How Your Cat Marks His Territory

Having the correct "smell environment" is very important to your cat. He engages in various kinds of marking behaviors to give everything in his world his own scent, including you. Here are some of a cat's scent-marking behaviors:

Grooming:

There are many reasons your cat likes to groom himself so much, but one of them is he is marking his scent. Your cat will cover every inch of his body with his own saliva. His saliva contains his favorite scent, which is himself.

Rubbing:

At the base of his hair follicles, your cat has structures called sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum, a substance that coats the fir for protection, and deposits scent on objects in the cat's environment. These glands are the most numerous around your cat's face, including the chin, lips, and under the eyelids. They are also at the top of the tail base, and near the anus and sex organs. When a cat rubs his head, or any other part of his body, he is depositing this sebum and its scent on everything he touches. Human noses can not detect this scent, which is probably just as well.

Scratching and Clawing:

If your cat digs his claws into a scratching post (or couch), he is not intending to be destructive. That scratching keeps his claws in shape by removing the outer layer of material and keeping the claw tips sharp. This scratching also allows your cat to get in a good healthy stretch. As a cat scratches, the pads of his feet come in contact with whatever he is scratching. That motion leaves behind scent from the glands in his feet.

Spraying:

Although humans generally do not mind being marked with sebum as our cats rubs against us, we do not approve at all when a cat uses another territorial behavior, which is spraying urine. Even though any cat may spray, it is usually done by unneutered male cats. They feel especially driven to mark their territory with pungent urine. Cats will back up to objects (and even people) and let fly with a spray.

Here are a couple of final thoughts when it comes to your cat wanting to "smell right" all of the time:Cats will often groom themselves right after being petted. This is so they can cover your scent with theirs. Your cat will will often pay special attention to you right after you get out of the shower. He will remark you with rubbing to his scent back on you. This lets everyone know you are "his."

Greg has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. His newest interest is in home remodeling. Please visit his latest website that discusses home remodeling products such as modern pendant light and the best in contemporary pendant lighting and related products that every home needs for that extra design touch.

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