Cats' rubbing and bowl‑lifting habits explained by vets

Veterinarians explain that cats rub against people to deposit scent from facial pheromone glands, signal affection, seek attention, food or water, and sometimes indicate a health issue when the behavior is accompanied by hair loss, skin lesions, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or other signs.

Cats also often lift food out of deep or narrow bowls because sensitive whiskers can be irritated by the bowl’s edges, and because the instinct to control prey leads them to prefer handling food on a flat surface. The behavior may also reflect a desire for a quieter, safer feeding spot. Sudden changes in either habit, especially with loss of appetite or oral problems, should prompt a veterinary check.