Does your cat rub against you after you shower? Don’t worry, you’re not alone – this is pretty common kitty behavior.
Cats love bathrooms, in general, the combination of flowing water and new scents fascinates some kitties.
If you’re trying to decode this behavior and better understand your cat, here’s what we know about this behavior:
5 Reasons to Explain Why Your Cat Rubs Against You After You Shower
They’re Marking You With Their Scent
The main reason why cats rub against us – and other objects around the home – is because they are transferring their scent.
Cats have scent glands across their bodies and use them to mark out things they ‘own’ by spreading pheromones.
Your cat will rub against most days, if not every day at some point. It’s probably more noticeable when you’re getting out of the shower though as they’re in your way.
They’re Trying to Get Your Attention
Another common reason why cats rub against us, zig-zag around our legs, and generally come into contact with us is that they want to get our attention.
Obviously, cats can’t vocalize or explain what they want. So, it’s up to us to decipher their head bunting, rubbing, and brushing against us.
I’ve spoken with a couple of friends who were able to figure out why their cats were anxiously waiting for them to get out of the shower, and the answer isn’t that surprising..
Their cats wanted breakfast!
Water Fascinates Most Cats
Most cats are fascinated by running water. The sound of the shower, the moisture in the air, it’s no secret that most cats love this.
This is generally believed to be an innate behavior that ties back to cats needing to find running water sources in the wild.
This also helps explain why so many cats like to drink from taps and out of toilets (one of the grossest cat behaviors), sleep in sinks, and generally hang around bathrooms.
Related – 3 reasons why cats watch us in the shower.
They Like the Smells and Scents of Your Shower
Different cats are attracted to different scents and smells. It may be that your cat loves the smell of your shower gel or the shampoo you’re using.
Most cats that are attracted to a smell will rub up against the person or object so mix it with their own scent. Hence the rubbing on your legs.
They’re Just Showing You Some Love
One of the most obvious ways our cats show us they love us is by rubbing up against us. It’s not always welcome, but it’s just one of the ways cats communicate.
It may be a pure coincidence that your cat chooses to rub you after your shower, or it may coincide with any number of the reasons outlined above.
Keep in mind that cats are creatures of habit and they feel secure having daily routines. Your cat may just want to spend some time with you in the morning if that’s when you shower.
It might be worth seeing if your cat still behaves the same if you shower in the evening instead of the morning to test this theory.
Why Does My Cat Lick Me After I Shower?
Rubbing against your legs is one thing, if your cat licks you after you shower there may be different reasoning behind this behavior.
It can still be due to the same reasons as I covered above. I’m sure most likely it’s your cat showing you some affection or trying to put their scent back on you.
However, it may also be because your cat is trying to groom you.
Cats spend almost half their waking hours grooming themselves, and they’ll choose to groom those around them they feel especially close to.
It doesn’t feel good when their harsh, sandpaper-like tongue drags across our skin. But if it’s any consolation, it’s a sign of affection!
Why Does My Cat Meow When I Get Out of the Shower?
If your cat is meowing at you when you get out of the shower, my first assumption is that they’re telling you to hurry up and get their breakfast.
This is, of course, assuming you shower in the morning.
If you don’t, or if you know your cat is not hungry, then you’re going to have to do some investigating to find out why they’re meowing.
Some cats will meow for seemingly no reason, especially when they get older. But generally speaking, there is often a reason.
It’s very unlikely that your cat is simply meowing because you’re using the shower, but you can’t rule it out.
If you’re one of the people who sing in the shower, I hate to say this, but your singing might be offending or confusing your cat!
In Summary
In this article, I’ve covered 5 reasons why your cat is probably rubbing you after you take a shower.
I’m sure one or more of these reasons will resonate with most cat owners reading this. If not, and if you’ve discovered another reason behind your cat’s behavior please share it below!
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Image credits – Photo by Joyful on Unsplash
