Face full of butt

My husband and I help socialize cats at our local humane society shelter. One of the cats likes to walk all over my shoulder and chest. And she has this "thing" about sticking her butt in my face. What is this all about?

Prinny.

Hi Prinny,

In kitty culture it is good manners to greet one another with delicate nose sniffs. Then, if things go well at that end, a kitty will present its bottom end for sniffing. All happy cats do this. You should take it as a compliment. . .if that kitty weren't comfortable with you, it wouldn't "greet" you this way :tounge2: I think that generally speaking, the subordinate cats present their bottoms to the more dominant cats -- perhaps a throw back to how kittens present their bottoms to mommy.

Thank you for making friends with kitties at the shelter. . .that's really neat.

cats have scent glands under their tails on both sides of their rear. The dominant cat is the one who will usually be the sniffer.

The cats at the shelter are pretty cool. It seems the ones we take a fancy to end up being adopted. They like me because I go armed with a bag of cat treats. Several of them will eat right out of my hand. Of course, one is my best bud as long as the treats last, then he goes back and sits next to the humidifier.

So that's the story on the butt in the face, huh? I am SO glad humans don't do that!

Thanks again for the info.

This is so silly, but I read somewhere if they stick their butt in your face, and you turn your head away and make the little sniffy noise, it makes them happy. It works on Fred.

Originally posted by krazy kat2
This is so silly, but I read somewhere if they stick their butt in your face, and you turn your head away and make the little sniffy noise, it makes them happy.

Click to expand...

But Krazy Kat, why would you turn your head away? :laughing:

ahem, yes I make little sniffy sounds too. . . as long as it keeps them happy :tounge2:

Prinny, that is soooo cool your cuddles are helping these kitties find a home.

Hi! I know this reply is really late! My boy kitty, Scout, does the exact same thing!!!!! When I am lying down or sleeping, he will start walking up and down me, and he sticks his butt right in my face! Sometimes I turn my head and sniff to act like I'm sniffing him, and he looks so proud!!! What we do for our furbabies!

I find it particularly interesting when I am sleeping and the cat SITS on my face.

Actually like said before , it's a compliment and a note to you that the kittie is quite comfortable with you to do so . My newest adopted kittle likes to to the same and He's a Persian , I just get his attention by rubbing his lil face while gently yanking his lil tail. the other way...He always does an "ABOUT FACE" if you will ! *No pun intended* No harm no foul as they say....

Rebecca