Scent Marking – What It Is and Why Cats Do It

Ever wondered why your cat rubs their face against your legs or scratches around the house? Or maybe you’re like me and want to know why a neighborhood cat is urine marking directly on your front door! (Grr)

Some scent marking behaviors may seem strange, but they are natural, instinctual, and vital forms of communication for felines.

Key Takeaways

• Scent marking helps cats communicate and establish territory.
• Recognizing different marking behaviors can help you bring a deeper understanding to behaviors that may seem upsetting.
• A well-optimized environment can reduce stress and unwanted marking.

The Science of Scent Glands

Cats use scent marking for communicating, mating, marking their territory, and even showing affection.

Glands & Pheromones

Cats possess specialized scent glands located in various parts of their body. This includes:

• Under the chin
• The cheek at each corner of the mouth
• The ears (the part known as the pinna)
• The paws
• The base of the tail

Each gland produces a unique blend of pheromones, which are chemical signals used for communication mainly with other cats.

When a cat rubs itself against objects, it deposits these pheromones, marking the area with their scent.

Territorial Marking Behaviors

Territorial marking is a way for cats to claim and protect their space. Spraying urine is a common method used, especially by intact (un-neutered) males, to establish boundaries.

Marking behaviors aren’t just limited to outdoors; indoor cats also do it. Scratching furniture or other surfaces is another way they mark their territory, as scent glands in their paws deposit pheromones.

This type of marking is often prompted by stress or changes in the environment, such as the introduction of a new pet or even the presence of other cats outside.

These behaviors are also more common in multi-cat homes, especially ones where cats feel too much competition for resources like litter box options, sleeping spots, and food/water bowls.

Social Bonding Through Scent

In addition to territorial marking, scent is crucial for social bonding among cats.When two cats rub against each other, they exchange scents, contributing to a shared “colony” scent that strengthens their social bonds.

Rubbing against their human caretakers serves the same purpose. By marking humans with their scent, cats show affection and establish a bond.

This behavior is often seen in head-bunting, where a cat gently butts its head against a person.

These interactions are important for cats’ social structure, helping to maintain harmony and reduce conflicts within multi-cat households.

A Closer Look at Marking Behaviors

Cats use a variety of marking behaviors to communicate in their environment, including rubbing, scratching, and spraying. Each behavior serves a unique purpose and holds specific meanings for both male and female cats.

Rubbing and Bunting

When a cat rubs its body or face against objects or people, this is known as rubbing or bunting. This behavior deposits scent from glands located around their face, lips, and forehead.

Cats may rub against furniture, doorways, and even their owner’s legs. This scent marking creates a sense of familiarity and ownership.

They often perform this behavior more frequently in multi-cat households.

Bunting has the added purpose of reinforcing bonds. It is common behavior between friendly cats and between cats and their human companions.

Rubbing and bunting are considered positive behaviors and are a sign of a cat’s comfort and contentment in their surroundings.

Scratching and Its Purposes

Scratching serves a dual purpose for cats. Cats have scent glands in their paws, which leave a scent mark as they scratch.

This behavior helps them maintain the health of their claws by removing outer dead layers.

Scratching also serves as a form of territorial marking.

Scratching posts, trees, furniture, and sometimes rugs, are common targets.

Male cats often scratch more vigorously, marking their territory to signal their presence and dominance. I certainly notice my boy cat doing this more than his sisters in my house!

Female cats also scratch, but it may be more focused on maintaining claw health and the immediate territory around their nesting area.

Providing plenty of scratching posts and pads around the home is a super important part of making the environment cat-friendly. It can help direct this natural behavior to appropriate places, minimizing damage to household items.

Again, cats need to scratch, so if you don’t provide scratchers, they will look for other things (your beautiful furniture!) to meet this need.

Spraying/Urine Marking vs Peeing

Spraying (also referred to as urine marking) and peeing are often confused, but they are distinct behaviors that happen for very different reasons.

Spraying/urine marking involves a cat standing upright and spraying a small amount of urine on vertical surfaces. This form of marking is more common in male cats, especially those that are not neutered.

Spraying serves to communicate the cat’s presence, territorial claims, and reproductive status to other cats.

Peeing, on the other hand, is usually much more noticeable. It tends to happen on horizontal surfaces and is the result of peeing outside the litter box instead of in it.

The most common occurrence of “inappropriate” peeing is a result of litter box rejection, which may be because the litter box is too dirty or there has been a sudden change with the litter box (new location or new kind of litter).

Litter box rejection also happens when there aren’t enough litter boxes in a multi-cat home. The recommendation here is to have one more box than you have cats, and at least one box on each floor of the home.

Such problems can also arise in multi-cat homes where a dominant cat is making a lower-status cat feel intimidated about using the litter box. Here again, the solution is usually more litter box options for the cats.

Inappropriate Peeing Due to Health Issues

But peeing outside the box can also indicate stress or even an issue that requires veterinary attention.

Sometimes if it becomes painful to urinate because of a medical issue, a cat will begin experimenting with peeing in other places, to see if maybe it will hurt less when they do it away from the litter box.

So run it past your vet if you’re not sure – many will accept quick phone or email consults for free.