No, affection is not the only reason that cats may head bump their owners. As a matter of fact, the sense of smell may play a role in this notion as well. Smell is needed for cats to understand their surroundings, and it is used for communication and social interaction as well. Furthermore, believe it or not, there are
scent glands all over a cat's body. They can be found in locations such as the tail, paws, or cheeks.
Communicating via scents allows a cat to both mark a territory and provides the cat with a way to become familiar with the objects and people in the area. Cats have a way of "marking" what they care about the most by remembering the scents associated with these cherished possessions. In other words, if your cat head bumps you, not only is this a sign of affection, but it is also a way of showing trust and importance through scent communication. If you think about it, why else would your cat position his or herself in such a defenseless position while not knowing how you will react?
By head bumping, the cat is able to mark you with a specific odor that is identified as important. So do not be offended when your cat head bumps you, because it is actually the complete opposite. Your cat is showing you how important you are for friendly, comforting, and social bonding purposes.
Yet Another Reason that Cats Head Bump You

So now you may think that you have the full answer to the question, "why do cats head bump you?" However, there is one more piece to this question. The sensation of touch also plays a huge role in the lives of cats. A cat's body is covered with sensory cells that are extremely sensitive to any pressure or pain. Any pressure on the hair or whiskers of cats will be perceived by the
sensory cells at the end of the hair follicles. When the cat is stroked, the cat perceives this touch as pleasure, and this benefits the relationship between owners and their cats.
Therefore, whenever you seem to notice your cat head bumping you as you walk around the house or are laying down and relaxing, remember that your cat is just trying to show you love and affection. The head bump is done all out of love for the owner.
You cat is just trying to show you how important you are when it head bumps, butts, bonks, bunts, or whatever you may call it! So next time your cat shows you this fascinating behavior, remember that it is definitely a good thing, and your pet loves you. If you have always been looking for a way to show your love for your pet, make sure to check out our collection of
cat shirts!
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