Occasional Side Bumping while walking

[Phalno]

Greetings,

I've recently joined, made an intro, put some pics up in the Tabby and Calico sections. Now on to one of the reasons that spurred the impulse that lead to googling, finding, and joining this community a curiosity of sorts.

Tillie, the younger of our two cats, and the female when she is walking with one of us she likes to do what I can only best describe as side bumping. She will favor one side or the other or sometimes alternate from left to right and bump/rub her side on the hallway wall and/or kitchen cabinets and appliances. She really leans in and does so rather forcefully, enough so that when it's a kitchen cabinet the door will thump a bit from her hitting it with her side. On occasion when alternating sides she will do the same to our legs, our other cat will rub up on a leg from time to time sure, especially at dinner but he does not do anything like this it's almost a cat version of shoving something or hip bumping a slightly ajar car door.

When she is playing, moving or generally walking around she does not generally do this behavior, only when walking or escorting ahead of one of us humans.
I was curious if there was any insight into this activity.

As a side curiosity, I have generally been around people with male cats in the past or in my youth had one. Tillie is the first female that I can recall and she seems smaller or shorter in the front half and shoulders than in the back, sort of like an angled race car and it really puts her hips and hind end up. Is that common among females or just a peculiarity for this particular unique furbaby?

Cheers

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello

Can you post a video of her walk?

How To Upload And Add Videos To Your Posts – TheCatSite Articles

only when walking or escorting ahead of one of us humans.

I've heard of cats who like to lean into a petting hand, perhaps she is leaning into things and into you because she is particularly happy?

Tillie is the first female that I can recall and she seems smaller or shorter in the front half and shoulders than in the back, sort of like an angled race car and it really puts her hips and hind end up.

The hind legs of a Manx cat are longer than the forelegs, making the rump look higher. Is it possible she's a Manx?

 

[susanm9006]

I think that is sort of the same claiming or marking behavior that cats do when they rub up against us. Just kind of getting their scent on their territory.

As far as the body shape I don’t think she is a Manx. It is just the body type she inherited. I have had one of my cats, a beautiful short haired tabby with the longer back legs as well.

 

[ArtNJ]

It sounds like you are describing what bears do on trees. I haven't seen cats do that exact thing - cats usually headbutt stuff and use their cheeks to scent mark -- but cats have a lot of odd individual mannerisms. I had one that did very dramatic sideways hopping when he wanted to play. I have a girl cat now that sashays when she walks. When I asked the vet about it she asked "does she run and jump ok" and when I said yes she kind of rolled her eyes and said "well ok then." Initially I was annoyed with the vet but on reflection I get it -- if we get too wrapped up in the weird individuals quirks of our cats we are going to be lunging at invisible stuff just like they do.

 

[Phalno]

Hello

Can you post a video of her walk?

...

Hopefully, I did this correctly. I stripped the audio so you wouldn't have to hear my heavy breathing.
Also, I purposely instigated this walk, which is why she is looking at me at first like what do you want?

She kind of hits the bathroom doorframe, like going in there? No, ok. then crosses and bumps the wall then crosses and bumps the kitchen doorframe like are we going in here? Ok.

Yes as one user put it I may be trying to puzzle out something that is just what it is.

But I find it odd she always does this when following, leading, or escorting me around the house, Titan does not do that he just walks ahead and flops down in the way when he reaches his stopping point.

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If you need or would like another example I will try to do so in the future at some point.

 

[Phalno]

Take #2, I do not think I copied the Gallery \ Video URL correctly and cannot seem to find the edit option.

 

[susanm9006]

I am staying with my initial conclusion. She is rubbing up on walls and doors the way she would rub on you. Sort of leading the way for you with her scent. She does seem very happy to be doing it.

 

[ArtNJ]

I've never seen it, but my wife says one of our cats uses the edge of a low table to give himself a back rub. I do think its a bit weird if this is an all the time thing . . . but cats are weird.

 

[Furballsmom]

but cats are weird.

true, lol

 

[Tik cat's mum]

I have a cat that does this just as you described they are just making sure everything is theirs.

 

[Kieka]

My Moms cat likes to walk into furniture, walls and doorways to rub against them. I've always felt he is trying to scent mark the world as his.

 

[dragonlady2]

We have a cat that does something similar. One thing I noticed with your cat is how fluffed the base of her tail is. Our cat is the same with the tail and we find that she gets herself overstimulated. Maybe your cat is more affectionate during this time?