Does your cat like to put their butt in your face? You’re not alone, cat lover. All across the world, felines are shoving their posteriors in their humans’ faces. This means every one of us cat moms and dads could probably pick our cats out of line up using just their rear view! How’s that for something funny to think about?
But why are cats so keen on showing us their butts?
Cats do nothing without reason, so like every other feline quirk, the butt flash serves a purpose. In fact, putting their butts in our faces is a cat’s way of telling us a few things. So, what are cats saying with their behinds?
3 Reasons Cats Put Their Butt in Your Face
Cat Butt In Your Face Reason One – Trust
If your cat shows you their behind, it’s because they trust you! Giving you access to such a vulnerable area means your cat knows that you have their back. So, feel honored when your cat puts their butt in your face as it means the two of you share a tight bond.
RELATED: 5 Ways To Strengthen Your Bond With Your Cat
Cat Butt In Your Face Reason Two – Communication
Felines primarily communicate with one another using body language and scent. And one way cats within a colony, or those living in the same home, do this is by rubbing their heads, bodies, and tails against one another to signify acceptance and inclusion, possibly even creating a familiar “colony scent” within the group.
They initiate these interactions by approaching each other with their tails raised high. Purring in this context is a well-known signal of contentment, while head-butting and body rubbing is intended to “mark” an item with their scent. When cats rub other felines, objects, or humans with their heads, ears, and tails, they leave behind their own unique chemical signature. Scent glands are located at the corners of the mouth, the sides of the head, under the chin and ears, along the tail, and in the spaces between each toe. This may explain why cats often knead us with their paws in addition to rubbing against us during these sessions.
Cats are far more vocal in the presence of humans, but they still utilize many of the same physical cues to express their feelings to us. And oh-so-lucky for cat parents, the butt in your face is one of those cues. But the flash isn’t always intentional.
RELATED: 9 Rules Of Feline Speak: Learn To Communicate With Your Cat
Because kitties usually begin head-to-head and rub alongside one another, ending with their rumps positioned together and their heads facing in opposite directions. However, when cats perform this routine with us, we remain still and end up with a face full of kitty bum!
Cat Butt In Your Face Reason Three – Affection
A well-aimed feline fanny usually comes at a time when our cats are seeking affection – or trying to let us know it’s dinner time! They typically purr, head-butt, drag the length of their body against us, and finally, present their rump. Having a feline posterior directed at your face may not seem like a sign of affection, but rest assured, this shamelessly bold gesture is akin to a kitty hug or high five!
Whether our cats are soliciting our affection, communicating a need, or reaffirming the social bond we share, this behavior definitely shows that our cats love and trust us. Essentially, a butt to the face is a sincere form of kitty affection – and should be taken as a compliment!
Featured Image via Flickr/Celine Nadeau