Expert: Becky - 4/17/2006

Question
Hi Becky,

I just recently adopted a DLH cat from a local Petsmart. They had her listed as a 1.5 year old spayed. She went through the "new home hiding" by staying in my spare bedroom under the bed, but now goes everywhere whenever she wants. She sleeps on the bed with me, sometimes on my back or chest where ever she can get comfortable, then kneeds me to sleep. She eats her food, drinks her water (which is changed almost twice daily since I believe she deserves what's fresh) The thing that worries me is her headbutting. She will walk up to an object and look at it then just headbut it. It wouldn't bother me except that when she does it I hear a thud. Now there is a bald spot over her left eye and last night I saw what looked like slight blood spots. (kinda like when you scrape your knee, its not bleeding but if you touch it to something it'll leave a mark) Why would she be doing this? Please help, she my Princess (both metaphorically and literally {that's what I named her so...}) Anything would be much appreciated.
Eric

Answer
Hi Eric!

You may be getting my reply to you twice, as I answered this once and it didn't seem to "send".  So , my apologies if you do get this twice.

It sounds to me like you are a very good pet owner.  Princess was very lucky that you came along to give her a good home!

Cats have a scent gland, that is undetectable by the human eye, on each side of their face near the whiskers.  When you see cats rubbing against things with their face, they are leaving their scent.  It is a type of "marking" and tells other cats that this is "theirs".  Princess may be doing that when she head-butss, but I'm not sure. It's odd that she does it to the point of bleeding.  Do you know if she was abused before you got her?  It makes me wonder if she has some type of psychological problem that makes her do this to such an extreme.  I really do not know,and have not heard of this happening before.  If it were me, and she did it to the extreme of bleeding, I would take her to a vet and possibly have her put on a mild sedative.  Not enough to knock her out, but enough to calm her down so she won't do it anymore..........just a thought.
I wish you luck
God Bless,
Becky