What Is Bunting And Why Does Your Cat Do It?

If your cat rubs his or her head on you repeatedly, congratulations! You adopted your cat, and now they have adopted you. This behavior is called "bunting," and it is a sign of affection that cats use to mark their territory because they are leaving their scent behind.

Cat bunting is essentially a headbutt, and it is performed between cats as well as toward humans. According to Dr. Megan Petroff of Dutch, the motivation behind bunting can range from marking, self-soothing, attention seeking, and learning. "You may see your cat rubbing their face against objects or even people because their cheeks emit pheromones," Dr. Petroff explained. After mixing their scent with their beloved human, cats will bunt to soothe themselves because they are a bit egotistical and like their smell. In other words, it's a sign that your cat has bonded with you.

The other common reason for bunting is more obvious: attention-seeking. Your cat may want you to provide more pets or play, so they may bunt you to signal this, as well as engage in other cat behavior, like licking, meowing, purring, and looking up at you. "You reinforce this behavior every time you talk to them, pet them, or give them toys and treats when they bunt you, so if you're trying to prevent your cat from bunting, be aware of how you react," Dr. Petroff included as a warning to cat parents.

In a multicat household, there are multiple smells mixing with other cats and their human(s). This can create a hierarchy among the cats as they vie for affection and domination. They bunt each other to establish a group scent that signals to other animals that they come as a package deal, including approaching tasks as a team and looking out for one another. 

The dominant cat will also often bunt to establish their place in the hierarchy. If the dominant cat does the majority of the bunting, other cats may prefer to show affection in other ways, like purring, kneading, or slow blinking (a strategy you can mimic to bond with a feline). Ultimately, it is normal for a cat to use bunting to establish a relationship with a human or another kitty. Responding to a bunt with affection is crucial to maintain that connection with your beloved fur-child.