Reply #26: A few things explained

[VeggieTart]

When a cat headbutts you, it's a compliment. Your cat is trying to deposit his/her scent on you (in effect, saying, you're mine) and at the same time, gets a little bit of your scent on him/her.

When a cat sticks his/her butt in your face, he/she is saying, Mommy, inspect my glands. I usually pat my cat on her side and tell her she's a good girl.

When a cat brings you a critter he/she has killed, it's like momma cat showing her "kittens" how to kill. I've heard it's also a gift for the humans.

You see, a domestic cat retains some kitten-like behavior and considers the people his/her parents. Conversely, the cat also sometimes acts like a momma cat to her humans, "showing" them how to kill. In the wild, a mother cat shows her kittens how to kill, first by bringing dead animals, then by bringing badly injured animals and so on and so forth.

I have noticed that large dogs like to stand perpendicular to humans and bump their legs. I understand that is a compliment. On a couple of occasions, I have actually had dogs (strangers, I might add) fall on the ground and roll delightedly when I greeted them (as I am wont to do when I see someone walking his/her dog).

Dogs and cats both communicate with scent, which is why they sniff each other's butts.