We all know that wonderful feeling of our cats rubbing against our legs. It often starts with a headbutt, and then rubbing their entire body along your leg, and they may or may not repeat it. Your cat rubs on you to greet you, but also when she wants someting.
In my house, at least one cat rubs on me most often around mealtime, but it also happens when they think I’m going to let them outside, when they want attention, especially when they want treats, and other times, too. If your cat rubs on you because she’s marking territory, why does she do it when they want something?
Cats have scent glands in several places
The American Chemical Society looked at the chemistry of this behavior. When a cat rubs on anything, she’s claiming that object as part of her territory. When your cat rubs on you in greeting, she’s letting all the other cats around know that you belong to her. She’s claiming you.
The scent she transfers doesn’t just come from her face, either. You may have noticed that, when she rubs against you, she rubs a cheek, her flank, and even her tail, against you. This is because she’s got scent glands in her cheeks, her forehead, and even in her tail. By rubbing her whole body against you, she’s making absolutely certain you smell like her.
Your cat rubs on you to let others know that what she wants from you is hers
As for why your cat rubs on you when she wants something, it’s a little difficult to find the answer to that. However, it’s possible that, in claiming you as her territory, she’s telling other cats to stay away from you and whatever it is you’re going to get for her. I’m inclined to believe this, too, because Chase, our alpha cat, makes absolutely certain that he’s the one doing most of the rubbing when it’s mealtime. If someone else gets a rub in on my legs, he quickly comes back over to cover up their scent with his.
I think it’s his way of telling everyone that I’m his, and he will be getting whatever it is I’m working on up on the counter. He’s saying that all others must stay away (because when I’ve got four cats to feed, that totally works).
So, when your cat rubs on you, it might seem like she’s just saying “hello,” and is happy to see you. But what she’s really doing is making sure that you and everyone around knows that you belong to her, and that no other feline may claim you.
