after not seeing them for over a month and they all came to greet me, but more important I noticed they all bumped head upon seeing each other. I thought this was really neat. I am trying to get them to the point where I can take all 3 to a friend’s house. Bad part is, they do have fleas so I’ll have to get rid of that.
The 3 cats have made it through winter in a barn with no heat. I was only able to get some felt blankets and a cardboard box for them to stay in, covered with tarp, and they made it together so they have a special bond.
It amazes me how they have survived.
… had to put her down…
Translation.. had her killed..
It’s ok to say what actually happens, no need to sugar coat it.
I hate it when people do that.