Do cats like it when you rub your face on them the way they do to you?
Face rubbing is one of those things that all cats do to their owners. In fact, it’s usually the number one thing they do, followed closely by the related head butt.
They do this to display both affection and ownership. However, just because they can do it to us, doesn’t necessarily make it a two-way street. I recently came across a question in one of the forums asking if cats liked for us to face rub them the way they do us. So let’s talk about face rubbing and cats.
Related: Do Cats Miss Their Owners When They Are Apart?
Why Face Rubbing is a Thing
For cats, face rubbing is both a sign of affection and ownership. When a cat rubs his face against your body, he is showing affection by increasing his contact with you. He is also showing ownership by transferring his scent onto you. It’s a calling card of sorts. It’s his way of saying, “Hey all you other cats, this human belongs to me!” Which is also a sort of affection, if you think about it.
Related: Is it normal for cats to rub against your legs?
Do Cats Like to be on the Receiving End of Face Rubbing
The short – and unsatisfying – answer to this question is some do. Some don’t. It all depends on the cat. A particularly friendly cuddle bug of a cat is most likely going to ADORE you putting your face all over him. A more reserved cat is probably not going to be so keen on the prospect of your face all up in his personal space.
Think about it like this. When a really friendly cat rubs its face on you, it’s almost more about affection than it is about proclaiming ownership. However, if you cat likes his space, I would not recommend invading his personal space, especially with your face.
It’s All About the Cat
Your cuddle bug may love face rubbing from you, but if you have a cat that wants affection when he wants it and ONLY when he wants it, it’s inadvisable to put your face directly within striking distance. Remember, your surly cat can love you and still tell you to back off with his claws.
It’s all about personal preference. For example, the general consensus is that cats hate belly rubs. However, both of the cats in my home present their bellies before I even make it over to them. They like belly rubs more than the dogs do! Most cat owners who read this will assume that I’m making it up, but I assure you, it’s true.
This type of individual preference holds true with face rubbing as well. So if your cat is a regular feline casanova for you, feel free to try face rubbing right back. However if your cat is more of a “serve me, human” type of cat, I would NOT recommend it. And remember, NEVER push anything on your cat if he doesn’t want it. You could end up scratched or bitten, or at the very least, your cat may give you the cold shoulder for a while.
My cat is 3 yrs old and his name is Kitty. He is an inside,outside cat. When he wants out he normally shakes the bells I have on the door but he knows I will move faster if he scratches on my furniture. The bells are fine but NO to my furniture. My living room is looking really bad with all the covers on the couch and chair.
HELP ME AND MY FURNITURE. HE IS A REALLY SWEET LOVIE CAT.
The advice- get something even more enticing for him to scratch. My cat Zoe was scratching up everything. Sofas, chairs, even the door frames. It started after we got rid of a cat tree that was taking up a ton of space. SO, we went out and bought her a $5 scratcher thing made of corrugated cardboard. It looks kind of like a bed, but it’s all cardboard. Best purchase ever. She prefers it to my furniture. If he scratches your sofa, pick him up and put him next to the scratching post before letting him out. That way, he’ll associate the post with the results he wants rather than your poor sofa.
I have a 12 yr old Nebelung cat named Avalon who is usually shy and reserved. However she loves to lay beside me in bed and rub/head butt my face every morning when I wake up. She also loves me to rub my face against her face and body. Not only that, she enjoys pressing her face hard into my open palm soliciting what I call a face smoosh massage. This has become our morning ritual since my recent retirement (now that I have more time to spend bonding with my fur baby)!