The content of the article
Most cat owners realize that their pets rub on their legs, expressing any positive emotions. Someone perceives such actions of the animal as a manifestation of affection, others think that the animal requires that they regret it, hold it in their hands. Moreover, not everyone knows that this sweet action has not psychological, but physiological reasons.
Why do they do it
The main reason that a pet rubs is the desire to mark its owner as property. After all, cats have several sources by which they emit their personal smell. These are secrets that are secreted by glands located on the face of the animal. Two more sources are between the fingers, as well as in the anus. Very often, in order to indicate territory, these animals use their urine. But it has a special smell only when a secret secreted by the glands is present in it.
After observing the cats, you can see that when the pet wants to mark the territory, he pulls his tail raised to the top. In this way, it stimulates the secretion.
Sometimes substances with such special odors are called pheromones. This is not entirely correct, but sometimes appropriate. Some cats can not only rub on their master, but also begin to lick it. With special care, the cat tries to neutralize the smell of legs and armpits. Cats also take these steps to tag a person.
Many are sure that if a pet leaves her “wet deeds” in her shoes, she is trying to avenge the owner for any offense. But this is not so. This is also a way to tag. Males can also designate clothes and even the cap of the owner in this way.
Why is it necessary
The cat calmly approaches, touching its legs first with its head, then with its sides, and finally with its tail. After the first such revolution, the animal rises a little on its paws, and then again repeats such a ritual. If there is a place nearby where she usually sharpens her claws, then after wiping she will begin to sharpen her claws.
The cat does these touching actions because during your absence you lost the smell of the pack. Touching the legs and other parts of the body, she leaves secrets secreted by the sebaceous glands on them. The most strong odors are secreted by those glands that are located on the paws, muzzle, and also under the tail of the animal. Scientists call this phenomenon olfactory labeling. When a cat marks its owner, in this way it informs other animals that this person belongs to its pack, and it is impossible to attack it.
Cats perform such a ritual not only with people. They also use this method in order to mark all the objects in the apartment. After observing the pet, you can see that she marks some things more often, and some less often. This is due to the fact that on certain things the smell lasts longer, while on others it is erased, because a person uses them. When a person picks up a laptop, uses the bed, these objects acquire its smell, and the cat’s smell leaves. Therefore, she has to re-tag everything. But at the same time, the owner’s smell is not hostile to the cat, although they replace it with their own in all subjects. Every day, the pet rubs on objects that she constantly uses.This is a bowl, and a tray, and a scratching post.
Sometimes it happens that a cat does not rub against a person at all. This is because the furry pet simply does not trust the owner. It means by its smell only those people who, in its understanding, do not pose a threat. For a cat to tag a person, it must be part of its world. Sometimes cats keep aloof, but regularly rub in the mornings and evenings about the owner. More their devotion does not manifest itself. They do not lie side by side, do not sit on their hands. This suggests that the pet trusts this person, but she is so self-sufficient that she does not need him at all.
How, then, can we explain the fact that homeless cats rub about people they don’t know? Their motives are the same, but the reasons for such actions are somewhat different. As a rule, a homeless cat that has been living in such conditions for several years becomes a leader. But there is an exception to this rule. After all, each individual has a certain character. The animal can be cowardly or very aggressive. Street cats, which usually show decisiveness and independence, can rub on people, as if informing them that they came to them, and become their property. Young cats can ask for affection in this way, hoping that they will be paid attention or taken with them.
If you pick up a kitten on the street that has not yet had time to adapt to harsh conditions, it will immediately begin to snuggle up to you. Very small kittens will rub their face, begin to stomp on their palms. This is a way to express confidence, ask for protection.
Inexplicable behavior
The cat curls into a ball, covering its face with its paws. The hosts immediately regard such actions as a signal of imminent cooling, and take out warm clothes from the closet. This sign is known to all owners of cats.
During the long time that cats live in humans, many signs and superstitions associated with these amazing animals have accumulated. In ancient times in Russia, a cat was put in a baby’s crib so that it rubbed there. After this, the baby was put in this cradle, and he slept much better and calmer.
Another sign said that when a cat, after the arrival of a guest, begins to rub immediately, it means that he came to the house with good. Many believe that these animals are able to feel the energy. It is not in vain that they will rub on some people, but they can even react to others with aggression.
It is believed that if a red cat rubbed his feet, he would take all the negativity to himself. There is no evidence on why such a belief is associated with red cats. Most likely, this is an echo of another sign that says cats of the color of the sun will bring prosperity to the house. It is believed that a red cat helps restore peace in the family. Controversial family members calm down faster.
When the owner lays down to rest on the sofa, and after that the cat rubs against his legs, fatigue passes. Many cat lovers claim that this belief works in practice.
There is one more sign that is more modern: if the animal rubs against the wheels of a car, then a short road awaits the owners soon.
Unpleasant consequences
It so happens that pets rub so hard that saliva is released from them. Sometimes, with the manifestation of emotions, it can drip to the floor when the cat sees the owner or is happy about something. Not everyone will like such wet spots on clothing or carpet. Sometimes pets can slobber even underwear of the owner or those things that a person always carries with him. Of course, this causes discomfort.
Some owners take it easy. But here you should also think about the health of the animal. This may be due to any psychological disorders. It is necessary to observe the animal after such a rubdown followed by salivation. Perhaps soon the cat will begin to apathy, weakness, arrhythmia.Fermions can be purchased at the pet store. They are sprayed onto objects. The composition of such funds includes substances that are similar to the smell of cats, as well as soothing components. Using such a tool, carefully observe how the behavior and well-being of the animal changes, especially after the pet rubbed about you or things familiar to her.
If the condition has not improved, you should show it to a specialist, explaining the situation. He will prescribe the necessary funds that will help the cat feel calmer and support her body. It can be stress caused by a disease. Therefore, it is advisable to pass general tests in order to timely detect deviations.
Video: why do cats rub on people?
Submit