It can take time to earn a cat’s trust. Depending on the situation, it could take months or even years to build a faithful bond. Therefore, there’s no true feline behavior dictionary; small details differ depending on the individuals involved. However, feline instincts tend to lead them to act similarly when they show affection, fear, aggression, confusion, etc. It’s up to every owner to figure out their pet’s unique cues.

One strange cat behavior is rubbing up on humans and other animals. Most of the time, it’s a positive sign, but it’s often more than that. Felines have scent glands around their faces, heads, and base of their tails. These glands hold pheromones, which are wiped onto their surroundings. So when they rub or headbutt people or items, cats are marking their territory with their pheromones.

Most of the time, this is the kitty equivalent of a friendly greeting. “Cats also have vibrissae or what we refer to as whiskers on their face,” says Tomeshia Hubbard, DVM, at the Alabama Veterinary Allergy and Dermatology Service, to Country Living. “These vibrissae serve as specialized sensory organs or organs of touch which stimulate cats to show affection towards their owners or humans.”

Not only is it an affectionate gesture, it is a territorial one. And the cat has just accepted this human (or object) as part of their environment and claimed them as part of their property. Pheremones fade, so kitties must “reapply” them every so often in order to feel calm and at home in their surroundings. So when an owner comes home from work, their cat may come running to reclaim their territory.