Why Do Cats Rub Their Teeth On You – Scent And Territory

Cats have odd behaviors; there’s no disputing that, but has your cat ever rubbed her teeth on you? It’s strange but relatively common – and there’s a very good reason for it! Cats have an amazing way of communicating, and this is one of them. So, why do cats rub their teeth on you? 

Cats rub their teeth on you to mark you as their territory. Cats have scent glands in their faces and mouths; when they find something they want to mark as theirs, they rub those scent glands onto it.

Cats are essentially telling the world that you belong to them Sure – it’s not the most pleasant sensation when, say, your kitty rubs her fish-breath-mouth onto your nose. But they do it because they have deemed you worthy of being theirs. Take the compliment, regardless of how smelly! 

Why Do Cats Rub Their Faces On You

Cats rub their faces on you to transfer their scent onto you and mark you as their territory.

Cats have scent glands in their mouths, chins, and cheeks, activated after rubbing against something. Therefore, your cat’s face is the perfect “scent-transferer” for something they want, which, in this case, is you! He’s marking you to tell the world that he was here and that you are his.

Similarly, cats rub their faces on you as a form of affection. It’s a form of bonding and comforting; essentially, a cat’s way of saying hello, and saying, “I love you.”

Similarly, when cats greet one another, they often rub faces to share scents. You might notice your cat rubs her teeth somewhere on your face when you arrive home. Since your cat thinks you’re just another cat (albeit a very big, tall one), she’s trying to greet you like she would with a fellow feline.

But there’s more to it! Why does your cat rub her gums on you? Why do cats rub the corner of their mouth on things, too? Do cats have scent glands in their mouths? And are the rumors true – can cats smell with their mouths?

What Does A Cat Rubbing On You Mean

When a cat rubs on you, they’re simply trying to get their scent onto you.

Cats have strong scent glands in various parts of their bodies that put out pheromones; these include their cheeks, mouths, tails, foreheads, and paw pads. When they rub these parts of their bodies onto someone, they’re depositing their scent, and it sticks.

Which, yes, sounds kind of gross – but fortunately, human noses can’t detect this scent. For cats and other animals, however, it sends a powerful message. 

For example, in the wild, cats rub against and bunt heads with the other members of their pack to mark each other as members of their tribe. It’s a form of acceptance – so, when your feline rubs against you, he’s claiming you as part of his clan. An odd way to show his love, sure, but it’s one of the most flattering things a cat can do!

Why Does My Cat Rub Her Gums On Me

Your cat rubs her gums on you to showcase her love! Cats rub their gums, mouths, and teeth on anything that they wish to mark their territory; since these areas are loaded with scent glands, rubbing them releases those scents and places them onto the rubbed item.

Most likely, you may have noticed that gum-rubbing behavior occurs when she’s particularly affectionate. When you come home, for instance, and she’s happy to see you, have you noticed that she starts rubbing her face and mouth on you? Or when you’re cuddling together and the purrs are rolling, do you notice more mouth-rubbing during these times?

Sometimes, you might notice this happening right before feeding time. She’s no dummy – she’s got to mark the hand that feeds.

It’s her way of showing love, socialization, and affection. And, more importantly, showing the world that you’re her territory (in a good way!).

Why Do Cats Rub The Corner Of Their Mouth On Things

Cats rub the corner of their mouth on things to leave their scent behind; this behavior is often referred to as “bunting.”

It’s strange, no doubt, to see your cat wiping his mouth on the corners of your furniture or books. (Mine will rub his mouth on the edges of my laptop while I work!)

Though odd for house cats, this behavior makes much more sense out in the wild.

Feral cats bunt to mark certain items to inform other cats of their presence. They may also bunt as a form of a timestamp of sorts; fellow felines can tell how long ago a scent was placed somewhere! If it’s a fresh marking, they know to leave the area quickly since another cat is in the vicinity.

Sure, your kitty doesn’t really have any need to do this while in the comfort of your living room, for example. But his instincts don’t know that!

While all cats bunt, it’s generally exhibited more frequently by male cats. In general, of course, male cats are more territorial, so a male cat is more likely to spread his scent and let other felines know that he’s around or has been there!

Alternatively, sometimes cats bunt because they feel anxious. Did you see your cat rubbing his teeth and gums everywhere when you first brought him home? He may have been doing it to spread his scent in this new environment, as a way to bring himself comfort.

Do Cats Have Scent Glands In Their Mouths

Cats have scent glands all over their bodies, including in their mouths. There are two glands, located in each corner of the mouth, called “perioral glands.” These are the glands in the mouth that produce territory-marking scents.

That’s why you’ll frequently see your cat rubbing his mouth on things – it’s to spread his scent glands around! He’s either marking his territory or warning other cats that he’s around.

Do Cats Have Scent Glands In Their Cheeks

Cats do have scent glands in their cheeks. However, these glands often produce fewer oils than other glands in your cat’s body; they help coat whiskers, which helps Kitty more easily rub the oil against objects.

Can Cats Smell With Their Mouths

Oddly enough, cats can, in fact, smell with their mouths! It’s not exactly the same as smelling with their nose, as it actually works differently – but it does work.

This phenomenon of cats smelling with their mouths is called the Flehmen response. You may have even witnessed it! Have you ever seen your cat open her mouth slightly, in a manner that almost looks like a snarl? Though she might look disgusted, she’s actually smelling something quite interesting. Kitties pull out this behavior when they’re trying to get the full smelling experience in something. Though their noses work amazingly well (they have anywhere between nine to 40 times more odor-sensitive cells in their noses than humans!), opening their mouths helps to scoop up the smell further.

Cats have a unique organ on the roof of their mouth, right behind their front teeth, called the Jacobson’s organ. This organ helps intensify a cat’s sense of smell, almost like they have the ability to taste the air.

Though all cats have the ability to exhibit this phenomenon, male cats are more likely to utilize it than their female counterparts. They often use it during mating season; amazingly, males can use this tool to tell if a certain female is in heat just by smelling her pheromones.

Who knew your cat had superpowers!