Why Do Cats Shove Their Fluffy Butts In Our Faces?
You’re sitting on the couch, petting your cat as it lays in your lap, when suddenly it stands up, turns around, and sticks its butt right in your face. Its fluffy behind brushes against your nose as your kitty displays its rear end proudly. While having a cat butt in your face can be amusing, it also leaves many cat owners wondering – why do cats do this?
Cats shoving their butts in your face can be perplexing behavior. From scent marking to showing affection to communicating a medical issue, there are several potential reasons your cat is presenting its backside. This article will explore the common explanations for this quirky cat conduct, and provide tips on curbing it if needed.
Reason 1: Scent Marking
Cats have scent glands around their anus that produce pheromones, which allow them to mark territory and objects with their scent (https://www.catcarecenter.com/services/cats/blog/felines-pheromones-and-claws). When a cat rubs its butt on you, furniture, or other objects in your home, it is depositing these pheromones to mark its territory. This scent lets other cats know that this area belongs to your cat.
Cats also have scent glands on their paws that release pheromones when kneading or scratching (https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-scent-glands/). By rubbing its butt on objects, your cat is further marking its territory in a process called scent marking. This territorial behavior is normal for cats as they feel the need to define what areas belong to them.
Reason 2: Showing Affection
One common reason cats stick their rear end in your face is as a gesture of affection and trust. Cats have scent glands around their tail area, so when they rub their behind against you, they are transferring their scent and marking you as a loved one. It’s a kitty kiss of sorts!
You may notice your cat do this butt-bump greeting when you walk in the door after work, when you wake up in the morning, or as you sit down to relax on the couch. They want to show you some love by sharing their scent. This is similar to how mother cats would lick their kittens all over as a sign of care and bonding. So take your cat’s butt-bump as a compliment!
Cats also do “head bonks” and full body rubs against you for this same reason. The butt in the face is just their quirky way of being affectionate and saying “you’re part of my tribe.” Though it can seem silly or annoying to us humans, it’s your cat’s heartfelt attempt to show they care. Usually a few head scratches or pets will satisfy their affection quota for the moment.
Reason 3: Getting Attention
Cats are intelligent creatures that quickly learn which behaviors get their owner’s attention. If a cat sticks its butt in your face and you react by petting or pushing them away, the cat associates butt-in-face with receiving attention from you.[1] This reinforces the behavior, causing the cat to do it more often.
It’s important not to encourage this behavior by giving the cat any reaction when they shove their rear end in your face. Any attention, positive or negative, will be perceived as rewarding by the cat. The best response is to ignore the cat completely until they stop the behavior. This helps break the connection between butt-in-face and gaining the owner’s attention.
With consistency, the cat will learn that putting their butt in your face no longer leads to a response. They are likely to stop this behavior altogether once it is clear the attention has dried up.
[1] https://be.chewy.com/is-this-normal-why-do-cats-put-their-butts-in-your-face/
Reason 4: Showing Dominance
Some cats will put their butt in your face as a way to establish dominance in the relationship. Cats are very territorial animals and have a social hierarchy with humans and other pets in the household. By shoving their rear end in your face, they are claiming a higher rank and asserting their dominance over you.
This is in stark contrast to other submissive behaviors cats may display, such as exposing their belly, kneeling on the floor, or slowly blinking at you. When a cat puts their butt in your face, they are doing the opposite of submitting to you. The message is clear – I’m the boss here.
Cats that frequently put their butt in your face when you are petting or playing with them are trying to remind you that they are in charge. It’s their way of putting you back in your place. Some cats may also walk away after the butt-in-face encounter, further suggesting the power dynamic at play.
While harmless, this dominant behavior can be undesirable. Luckily there are ways to discourage it and teach your cat appropriate ways to interact with you. With patience and consistency, you can shift the relationship to one of mutual understanding and respect.
Reason 5: Medical Issue
In some cases, a cat constantly putting their butt in your face can signal an underlying medical problem. Certain conditions like intestinal parasites, anal gland issues, or neurological disorders can cause this behavior. Here are some specific symptoms to watch out for:
- Scooting rear end along the floor
- Excessive licking around the rear end
- Visible worms or eggs around the anus
- Inflamed, painful anal area
- Difficulty defecating
- Loss of bowel control
If you notice any of these signs along with recurrent butt-in-face behavior, it’s important to get your cat checked by a veterinarian. Parasites like tapeworms or roundworms can cause irritation and itchiness, leading a cat to try to soothe the discomfort by putting their rear on your face. Anal gland impaction is another possibility that requires treatment. In rare cases, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, dementia or neurological damage may be factors.
While butt-in-face actions are usually harmless cat communication, persistent symptoms demand medical investigation. Don’t ignore possible illness in a cat just because butt-sniffing is common. Diagnosing and treating the underlying cause will provide relief and restore quality of life.
How to Stop This Behavior
While having a cat put their butt in your face may seem annoying or gross, you should not punish or yell at your cat for this behavior. Cats do not understand punishment well and it will likely just scare them or damage your bond. Instead, there are some gentle ways to discourage and redirect this behavior:
If your cat goes to put their butt in your face, calmly turn your head away or stand up and walk away. Completely ignore them for a few minutes until they stop. This shows the behavior does not get your attention.
Try redirecting them into a more positive behavior like playing with a toy or getting pets/treats when they rub their head on you instead.
Make sure you are giving your cat enough positive attention and playtime so they do not need to act out for your attention.
Trim the fur around your cat’s back end if matted fur seems to be part of the problem.
Clean the area around your cat’s bottom to remove any tempting smells.
Spay/neuter your cat if not already done, since this can reduce marking behaviors.
Place double-sided sticky tape on surfaces where your cat likes to put their butt, which they will dislike stepping on.
With consistency and redirection, you can likely curb this habit without upsetting your cat.
When To Seek Help
In most cases, a cat putting their bottom in your face is completely normal behavior. However, if additional concerning symptoms or signs of illness are present, it’s a good idea to seek veterinary advice.
Some examples of symptoms that warrant a trip to the vet include:
- Lethargy or lack of appetite
- Changes in litter box habits
- Excessive licking or irritation around the bottom
- Signs of pain or discomfort when touched
- Difficulty urinating or defecating
- Blood in urine or stool
- Discharge or unusual odor from bottom
While butt-in-face behavior alone is not a cause for concern, a vet visit can identify and address any potential underlying medical issues. It’s better to be safe than sorry when monitoring your cat’s health and wellbeing.
Cats Show Affection In Other Ways
While putting their butt in your face is one sign of affection from cats, they have many other ways of showing love and care as well. Here are some other common affectionate behaviors cats display:
- Bunting – Rubbing their head and body on you to mark you with their scent and show acceptance
- Slow blinking – A long, slow blink is like a cat “kiss” showing trust and contentment
- Kneading – Using their paws to knead on soft surfaces or people mimics their nursing actions as kittens to show comfort
- Grooming – Licking your hair or hand is a social bonding behavior that shows trust
- Purring – The classic sign of happiness and affection from cats
- Rubbing – Brushing against your legs or winding around your feet marks you with scent and shows fondness
- Chirping – Making a chattering or chirpy noise signals excitement and affection
So while a cat butt in your face can seem like a strange show of love, it’s just one of the many ways our feline friends like to display their affection!
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few main reasons why cats may put their butt in your face:
- To scent mark you as part of their territory
- To show affection in their own unique way
- To get your attention
- To show dominance
- Due to a potential medical issue
While this behavior may seem silly or gross to us humans, it’s important to remember that this is natural cat communication. It’s best not to encourage or reinforce this behavior though, as it can be unhygienic. Instead, try redirecting your cat’s energy into more positive displays of affection.
With some patience and training, you can curb this habit over time. The key is providing appropriate outlets for your cat’s instincts and needs.