How is your cat? I’m so sorry.

Thanks for your comment, Debra. Siamese cats are known to be clingy and become very attached to one person so this is not odd behavior. A lot of cats will burrow their heads and cover their faces to get better sleep (blocking the light out). Since he is getting older, he will become a bit forgetful. Spacing out and crying in confusion are both normal for cats as they age. I think Sebastian is fine but if you have any concerns that continue, you can take him to a vet to be sure he is okay.

Thanks for your comment, Sue. Cats who have issues with insulin can become incredibly weak. This could be the issue but it sounds like it could be other things as well. As I am not a vet, I really can’t diagnose your cat. Just make sure he keeps eating, drinking, and urinating until his appointment. If he gets worse, it is worth making an ER visit.

Also, picture this. My cat is sitting how cats do when they are sitting upright. (Not to be confused with the one with the front legs curled under them) And she has the top of her head pressed to the floor while she is sleeping in this weird position.

Thanks for your comment, Zen. This is typical behavior for adult cats. Most cats reach full maturity between 16 and 22 months of age. They use the glands on the face to spread their scent and claim their home.

My cat doesn’t press her head against the wall, but she has been rubbing her head against the edges of my table, looking like there are some itchy spots on her face. She does become more vocal, but she has been purring doing so (rubbing). Should this be something I must concern about? I only have adopted her for 1.5 months, so I do not know.

Extremely sad to hear this, I truly hope she has recovered

Thanks a lot for your quick answer! Actually, I was not too worried, but it helps (considering my OCD) getting an oppinion from an expert. This is “my” first cat, since I’ve always been more into dogs, but I’ve always been an animal lover (I am a Zoologist), and the little fellow just appeared one afternoon on my lawn, not being able to walk and just dragging his hind quarters (apparently from a fractured pelvis, which, after consulting a vet, healed on its own). That was four years ago (the vet and I guessed he was about 8 months old when he appeared) and I’m still wondering how did he managed to get into my property, since it has quite tall walls. Anyway, the bugger is still “visiting” and I couldn’t be happier whith it; we really communicate and get along quite fine and he makes me laugh a lot. Thanks a lot again and greetings from México! 🙂

Thanks for your comment, Manuel. A lot of cats do this to show affection and trust, I think your cat should be just fine.

Thanks for your comment Raymond and I am sorry your cat is going through this. My oldest cat had a bad reaction to his first round of vaccinations and ended up having pancreatitis as well. It nearly killed him but he pulled through and is now 13. Try to stay strong for her and support her through this. I would try finding another vet in your area to work with as well. I know it must be tough.

Thanks for your comment Ash G, glad the article helped you out! 🙂

Maybe a comprehensive wellness exam will ease your mind.

Thanks for your comment Valkriesmurf. Given his age and a general healthy appetite, I would say there is nothing to be worried about. He may be a bit bored. You can try getting him some new toys and interacting with him every day for an hour or so of playtime.

My cat did this also, should I be worried. She only does this when I am in the chair and she is on my lap

Thank you. Will let you know the results

Thanks for your comment, Alvin. You need to take her to a vet asap. This sounds like a neurological issue that needs to be addressed by a professional doctor.

She cant keep her head straight or normal

Thanks for your comment, Abby. This doesn’t sound like anything to worry about. When head pressing against objects should be a concern is when other changes are occurring in your cat’s behavior.

Thanks for your comment, Rosemary. Given her medical history, this is something you will want to run by with her vet to be 100% certain. She likely just finds the position comfortable. You can also check in your area for holistic doctors who are trained to treat cancer for cats. It may be a cheaper alternative.

Hi Jennifer, you can send a picture us via the contact form here: https://purrfectlove.net/contact/
Just upload your picture here: https://imgur.com/ and send the link to us. Alternatively, reply to this comment with the image link.

Jennifer Pinnock

Thanks for your comment, Andrew. Does your cat only do this against the window? If so, is it only during the daytime? Some cats like to “sunbathe” near or directly in sunlight so if the window is slightly warm, it likely feels good for your cat.

Thanks for your comment, Ellie. That sounds like normal affection to me. If he is showing any other signs of dietary or behavioral change, it can’t hurt to get him looked at. If not, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

Hi Debbie,

You can upload the image to https://gfxf.net or https://imgur.com and reply to this comment with the URL.

Thanks for your comment Nicole J. She is an older cat so snoring is more common. What you want to make sure of is that she is getting enough oxygen. If her mouth and nose are completely covered and her snoring/breathing sounds labored, just readjust her head. If she is not getting enough oxygen, it can actually cause her to go into a deep unconscious sleep where it will take quite a bit to wake her up. If she is overweight, sleep apnea may be a concern here as well. If she is of a healthy weight, eating and drinking, and using her litter box like normal I don’t think there is any cause for concern. You can always get an opinion from her vet.

Thanks for your comment Kelly and sorry for the delay in my response. Is she an older cat or does she have any history of medical problems? I would advise taking her to a vet asap to be looked at because she sounds like she is underweight and if her body is cold, that is not a good sign.

Any thoughts would be helpful

Thanks for your comment dil. Since it happened almost a year ago, there is likely no cause for concern there. As for her facing the corner, was she physically resting her head on the wall whilst being awake? When cats are forcing their heads against objects and are unrelaxed and alert/awake, then they should be taken to the vet. I don’t think you have anything to worry about at all but if she does do it again, it couldn’t hurt to get her checked out.

Okay
Thank you

Yes, 1 of 2.

Thank you
Sorry for asking but this is important
are you one of the wepsite owners ?

I need to know fast plz

We are not a source for professional medical advice, but we are cat owners for almost 30 years. This website documents our knowledge and findings, and also combines other sources of information.

Thanks for your comment Roxy. A lot of cats do this when napping or relaxing. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

Thanks for your comment JeffK. As mentioned above, if your kitty is relaxed and/or sleeping while pressing their head against you are any surface, there is no cause for concern.

Thanks for your comment Claudia. What you are explaining is normal cat behavior, you have no reason to worry. Many cats do this to mark their scent using several glands around the face/body. You can read more about that here: https://purrfectlove.net/scent-glands-on-cats/

Thanks for your comment Andrea. True head pressing has one or more underlining medical conditions that are not breed specific. It sounds like your cat just likes to sleep in this position. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

Thanks for your comment Barbara. Is she awake while doing this? Does she have a history of sinus issues?

Thank you,
Barbara k. ♥

Thanks for your comment Charlene. If she is sleeping, there is likely no cause for concern. She is older and diabetic so it may be worth mentioning to your vet just to be sure and to ease your mind.

I’m so sorry about your loss. Thank you for sharing your story. I think this will help many other cat caregivers in recognizing the signs of stroke, or other neurological problems.

Why didn’t you take her to the vet? This sounds not only serious, but painful. It seems to me, the reason a cat would press his head forcefully against a wall is due to a really bad headache. (Have you ever put pressure on your own head during a pounding headache?) You sound as though you are dependent on this cat to bring you comfort, but in reality, this cat depends on you to take care of her, and if she’s suffering that badly, to let her go, if necessary. But please, at the very least, seek veterinary care. These are all symptoms of a serious neurological problem.

Thanks for your comment Jaimee. Yes, while most cases it is just a position some cats like to lay in, it could be more serious for others. You have to know your cat’s behavior as well as look out for changes. Joey (pictured above) lays in this position almost every day but he is 16 and I reckon it just helps him sleep better by blocking out the light. I will reposition him sometimes just to make sure he is getting enough air. If you have any concerns, it doesn’t hurt getting your cat a checkup. Joey had one last year and checked out as very healthy, especially for his age.

Thanks for your comment Rebeca. I am not a vet nor do I know your cat personally so I can only tell you what may be going on. Is she older? You mentioned cloudy eyes which makes me think she is older. It is hard to say with an older cat what this could be. She could be having periods of dementia, mild seizures, or it can be more serious. I would assume that seeing an ER clinic is not an option for you in your area. What makes me think it is dementia is the confusion and how she comes in goes. What makes me think it can be seizures is that she zones out and appeared drunk, possibly disoriented but had a huge appetite after. A more serious issue could be fluid in the brain or a tumor. There is no way I or anyone else would be able to tell you if that is the case. She needs to get to a Vet asap. In the meantime, just do what you are doing and be there for her. Don’t panic or get too upset. I know it can be scary but cats can sense when we are uneasy. Keep her in one room, blocked off. This way she can’t accidentally hurt herself and move her box and food dishes in the same room. I wish I could be of more help and give you a solid answer. Just make sure she is comfortable, getting fluids, and is able to use her box.

My friend left…. and I laid beside my baby… She blinded her cloudy dissorientated hopeful eyes at me, and rested her head on my arm. Reached her arm out to hold me as usual, but more, needingly. I brought her extreme comfort. She acted high,… Like I was aiding her through a trip out… I laid there for over an hour, watching her breathing, which was irregular, and at one point I believed even stopped… at leased long enough for me to panic and I jolted, she woke… and dissorientstedly attempted to get into my side… one of her favorite spots… She leaned back, drunk like… as if she were unknowing there is a huge drop on the other side of me. She understand English very perceptivly, so I told her to get down and rest where she’s not a danger to herself, so she returned to my arm, and held me tighter,… every once and again shed open her eyes to look at me, and she honestly seemed retarded. Totally no intelligence behind her. I told bar nice things, to keep her content… She purred herself back to a sleep… deep sleep… She twitched awkwardly, breathed irregular, flinched…. jump woke a few times…. and I found her with her eyes half open, blank…. staring at nothing,,,. With out blinking. I gained her consciousness to help her rest again.

Then after an hour ofnthat…. She slowly made it to her food dish, ate like a mad man, and started playing harder then ever before for an hour and a half. I wish I didn’t encourage it…. but… I did. And at the end of that I saw her start zoning in and out of consciousness…. and each time she would come back, she still wanted to play, but seemed slightly confused but unfazed about her attention issues. I convinced her to go back to her spot and rest…. where I’ve now been obsessing another breathing for like, an hour or two. I’m so freaked. I can’t lose her, it’s 11pm. I’m in a rural community, there is absolutely nothing I can do till morning, and I’m going to stay up all night watching her.

…. now, sorry for all of that but can you tell me scientifically what’s going on, how she’s feeling? If she’s in distress, or discomfort.. and how long I may have? Long term effects. Plz

Thanks for your comment Bianca. Did his head pressing start after the seizure or more recent?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Thanks for your comment moosish. This does not sound like any kind of issue. If he is relaxed and sleeping, then don’t worry too much over it. If you notice other changes like sudden loss of appetite, mobility issues, etc. then you can take him into a vet to get checked over.

Since he is improving it sounds like he had a stroke to me. I am not a vet but I do know that cats recover from strokes remarkably well. Some in a matter of weeks, others in a few months. Issues with the brain like lesions and tumors will only get worse, not improve over time. I think it is worth getting a second opinion from another vet if you are still concerned.

This vet wanted to put him down both times I was there with my cat. He said without an expensive MRI he won’t know for sure but thinks he has a brain lesion. I am not convinced. He has been getting better every day since he’s been on Prednisone. Still some odd behavior but I have hope.

Thanks for your comment Sheryl. Walking in a circle is usually a sign of a stroke which your cat may very well have had. Every cat is different. Has your vet mentioned this as a possibility? Sorry for the late response. I am only just not seeing this.

He doesn’t circle much anymore but still yowls loudly, paces and gets stuck in corners. He goes outside litter box. He doesn’t groom himself or purr. But he still comes to me and wants to be petted. His last dose of Prednisone is today.

I’m reading this, right now. Can you please let me know the status of your pet, if you still have it

Thanks for your comment Elspeth Sharps Morgan. Glad the information was helpful. As for the grass, some cats just enjoy it. It could be as simple as that or she could be vitamin or mineral deficient somewhere. If you are concerned enough you can get blood work done and that should tell you if there is any deficiencies your should remedy.

The only thing I’ve noticed about her is that she craves grass constantly. If you even bring anything leafy in, she has to inspect it to make sure it’s not grass. I planted some cat grass for her, but I had to put it outside, because not only did she try to eat all of it at one time, but she treated it like a drug, pacing and meowing for it before getting in the windowsill and knocking it down. This is a cat who has never knocked anything over in her life and is usually well behaved. If I’d bring her a few blades in, she’d gobble them down and then cry and cry for more. Any idea what this means? I wasn’t sure how much was good for her and if there were something I could give her that would replace the apparent need she has for grass.

Thanks for your comment Joseph. With younger and older cats (kittens and seniors) any new behavior is best looked over by a vet.

If you want to mix in a slightly healthier canned food, you can see if she enjoys Muse by Purina. It is grain free. Both my boys really enjoy it and they are Fancy Feast addicts. I have only given the chicken and carrot recipe and the duck recipe a try thus far. Both are actually quite a bit cheaper on Amazon than in store depending on the recipe you get. If she is happy and healthy on Fancy Feast though, then just continue with it.

Thanks, so much I never thought of flattening her food. She is almost exclusively on Fancy Feast Classics (with low carbs) and she loves them a little too much. She does have the tendency to eat fast and then throw up sometime, so I will have to do better at slowing her down.

Oh okay. Well this sounds like it is down to eating too fast. Some air might be getting swallowed. If she is eating dry, get a slow-feeder dish for her. They have a hump/bump in the middle and slow down speed eaters. If she is on wet, what I do for my one cat is mash it down. Make it flat with the plate so she will have to lick it up and eat it slower. The headpress position doesn’t sound like anything to worry about. See if slowing down her eating stops the hiccups. If there is no change in that, get a medical opinion from her vet just to be on the safe side.

Actually it seems like she has the hiccups first and then I see her move to the position pushing her face, yes nose and mouth, into the sofa. It almost looks like she is trying to make herself more comfortable or make the hiccups go away.

Sometimes she will have bigger burps only a couple of times. She does eat too fast and I try to slow her down.

Thanks for your comment Rick. I get what you are saying, some people do worry when there isn’t a reason to worry. Your cat sounds fine to me. If he continues this for longer periods of time with temperamental and/or diet changes, he should be taken in to make sure.

Thanks for your comment Gabrielle. Does your kitty sleep with her nose and mouth pointing into the sofa as well? This can be causing her to have slight breathing troubles which results in her getting hiccups.

Thanks for your comment, and yes it is normal for some cats. Some like to lay against us for warmth. It she is relaxed and/or sleeping, it is nothing to worry about.

Thanks for your comment Bree. Without knowing anything about him, I can’t say. It is likely nothing to worry about though.

Thanks for your comment Katie. Yes, they can breathe but sometimes their breathing becomes shallow and this can cause them to be put into a DEEP sleep. I usually adjust my cats head when I see this happening just to make sure he is getting enough air.

Can cats breathe we they sleep this way i sometimes worry

Thanks for your comment Melissa. Yes, I agree. If it is not a normal behavior, it must be checked out. Not all cats sleep this way and a sudden change can mean something is up.

Thanks for your comment Alexa. So your cat is not spayed then? Without knowing the age it is hard to say what she is doing. I know this isn’t head pressing as that involves the head being “pressed” on something in a stationary fashion. When she is in heat, she isn’t seeking out attention from human males either. She likely just smells other animals on them since they do not live with you. Has she been outside at all? She is likely using your pillow to rub her scent on to attract males. Cats have scent glands all around their bodies (see this post for reference: https://purrfectlove.net/2017/01/scent-glands-on-cats/ ). I don’t think you have anything to worry about but I do recommend getting her spayed asap.

Thanks for your comment Amy. If he is relaxed and comfortable, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern. Some cats do this to block out light from their eyes to sleep better.

Thanks for your comment Karen. This sounds very odd indeed. I can’t tell you for sure what is causing the muscle loss but she is craving sulfur. That is why she is trying to eat the ashes. You can add a small amount of MSM powder to her food. I use the brand NOW Foods myself. It is completely safe for humans and animals to take. This should lessen the cravings. She does need to see a vet ASAP though because muscle loss is not a good sign, specially in elderly cats.

Thanks for your comment Karen. This sounds very odd indeed. I can’t tell you for sure what is causing the muscle loss but she is craving sulfur. That is why she is trying to eat the ashes. You can add a small amount of MSM powder to her food. I use the brand NOW Foods myself. It is completely safe for humans and animals to take. This should lessen the cravings. She does need to see a vet ASAP though because muscle loss is not a good sign, specially in elderly cats.

Thank you for your comment Lisa. I am glad it helped you out! Yes abused cats tend to need more one on one time and extra love. Often times pressing their heads against the person their are bonding with is pure affection. You may find my post on cat trust helpful as well through your bonding process or maybe to help with others bonding with her. https://purrfectlove.net/2015/03/how-to-earn-a-cats-trust/

Thanks for your comment Ennay, I am glad this information helped ease your mind!

Thanks for your comment Hannah. When she is “headbutting” your stomach, her butt is in the air? Is she awake and purring by chance? If she is doing this and just sitting like that in what looks like an uncomfortable position, she could be doing it to get your attention or she possibly has an ear infection. It is hard to tell you if she has a serious problem or not based on what you said. If this is new behavior, it is best to get her checked out to be sure. Cats with ear infections will seek out warm surfaces to ease the pain and press their heads and ears into it.

Yes her head is hanging off the nightstand – below where her body is

Thanks for your comment Theresa. I am not sure what you mean about “the hanging head”. Is her head hanging off the nightstand?

Hi I have noticed my 17 year old cat sleeping on my night stand with her head down – looks mighty uncomfortable. But she is fine when I come in and she sleeps there and on my pillow and on me all night. Should I be worried about the hanging head?

Thanks for your comment Stephanie. This sounds like normal behavior to me. When cats are doing actual head pressing, they space out and sometimes become unresponsive all together. Most of the time they are awake while doing this as well. She sounds like she is doing this because it is comfortable. If it happened out of the blue, like recently started happening.. She could have an inner ear infection. Most clear up on their own but since she is older, you will want to take her in to see a vet and double check. Fluid in the ears can cause them to seek pressure on the head to relieve head pains. They also do this to trap heat inside the ears.

Thanks so much for your time . I have been trying to research this on my own but am not having much luck

Thanks for your comment Jessica. Yes this sounds like affection to me! Some cats will do a firmer head rub when they are overly stimulated (happy, playful, ect) and purring along with this is a good sign it is purely affection. Nothing to worry about 🙂

Thanks for your comment Nic. My cat does this as well. He likes to sleep pressed against surfaces. It doesn’t mean there is anything necessarily wrong, some cats just like to feel like they are in tight spaces. Think of it as a security thing, just like cats liking to get into bags and boxes. As for the wall staring and corners, is he older? A lot of cats do this with age. It can come as a result from lack of interaction, stimulation, and just being bored. When a cat is under-stimulated they will “imagine” prey. Think of yourself as a kid being stuck in a house all day with nothing to do. Most kids will use their imagination to entertain themselves. For more information on this, read Domestic Cat Hunting : Play or Prey.

Thanks for your comment Dakota. Without knowing your cat on a deeper level I can’t answer that. How old is she? Have you recently moved, got a new pet, any new people in your life?

Thank you for your comment Shira. Because this is a new behavior your cat is doing, it is a good idea to have him checked out to be 100% sure nothing is wrong. There is a chance he may have an ear infection or fluid in his ears. Cats will lean their heads on warm or cooler objects when they have an ear ache for some relief. Severe ear infections accompany other symptoms you can read about HERE. Head pressing is generally done by a cat in a very uncomfortable manner, specially when awake.

Thanks for your comment Jen, I am glad it helped you out!

Thank you for your comment Jasey, and I am glad the information eased your worries! 🙂

Thank you for your comment Shelby, and not at all! This is normal cat behavior. Some cats do this more than others. What she is doing is releasing her scent on the walls and objects she is rubbing. This is her way of “claiming” them. She can be rubbing more if you have other animals in the house or if you use room deodorizers or sprays that may rid her scent off of the objects. You have nothing to worry about!

Thank you for your comment Donna, and not a problem. I know a lot of cat owners were getting worried over their cat’s sleeping habits. I just wanted to make sure they knew the difference.

Thanks for your comment Xiomy. No, just staring is not the same thing. The actual pressing in the issue here because it implies that their may be pressure on the brain or in the skull somewhere. Depending on the age, some older cats will stare at walls and just think/ponder. Sometimes they are just spacing out and relaxing. If you can easily break the consecration of a cat doing this, there is nothing to worry about.

What about if the cat is sitting close to the wall and just stares? Not pressing his head against the wall, just staring. Is that also the same thing?

Thanks for your comment Dorothy. Yes, in most cases when a cat rests on us it is a form of bonding and affection. My cat pictured above does it quite often. A lot of cats enjoy being against something firm, bonus points for it being warm. Since the leg tends to be firm and warm, it is the perfect resting place for a feline who enjoys this. Joey will do this on my hand and arm as well when I am lying down or going to bed. Some cats just prefer the comfort of touch while they sleep.