Head-butting cats!

[jelly baby]

Why do cats head butt? One of ours always tries to do this to the oldest one. He doesn't hurt her, and she (usually) ignores him. Is it a dominance thing. He also does it to my husband, butting under his chin.
Very curious behaviour.

[madboutcats]

more of an affection thing headbutting, as i try and type cupar the cat is headbutting me, hes asking for attention, the outside cat that lives in my mums porch is always headbutting me, its their way of saying i love you, please stroke me/rub belly/feed me.

[Rosetta]

Mine does it to, often before she comes and settles on my lap

[showcatbenga]

The cat has scent glands on top of the head - in front of the ears but above the eyes, on the cheeks & at the base of the tail. If your cat is pressing these onto you then he's trying to put his stink on you! At the same time he's getting your scent onto himself. This makes a group smell that helps him to 'belong' & so reduces aggression & hence stress between group members. It also seems to mean; 'I love you.' , 'pet me', 'Feed me now!' & any number of other things that your cat has worked out that this is the best way to get your attention for.

[Barmaid]

One of mine does it all the time. To the extent she has actually whacked me so hard she has made my nose bleed!! But yes, I normally accept it as "now you belong to me" or "please cuddle me".

[jelly baby]

But why, out of 3 cats, he is the only one that does this?

[Barmaid]

I don't know Jelly. One of mine does (and has always done it), the other never has.

I think it is a security thing - the one who headbutts is far more clingy and homely than the monster who doesn't. And he just cruises in and out of the house like he owns the place (oh, sorry, forgot he actually does), and treats it like the McWhiskers drive through.

[tiggerblue10]

Its normal Jelly. Tigger does it all the time. She head-butts me when I'm wearing my glasses sometimes and it hurts.

[richardsth]

It a way of marking his turf and his dominance in the group. When one does it the other won't as it says "keep Off". Usually it's the oldest or the first cat in to the household that exhibits this behaviour. My oldest & biggest cat does this and when I try to do it to the others they back off, and are totally uneasy with it.