Like other strange cat behaviors that may puzzle pet parents, rubbing their head against you has a purpose. Cats nuzzle to show affection and to mark territory, behaviors that share the common goal of leaving their scent behind.
Some cats love to cuddle and may eventually get in the habit of sleeping on their owners' faces. For the most part, you can take this behavior as a compliment, as it's often a sign of trust and affection. After all, cats that feel unsafe will never try to sleep on someone's face.
It's just their way of saying 'I love you'
So, just as you suspected, one of the main reasons that cats like to rub their head against you is to show affection and there is even a name for this behaviour – 'bunting'.
In the wild, cats are predators, but they are also potential prey for larger animals. When they sleep facing away from you, they are showing that they trust you. They are also showing that they plan to keep an eye on the surrounding environment for both of you.
Cats have scent glands around their cheeks, chin, top of their head, and base of their tail. These scent glands contain pheromones. When cats rub their face or tail against humans, other animals, or household items, they are leaving behind this pheromone that they can identify.
Cats tend to use pawing as a form of communication. Cats paw at us out of instinct, by accident, to give or get affection, and to get our attention. Most times, when cats paw at us, it means nothing serious. Sometimes, however, they are getting our attention to tell us that they are sick or in pain.
Nose-To-Nose Hellos To Humans
Lucky you! Wet nose kisses are a wonderful sign of affection. Sure, there's some initial sniffing involved for identification purposes, but this says you're someone the cat likes. If the cat really likes you, he may punctuate the nose kiss with a gentle love nip.
Sleeping with you provides them with security and an extra defense if a predator should launch a nighttime attack. They sleep with you because they trust you, they know you're not a danger and you can also provide an extra layer of defense if needed.
Your cat does not think you're its mom or its dad, but it understands that you are a member of its pride and it still loves you very much! Cats are very interesting creatures. They don't think or act the same way we do as humans.
In general, cats prefer to be stroked along their back or scratched under the chin or around the ears. Paws, tails, their underbellies and their whiskers (which are super sensitive) are best avoided.
Think of it as the equivalent of a cat fist-bump! Like other strange cat behaviors that may puzzle pet parents, rubbing their head against you has a purpose. Cats nuzzle to show affection and to mark territory, behaviors that share the common goal of leaving their scent behind.
Most, but not all, cats enjoy a good boop, provided it's done respectfully and without forced or unwanted contact. Cats interested in interaction often take a sniff and move in for more contact, giving you the green light to boost your petting game.
It's how they show love and trust. Your cat may lie on your chest to show that you're their protector. They love the warmth coming from your body and listening to your heartbeat. If you have more than one pet, your cat might simply be marking their territory around you to tell other pets to stay away.
Cats are often quite independent creatures but if they have a strong bond with you, they may simply follow you around because they want to be near to you and see what you're up to. Or perhaps they're waiting for you to sit down so they can jump on your lap for a snooze.
They want all the objects in their environment to smell like their group, too. When a cat places her paw on you, she is not marking you, but she is saying, “You are my family and we need to smell the same.”
Humans apart
Cats cannot differentiate between human faces and do not care how you look like. Unlike dogs, they would not even try to differentiate human faces. In an experiment conducted by an American university, the kitties could recognize their handlers less than 50 percent of the time.
Cats cannot distinguish their owners by staring at them because their faces appear identical when they are at rest. Instead, cats distinguish between humans using sound and smell. Cats learn to identify their owner's voice, and regardless of whether they're wearing cologne, their skin emits a distinct aroma.
My cat starts purring and rubbing back when I do it. They do it to “mark you”, yes, but it's also affectionate. They “mark” you because they love you and want you. You're showing appreciation for them back when you rub your head on them.
Communication with your cat is key
That communication style may not include physical touch—being a cat's favorite person doesn't necessarily mean they want you to pet. A cat's favorite person may be the one who makes them feel comfortable and safe just by being in the same room with them.
Cats don't “fake affection” to get more food or be let outside, but they do use their body language to communicate their needs to you. Every cat is different, though, and thus how they express affection or demonstrate their bond with their person is different too.
People are usually marked by cats with their forehead. Friendly cats will often rub on and groom each other, mixing their scents. Scent is primarily how cats recognize each other, and physical contact through rubbing helps to create a “group scent,” reassuring all the cats in the home that you belong together.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.
Thanks to those scent glands, when cats rub against people or objects, they are transferring their scent, and rubbing against someone or something serves two purposes. It allows them to mark objects as their territory. In essence, your cat is “claiming you.” It is a sign of inclusiveness and affection.