Cats headbutt humans as a way to show affection, mark their territory, and bond with their trusted human companions. This behavior, often called "bunting," involves cats rubbing their heads and faces against a person to deposit pheromones from scent glands located in their cheeks and forehead. It signifies trust, love, and the desire to make the human part of their safe space. Cats also use headbutting to get attention or greet their humans, and sometimes it serves as a social bonding gesture among cats themselves. Essentially, when a cat headbutts, it is a sign of friendship and marking the person as "theirs" in a positive way.
Key reasons for cat headbutting:
- To show affection and social bonding.
- To mark territory by spreading their scent.
- To express trust and comfort with the human.
- To get attention or signal a need like food or petting.
This behavior is generally positive and reflects a close bond between the cat and their human. Gentle reciprocation with petting is often appreciated as a response.
