Not only is rubbing against you a sign of a happy “hello” or “welcome home,” but cats also want to make sure that they have marked you with their scent. Cats are territorial creatures and will claim their pet parents as part of their territory.
All creatures within its social group, as well as objects, will be anointed with its unique smell using scent glands in its face, body and tail. When your cat rubs around your legs to greet you it is doing the same as it would in greeting another cat by mutual rubbing of the face and body.
Watch how they greet you
A tail held in the upright flagpole position shows a friendly intention (the feline equivalent of a wave), indicating familiarity, trust, and affection. Some cats also use an upright question mark shaped tail to greet someone they like, or to motion that they want to play.
Some stray and feral cats love their friends from afar. They may hang out close to your house or just out of arm's reach. They head butt you. Officially called head bunting, cats' rub scent glands on you for bonding, comforting and friendly purposes.
“Cats have scent glands all over their bodies,” she shares. Thanks to those scent glands, when cats rub against people or objects, they are transferring their scent, and rubbing against someone or something serves two purposes. It allows them to mark objects as their territory. In essence, your cat is “claiming you.”
Stray cats are often hungry cats, so the best first move is to feed the kitty and provide lots of water. Once the cat learns you're a source for food, she will visit every day. For some very friendly cats, this is enough to gain their trust.
Purring is usually a sign of contentment, although it doesn't always indicate happiness. A cat that is ill or anxious will sometimes purr as a comfort. However, most of the time if your kitten is rubbing against you and purring loudly, it's a sign of affection or she's asking for something, such as food.
Eyes are very strong communicators, and to a cat, closed eyes are a sign of trust. Long, slow blinks, or simply “looking” at her with your eyes closed all communicate that you mean her no harm. It may take some time, but your heart will leap the day she slowly blinks back at you.
While some strays may walk into someone's home on their own, most strays have trust issues. A humane cat trap is often the best option to get the cat inside your home safely.
If you have been caring for a stray cat and have grown close to him, it is possible that he may feel upset or distressed if you suddenly leave him. Cats can become attached to their routine and the people they interact with, and may feel anxious or confused if their environment or routine changes suddenly.
According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite. People who communicate with their cat by getting to know their cues and motives are more attractive to their cat companions.
Overall Appearance
Their coat should be neat, clean and well kept. They also normally have a collar. A stray is a cat that is lost or ran away from home so they normally have unkept or grungy coats compared to feral cats They should also be thinner since they don't know or aren't used to hunting for themselves.
According to PetPlace.com, that habit is your cat's way of claiming you as his own. Pheromones exist in the glands on his face, and he can transmit them to humans, objects and other cats to mark his territory, similar to how a dog sometimes claims property with his urine.
Marking by rubbing
Felines have scent glands on their cheeks, paws and flanks and when they rub against something—a door, a chair, you—they put their own personal scent on that object. This leaves the message for other cats that they've been there and laid claim.
Cats often favor people who ignore them and they ignore the people who adore them. How people approach or ignore cats' factors into how cats behave towards the individuals around them. Cats respond best to strangers when they feel safe and have a choice of interacting with them.
They are wild animals, like raccoons. They tend to stay away from humans, hide during the day, and when adopted, are very difficult to socialize. Just like you would never try to handle a raccoon, you should never try to pick up a feral cat. Call for assistance from the humane society or other animal welfare center.
They tend to select a family as their own who offered food and shelter according to their taste. Today, many stray cats that roam freely throughout their imaginary territories of about 200 acres each choose their families the same way.
If you find a stray cat hanging around your house, or trying to gain access inside, it is more than likely looking for a safe haven with food, water, and a little bit of TLC.
It may take up to 4 weeks for the cats to ultimately feel comfortable. The more feral the cat, the longer this process can take, as a less-socialized cat will take longer to bond to a new person and place.
Please call (your name & phone number).” This will show the owner that someone is concerned. Many local veterinarians and animal shelters will scan cats for a microchip, free of charge. If the cat is microchipped with current registration, an owner can be contacted immediately.
If your cat loves it when you rub her belly, take it as a compliment. It means that your cat wants attention and trusts you enough to touch her belly. Remember your cat's belly is the most vulnerable spot on her body. If she allows you to pet her in this area, then she trusts you completely.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.
Like other strange cat behaviors that may puzzle pet parents, rubbing their head against you has a purpose. Cats nuzzle to show affection and to mark territory, behaviors that share the common goal of leaving their scent behind.