Why does a cat rub against its owner's legs: not because of love for him

24.10.2023 08:38

Many cats rub against people's legs quite often.

“It’s simple: my fluffy friend loves me,” some owners rush to explain their pet’s behavior.

However, this is not quite the correct conclusion. In such situations, the animal does not show affection at all.

Then why does the furry four-legged friend behave this way?

Designation of territory

A cat rubbing against a person's legs is most likely simply trying to mark the territory that it believes belongs to it.

cat
Photo: © Belnovosti

There are many glands on the pet's body that secrete substances.

The latter have a special smell. And each pet has its own.

Other cats instantly sense this “aroma” and understand that this or that “area” is already someone else’s.

The most interesting thing is that people do not feel this smell. That is why they believe that the only purpose of a cat rubbing against their legs is to demonstrate its affection.

Why This Cat Behavior Is a Good Sign

Many people will get upset: “It turns out that my pet doesn’t love me, but is simply marking out his territory?”

In fact, it's not that simple. There is a very interesting interpretation of this cat's behavior.

If a cat tries to leave its scent on its owner, then the pet clearly does not consider the person a stranger.

Yes, perhaps the owner is perceived by the pet as "property". But there is definitely affection.

Author: Kurchev Anton Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Content
  1. Designation of territory
  2. Why This Cat Behavior Is a Good Sign