We love our feline friends for sure. They can bring so much joy to our lives. But some of their behaviors are rather inconvenient for their humans. One such example of this is when cats mark their territory. Itโs important to learn what methods cats use to mark their territory, so letโs explore them.
What is Marking?
Put simply, marking is what happens when a cat wants the world to know whatโs his. Cats will leave their scent on something to signify that they own it. They may also leave a scent on an object for reproductive purposes as a signal to a potential mate.
Marking is an Instinct
One thing to note is that marking is pretty normal for most cats. Their instincts are likely kicking in here. Those instincts might be telling kitty to trail her scent around her new home to ward off other felines. Or they might be signaling to a potential mate that kitty is available. Sometimes, cats also feel the urge to mark if they are feeling frightened. This might occur when you move to a new home or apartment thatโs unfamiliar to kitty.
Cheek Rubbing
If you have a cat, chances are youโve seen him rub his cheek on something a time or two. Mine just loves to rub his cheeks on my phone or my husbandโs iPad. Heโs also been known to do this to a book Iโm reading. Usually, he likes to do this at the least convenient time possible. (Itโs like they just know!) Felines have scent glands in their cheeks and this is one way that cats mark their territory. Next time you see kitty rubbing her cheek on something, youโll know sheโs marking it as her own.
Using Her Paws
Cats also have scent glands in their paws. Cats might choose to mark their territory by scratching on something, like a couch. This behavior, while not ideal for keeping pristine furniture, serves two purposes. First, kittyโs scent glands on her paws are leaving their smell all over that piece of furniture. Second, her scratch marks will be visible to any other cat passing by. The scent can linger, and claw marks definitely tend to stick around. This dual-purpose method of marking will send a message to other cats for quite a while. Itโs a pretty effective way for kitty to leave her mark, though itโs not ideal for us humans.
Marking with Urine
Felines will use their urine to mark their territory as well. Youโll most likely notice this marking behavior in doorways or along the perimeter of your home. Marking with urine is typically how cats establish boundaries for their territories. This type of marking is most common with non-neutered tom cats. However, some neutered male cats will still leave their mark this way. If you have a cat that’s spraying even after they’ve been fixed, then check out this article here on cattitudedaily.com.
Territorial Creatures
Our kitty companions can be somewhat territorial. They want to claim their homes and spaces as their own. They also want to make sure other cats know what belongs to them. Itโs all part of natural cat behavior, so donโt sweat it. If you find that kittyโs marking is causing problems, consider training her with positive reinforcement.
