You may of noticed your cat walk up to you and push his forehead up against your head. This is technically known as ‘head bunting’, but why do cats headbutt?
There are a number of reasons why cats do this, which we will cover in this post. We will also cover why some cats headbutt and others don’t, as well as the reason why cats headbutt each other.
What Does A Cat Headbutt Look Like?
Also known as ‘bunting’, a cat headbutt is when a cat approaches you and pushes their head up into yours, brushing along your face or forehead. They may even do this against your hands or arms.
You can see what this behavior looks like in the video below.
Why Do Cats Headbutt?
The cat headbutt is something that even big cats in the wild do. A lion will headbutt members of their pride and is a sign of friendliness and trust.
Let’s take a look at the reason why cats headbutt.
#1. Pheromones
One of the reason a cat may head bunt you is the sharing of scent. Pheromones are produced in glands around a cats face which is used as a way of marking things as their territory or property.
So a cat headbutting you is your cats way of marking you as theirs and is an extension of their affection towards you. If you own multiple cats then you’l find that they will each take it in turns of bunting you, as they are all competing for territory.
#2. Affection
You should feel honored if your cat head butts you because it is their way of displaying their love and affection towards you.
One of our cats bunts like crazy first thing every morning. This could simply be them showing that they missed you during the night (or that they are hungry). In many cases you’ll find they they also purr whilst bunting.
#3 Attention-Seeking
As mentioned above, you’ll find that a cat head bunts first thing on a morning for affection, and because the want attention because they have just been alone throughout the entire night.
If your cat greats you on a morning by purring and head butting you, then they are looking for interaction. Especially if you have got into a routine of feeding or playtime on a morning.
As well as head bunting, here are some other signs that your cat is seeking attention:
- Purring
- Circling your feet
- Cuddling
- Knocking over items
- Flopping onto their back and exposing their belly
Should I Headbutt My Cat Back?
You should just attempt it if your cat doesn’t head bunt or if your not sure if they like it back. You may find that your cat doesn’t headbutt at first, but will gradually start to do it over time as they develop a strong bond with you.
This is the key here, do not bunt back until a great relationship has been built and a strong bond has been developed.
When they start to do it to you, do it slow and gentle back, or alternatively give them a pet on their head or back whilst talking softly to them. Showing affection back is a great way to communicate with your kitty.
As mentioned previously, a cat who is head bunting you is a positive sign and you should be honored that they have chosen you to do this to.
Do Cats Headbutt Other Cats?
Cats also headbutt other cats as a way of greeting and a show of friendliness. Even wild cats such as lions do this behavior to members of their pride to show affection.
When cats headbutt each other it’s a show sign of deep trust which helps with bonding. It creates a “colony scent” that shows they are part of a group of cats.
Do All Cats Headbutt?
As with all kinds of cat behavior, each and every cat is an individual with their own unique personality. Some cats head bunt, some do it more frequently than others, and other cats simply don’t do it at all.
Conclusion
Remember that head bunting is a great show of affection and should be taken as a compliment that your cat has chosen you, as this shows a great bond has been built. Does your cat head bunt you? Let us know in the comments.
