In the wild, most big cats are naturally dependent upon themselves and not a pack for survival. Your kitten is no different. That's why she regularly sends clear signals to other cats, to prevent misunderstandings and avoid potential conflict. One of her strongest signals is scent.
Sensitive to scents
Your kitten’s whole body is specially adapted to send and receive scent messages. She even has a special organ in her mouth – called the Jacobson’s organ – which she uses to analyse smells.
Rubbing
Your little furry friend loves to rub herself against all kinds of things: door frames, chair legs, bannisters, trees and, of course, you! Rubbing may seem like a simple behaviour, but it’s actually quite complicated. Not only is your kitten acknowledging your status and confirming her social bond with you, but she’s also picking up and leaving important scent signals.
Scratching
Just like her big cat cousins, your kitten will spend a lot of time scratching at things around her. By exhibiting this natural behaviour, she’s actually doing lots of things at once, including:
• Keeping her claws in tip-top condition
• Conditioning the muscles and tendons that move her claws
• Leaving visual signs that mark her territory
• Leaving scent signals from special glands on her paws
Your kitten’s scratching behaviour may be natural, but it isn’t always good for your furniture! That’s why it’s a great idea to give her a scratching post to go at.