Why Do Cats Put Their Butts in Your Face? Is This Normal?

Yes! It’s perfectly normal for a cat to put their butt in your face. And they’re doing this for a few possible reasons.

Pittsburgh-based cat behaviorist Patience Fisher, ACCBC, CVA, DipFBST, owner of Patience for Cats LLC, helps explain why cats put their bottoms in your face.

A cat showing you their butt is a normal behavior among cats themselves, particularly among feline friends. It likely means they trust you and probably want attention.

1. They Trust You

This particular presentation could be your cat’s way of demonstrating that they trust you or feels affectionate toward you.

“If the cat is being friendly to the person by purring and rubbing on them, has relaxed ears and a relaxed body, and then puts his rear end in their face, it’s likely a friendly gesture,” says Fisher.

2. They Want Attention

It could also be because they want something from you, like to be petted or food, and “rubbing and purring did not get them the attention they were seeking,” Fisher says.

Well, putting their butt in your face is certainly one way of getting attention.

It could also be a sign that we need to notice the other ways that our cats try to communicate with us—before they reach the Butt-in-Face stage.

3. They’re Saying ‘Hello’

We’d (probably) never kick off an interpersonal interaction by shoving our butts into someone else’s personal space, but it’s not uncommon during cat conversations.

“Cats live in a world of scent,” Fisher says. “They sniff each other’s pee and poop, so there must be information in it. And they sniff each other’s rear ends sometimes.”

Cats can be selective about which other cats get to see their butts.

“I’ve had cases of cats that don’t get along, and have seen one cat sniff the other’s rear, and that one will whirl around, sometimes even swatting [at] the sniffer,” Fisher says. “I’ve also seen [cat] friends do this, and the other cat has no issue with it. So, it seems to be only tolerated between friends.”

4. It’s Instinctive

This could also be an instinctive behavior among more confident cats. When a confident cat puts their tail up and sticks their rear end in the person’s face, this can be a clear signal that they’re willing to interact.

Cats who are scared and anxious, on the other hand, have their tails lowered or tucked between their legs and would not typically present this kind of behavior.

Remember, this kind of behavior is totally natural and normal. So, if your cat sticks their booty in your face—and you’d rather they not—simply gently reposition them and shower them with love and affection.

Avoid pushing your cat away or punishing them for the behavior. You might frighten them—and it’s important to build bonds, not confuse them or break their trust.

This content was medically reviewed by a veterinarian.