Reasons why cats paw at you & what they are trying to tell you?

Cats are excellent communicators and use their body language and verbal cues to let their humans know what they want. The key to understanding your cat is by interpreting their methods of communication. If you’re wondering ‘why does my cat paw at my face?’, this is one of their many ways of trying to tell you something. Cats may put their paws on you if they want your attention for either love, play or food. It’s an entirely normal behaviour in cats and usually not a cause for concern. However, since cats are notoriously good at hiding pain and illness, it’s essential for cat parents to understand their cat’s usual behaviours in order to detect any subtle changes that may indicate an underlying problem. 

In this article, we help cat parents understand the reasons behind ‘why does my cat put its paw on me?’ We discuss the various possible meanings of this behaviour by exploring different contexts, as well as understanding other forms of cat communication. Once you know why cats paw at you, you can respond appropriately to meet your cat’s physical, mental and emotional needs. This will help to strengthen the bond between you and your feline friend. 

Most common reasons for cats pawing at you 

Cats use their paws to communicate and interact with humans - think of it as the feline way of tapping your shoulder. We explore this natural behaviour of cats in different contexts below.

Your cat is trying to get your attention

Cats will put their paws on your face if they’re trying to get your attention for something. Your cat could be wanting your attention for love, play, or food, and exploring the context around this behaviour is key to understanding the reason. If your cat paws at you and moves towards their water and food bowl, this is a tell-tale sign of what they want. If your cat puts its paws on you and then nudges you with their head or rolls onto their back, they could be seeking affection or interaction - both of which we discuss below. By heeding your cat’s cues, it can help to get a cat to like you.

Your cat wants your affection

Cats may also paw at you if they’re seeking your affection. In fact, this behaviour derives from kittenhood, when kittens knead on their mothers mammary glands to stimulate milk flow. As your kitten grows into an adult cat, they may knead on you instead as a way to show their love and affection, as well as to relax into a comfortable spot on your lap. You may also notice other behaviours, such as rubbing against you, which signals that your cat is seeking affection in return. You can meet their needs by gently petting, stroking and massaging them.

Your cat is feeling playful

When cats put their paws on your face, it can be a sign that your cat wants to play. Just as cats use their paws to play with toys, your cat may put their paw on you to initiate playtime. You can use this opportunity to engage in interactive play with your cat by using a laser toy, ping pong ball or a wind-up mouse. It’s important to not use your hands as a toy, even if your cat is pawing at you, as this can encourage biting and scratching. Cat parents should ensure their cat receives plenty of physical and mental stimulation daily to support their overall well-being.

Your cat is not feeling well

While there are many non-concerning reasons why cats put their paws on you, on rare occasions your cat could be telling you that they’re feeling unwell. Cats are very good at hiding their pain, which is why a crucial part of caring for a cat is to understand their normal behaviours so you notice any deviations that may suggest your cat is not feeling well. However, usually if your cat is unwell, you’ll notice other signs and symptoms. If you’re ever concerned about your cat’s behaviour or health, it’s best to speak with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health problems.

Your cat pawed by accident 

If your cat is healthy, and doesn’t seem to want your attention for affection or interaction, your cat may have pawed at you accidentally. Cats love to stretch, especially with their paws extended as they’re able to fully stretch their bodies this way. If your cat puts their paws on you while stretching on you or near you, and they don’t display any other cues afterwards, they may have pawed you by accident. Scratching posts are a great way for your cat to stretch, and it’s helpful if cat parents place these near where their cat usually likes to rest, as cats tend to stretch as part of their waking-up routine.

What does it mean when a cat paws at your face?

If you’re wondering why your cat puts its paw on your face, with its claws retracted, rest assured that this is one of the many ways cats show affection and love. By gently putting its paws on you, your cat is communicating that they want to be close to you. There are many reasons why your cat wants your company, and cat parents can interpret this behaviour by observing the context, as well as your cat’s body language and verbal cues. 

Cats may paw at your face to initiate playtime since they use their paws to play with toys. You may notice other playful behaviours such as nudging you with their head, rolling on the floor or crouching down, ready to pounce and chase an object. Cat parents can introduce a toy and see how they respond, to determine whether this is the reason why your cat is pawing on your face. If your cat doesn’t want to play, they may just want gentle petting, in which case you could groom your cat to help relax them.

On the other hand, if your cat puts its paws on your face and it’s around their mealtime, your cat could be politely requesting their food. This will likely be accompanied by some urgent meowing, as well as your cat running towards their food and water bowl. It’s helpful to keep dry food available for your cat to graze on throughout the day, as long as there are no concerns about them being overweight. 

Why do cats push paws against you?

Cats may push their paws against you to get your attention for food, playtime or love and affection. Sometimes, cats may push their paws against you by accident whilst stretching. Cat parents can understand their cat’s behaviours better by observing the surrounding context as well as other body language.

Cats have many behaviours, and it’s important for cat parents to interpret these correctly so they can respond appropriately to their cats. More often than not, when your cat paws at you, they’re usually seeking your attention for interaction or affection - and you can oblige with playtime and petting. It’s essential that your cat receives plenty of physical and mental stimulation, as well as love, for their overall well-being. You can also support your cat’s health by serving Sheba® Wet Cat Food, which is designed to provide a complete and balanced diet for your cat through essential nutrients, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavours. The only downside: your cat may paw at you for more!