Cats rub their face on humans primarily as a way to communicate affection and mark territory. This behavior, often called "bunting," involves cats using scent glands located on their cheeks, chin, forehead, and around the mouth to deposit their scent on their favorite people or objects. By rubbing their face on a person, cats are essentially claiming them as part of their social group or territory, signaling that they feel safe and happy with that person. It is a social bonding behavior as well as a way to mark their environment with pheromones, which provides them comfort and familiarity.
Additionally, cats may rub their face to greet their humans or other cats and to create a communal scent among friendly or familiar members of their social group. This behavior is a multifaceted form of communication expressing love, security, and territorial marking.
