Why does my cat hit my face with his tail

Why does my cat hit my face with his tail

Cats do a lot of strange things, but most all of their behaviors can explained. Have you ever wondered why you cat sticks his bum in your face? Yep, there's a reason behind it. In fact, there might be a few reasons. POPSUGAR reached out to the experts to find out more.

Related:

Why Does My Cat Drool When I Pet Them?

We Asked 2 Vets Why Cats Drool, and the Answer Is Very Simple (and Very Sweet)

Why Does My Cat Stick His Bum in My Face?

When a cat displays its rear end, she wants you to know that she trusts you. According to UK-based veterinarian Joanna Woodnutt, BVM, BVS, "Presenting the bottom is a sign of companionship and trust. The bottom is a vulnerable area and turned around she can't see an attack coming or defend herself."

A cat who sticks its bum in your face might also be trying to mark you. "Cats presenting their tail to you can be considered to be a variation of allorubbing, the behavior when cats rub themselves against each other," explains Alycia Washington, DVM. "They will often start cheek to cheek, then end tail to tail. This behavior, especially when the tail posture is upward, is considered friendly and is generally made towards others that are considered part of their group."

Is My Cat Trying To Tell Me Something When He Sticks His Butt in My Face?

Dr. Woodnutt said that because cats communicate with each other mostly through smell, they often try to do the same with their human companions. "The anal glands are some of the most important scent glands in the cat," she said. Claudine Sievert, DVM, elaborates: "A cat that displays its butt wants you to learn how its health and being is. Cats have glands all over their body, and the glands at the base of the tail can inform about such things as the pet's age, health, and gender."

Your cat might also be trying to tell you that something is wrong. "If cats are particularly itchy in this area, or if owners notice a thin coat or irritation near the tail base, this can be an indication of an underlying allergy to flea bites. In these cases, the cats should be evaluated by a veterinarian to address the allergy, start effective flea prevention, and discuss a strategy for treating the environment if needed." said Dr. Washington.

Which Cat Instincts Cause Them to Stick Their Bum In My Face?

Believe it or not, sometimes cats stick their butts in your face to show you just how much they love you! This stems from biological instincts, according to Dr. Sievert. Mother cats clean their kittens by licking them everywhere, she explains. This doesn't just keep the kittens clean though - it also bonds them to their mom. "When your cat receives lot of attention from you, it's the natural way of asking for more," she said. So how should you respond when your feline friend displays her bottom? Give her a scratch at the base of her tail. "Cats actually love being scratched on their rear end," noted Dr. Sievert.

It’s hard to believe, but my cat hits me in the face with his tail. I’m sure that Panda Bear doesn’t mean to hurt me, but it’s painful when it hits my eyes. If I don’t have them closed, it’s extremely uncomfortable. He slaps me pretty hard too! He could use that thing as a weapon!

I Don’t Want to Smell His Rear End! 

It usually happens when I’m in bed and trying to watch YouTube videos. My cat puts his butt in my face first, and when I push it away and try to move him, he isn’t a happy kitty. As much as I love him I don’t want to smell his rear end! Even if it smelled like roses, it ends up blocking my phone screen. That’s when my cat slaps me in the eyes with his tail. Not only is it uncomfortable but it’s very annoying! I’ve had to redirect his butt to avoid going blind many times. Okay. I’m exaggerating a bit, but it really does hurt. If your kitty does it too, I’m sure that you know how it feels.

Continue Reading Below

The Kitty Needs a Rear End Alignment

Like I said, I don’t think that cats mean to hit people in the face. It’s not like they plan to do it. They slap their tails back and forth when they’re annoyed. When does it happen to you? Are you usually in bed, and does it happen after moving the cat’s butt

Why does my cat hit my face with his tail
away from your nose? The entire kitty needs a rear end alignment! Simply push his derriere aside and he’ll still be able to hit you with his powerful appendage.

Why does my cat hit my face with his tail

View it at AmazonWinsterch Fluffy Giant Cat Stuffed Animal Toy White Plush Cat Toy Kids Gift Baby Doll,19.7 Inches

Is Your Cat is Trying to Tell You Something?

It might seem that your kitty wants you to sniff his butt, but that’s not really the case. They don’t greet each other like dogs do, and they don’t want or expect humans to smell their rear end. When they turn their backside toward your face, they’re trying to send you a very special message. Your kitty is saying that he loves and trusts you very much. A cat’s rear end is his most vulnerable part. When attacked by an enemy the rear end is often the target. When my cat hits me in the face with his tail, he doesn’t mean to hurt me. It just happens to be attached to his backside, and he just happens to be annoyed.

Learn about Other Curious Cat Behaviors – Understanding Cats

Do you ever wonder why your cat slaps you with his tail? It’s a common behavior in all felines, males, and females. Tail slapping is a sign that your cat is trying to catch your attention, but they do it for several reasons.

Cats are intelligent animals, and they communicate with owners using body language and verbal cues. People out there claim their cats talk to them in cat language, and they can have full conversations with them for minutes.

However, all cat owners notice a set of behaviors in their pet that the animal uses when it’s trying to catch your attention. Tail slapping is one of its favorites, offering your furry friend a versatile communications tool.

Here are the top reasons why your cat is hitting you with his tail.

Curiosity


We’ve all heard the saying, “curiosity killed the cat.” The fact is cats are inquisitive animals, and they want to know everything you’re up to around the home.

The cats need to investigate all your activities extends to everything you do in life. We’re sure you’ve all had the experience of your cat between your legs slapping you with their tail as you go through the grocery bags on the counter.

They’ll do this while you’re folding laundry, doing the washing up, and a variety of tasks where they want to know what you’re doing is more valuable than spending time with them.

Your cat might stand around your feet and wrap its tail around your leg, tapping the tip against your calf muscle.

Affection

Why does my cat hit my face with his tail


Your cat flicks its tail to show affection to you. If you’re sitting on the couch with your cat watching a movie, and you start petting them, they might start to purr and lightly flick their tail.

However, most cats don’t like petting for long periods like dogs, and when they stop flicking their tail, it’s usually a sign to stop touching them – or risk the claws and teeth. For those few moments you are touching your cat, it might lightly slap you with its tail as a sign of appreciation.

If you’re sitting at the table talking to a friend, your cat may wander over to you or your friend and walk between your legs or sit at your feet. They might start slapping you lightly with their tail to see if you pay attention to them.

Fear


Tail slapping is also an indicator of fear or annoyance in your kitty. They might sit next to you looking out the window, slapping you with their tail. It’s an attempt to get you to look at what they’re looking at, but most of the time, it’s nothing.

If you’re petting your cat and they start tail slapping, it’s a sign they’re getting annoyed with you touching them. Stop it right there, or they’ll likely take a swipe at you.

Sometimes, your cat might wrap its tail around you when you go to enter a new room. It’s a way they feel secure, sort of like holding your hand. They’ll follow you with their tail wrapped around you as you move through the room.

Anger


As mentioned, tail slapping is also indicative of aggressive behavior or anger in your kitty. If your over-petting your kitty, stop when they start the tail slapping.

As all cat owners know, felines have a way of being incredibly annoying when they feel they want to teach you a lesson. Some cats will knock objects off tables with their tails, acting as they did it on accident.

Why does my cat hit my face with his tail

Cats might also hit you with their tail when you’re watching TV. They might want to play and see you engaged with the screen more than with them, leaving them feeling frustrated.

Cats can also use tail slapping to display anger or frustration with other pets in the house. If one cat wants to play, and the other wants no part of it, they may slap their tail as a warning to the other feline not to approach.

Attention


If it’s early morning, and your cat wants to go outside, or it’s feeling bored, it might come and try to wake you up. Tail slapping is one of your cat’s favorite communication tools to help it stir you from your slumber.

They’ll sit next to your head and slap your face gently with their tail until you get up or shoo them away. If you respond to this behavior, then your cat is more likely to use it on you again.

Your cat may also slap you with its tail as a sign it wants a treat, or it’s feeling hungry. If you notice the behavior around feeding time, it’s trying to remind you that it’s nearly dinner. Best you get in the kitchen.

You’ll probably find your cat starts weaving between your legs as you prepare its meal. It might stop and tap your leg with its tail and start mewing or purring in anticipation.

In Closing – Tell Us Your Tales of Tail Slapping


Cats slap us with their tails for all types of reasons. It’s a cute behavior, and it’s more of a gentle tap than a slap.

From feelings of frustration to excitement and curiosity, your cat uses tail slapping as a communication tool to get your attention and let you know how it’s feeling.

Did we leave anything out? Why do you think your cat slaps you with its tail? Let us know in the comments!