# Why is my cat rubbing her face on a bowl of lemons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481 "2023-04-11T01:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/21 "2023-04-11T22:49:50Z")
At least you try! We used to have a dachshund who we said was part mountain goat. We had to keep chairs pushed under tables or she would use them to scamper up on tables. There was a youtube video of a dachshund who pushed a chair from the kitchen island to the kitchen counter so it could get to a toaster oven. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/22 "2023-04-11T23:01:02Z")
She wants to be a sour puss? Mine is another one who flees at the scent of citrus. I think she associates it with an orange-scented flea dip she got as a kitten. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/23 "2023-04-11T23:34:16Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > She wants to be a sour puss? Well done. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/24 "2023-04-11T23:36:10Z")
Trying to make lemonade. > [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > She wants to be a sour puss? You win the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/25 "2023-04-12T02:43:40Z")
Golf clap! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/26 "2023-04-12T04:19:43Z")
As one who used to own a number of cats, (7 at one time), I can tell you that cats is weird. Just go with it. If the cats are not breaking Grandma’s precious china, let the cats do what cats do. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/27 "2023-04-12T13:09:49Z")
That is the law of the land around here. When I read pet columns (or Reddit) and a post starts, “How can I get my cat to… \<_fill in the blank_\>?” I just shake my head and think, “Buddy, that isn’t even a valid question.” Actually, the same thing applies to people. Short of holding someone at gunpoint (don’t do this, btw), you can’t get people to do or stop doing something either. Y’all may have noticed this. 🙄 However, you **can** get dogs to do what you want. One of the many reasons they are so great to have around. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/28 "2023-04-12T14:53:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Maybe they’re treated with something she likes. Do you wash them? > > ETa .I’m thinking a waxy substance to keep them shiny This is what I suspect. Cats generally dislike terpenes, including the fragrances of citrus, and pine. However, they often like the scent of petroleum, and I think many fruits are given a covering of light petroleum greases or waxes to hold attractive appearances for longer in the store. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/29 "2023-04-12T14:58:27Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Seriously though cats rub their cheeks against things to [spread their scent](https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/why-do-cats-rub-against-you), so it probably something to do with that. According to Cat Law, if you mark it, you own it, and someone is clearly stealing her damn lemons! So she has to keep marking them. If the Damn Lemon Thief would just obey the law, everything would be okay again! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/30 "2023-04-12T15:46:43Z")
I think kitteh is just sizing potential safety headgear. > ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/31 "2023-04-12T16:13:23Z")
Cat Law!! ha…My big rescue ragdoll cat, after being quite wary of our dogs, for 2 years, has taken to trying to rub his scent on their legs. Rubs his face on most anything else as well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/32 "2023-04-12T18:23:31Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I think kitteh is just sizing potential safety headgear. Damn! Now they’re both gonna want them. > [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](#): > > …has taken to trying to rub his scent on their legs… I OWN you… you, you… **DOG**! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481/33 "2023-04-13T20:02:50Z")
It could be an addiction thing, if you have ever used wetnaps to clean your kitten? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-cat-rubbing-her-face-on-a-bowl-of-lemons/982481.md?page=1)