Diary of a Cat Mom
Diary of a Cat Mom is a reflective cat podcast created and hosted by Dagmar Gatell about understanding cats more deeply — and creating a calmer, more connected life for both you and your cats.
Based on real experiences caring for over 50 cats throughout her life, each episode shares quiet observations, emotional moments, caregiving reflections, and gentle insights from everyday life with cats. From routines, behavior, and emotional wellbeing to grief, gratitude, overstimulation, trust, and the small meaningful moments many people overlook — this is not a traditional “how-to” podcast, but a space for understanding, awareness, and lived experience.
Beyond cat care itself, Diary of a Cat Mom also explores our connection to nature, emotional presence, personal growth, and the way our inner state can influence the animals who share our lives. Because living with cats is never only about feeding and routines — it’s also about energy, safety, trust, patience, and how we show up emotionally in the spaces we create together.
Created for cat lovers who see their cats as family, this podcast offers companionship, reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during seasons of caregiving, uncertainty, healing, change, and letting go.
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal storytelling podcast and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and medical or behavioral concerns should always be discussed with a trusted veterinarian or qualified professional.
You’re not alone on this journey.
We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a Cat Mom
Ep. 77 - Why Is My Cat Rubbing On My Legs? 🐱❤️
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Have you ever nearly tripped over your cat because they were rubbing so hard against your legs?
Many cat moms wonder what this behavior really means. Is it love? Is it a request for food? Or is your cat trying to claim you as their human?
In this episode of Diary of a Cat Mom, I share the story of Toby, the most enthusiastic leg-rubber in my multi-cat household, and what I discovered when I researched this fascinating feline behavior.
The answer warmed my cat mom heart more than I expected.
What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode
- Why cats rub against your legs
- What "bunting" means in cat behavior
- How cats use scent to build family bonds
- The difference between affection and attention-seeking
- Why timing matters when cats rub on you
- When excessive rubbing may require a vet visit
- What this behavior reveals about trust and safety
Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 Why Your Cat Rubs Against Your Legs
00:25 Meet Toby, the Champion Leg-Rubber
01:08 What Cats Are Really Doing When They Rub
01:55 The Meaning of Shared Family Scent
02:50 Affection, Greeting, or Breakfast Request?
03:30 When Leg Rubbing Can Signal a Problem
04:00 The Sweetest Message a Cat Can Give
This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats:
https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/
About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast
Diary of a Cat Mom is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats.
This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian.
Most of all, please remember:
You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a catmom Day's diary entry while your cat rubs on your legs. You're listening to Diary of a Cat Mom. Have you ever stood up in the morning only to have a cat immediately start weaving between your legs, rubbing so hard that you almost lost your balance? Maybe you wondered what I wondered. Is my cat saying I love you? Is he claiming me as his human? Or is he simply reminding me that breakfast should have happened five minutes ago? If your cat does this too, you're not alone. And the answer is actually much sweeter than I expected. In my Mighty Cat household, Toby is by far the most determined leg rubber. The moment I get out of bed, he's there. Not just a gentle brush against my ankle. Toby puts his whole body weight into it. Sometimes he rubs so strongly against my legs that I have to watch where I'm stepping so I don't lose my balance or accidentally trip over him. For years I wondered what was going through his little cat mind. Was it because he loved me so much? Was he trying to mark me as his? Or was he simply making sure he would be the first in line for breakfast? As a curious cat mom, I started researching behavior. And what I discovered completely warmed my heart. When cats rub against our legs, they are communicating several things at once. So cats have scent clands on their cheeks, chin, forehead, sides, and near the base of their tail. When they're up against us, they're leaving behind their scent. This behavior is called bunting. But here's the important part. It's not about ownership in a perceptible way. It's about belonging. Your cat is creating a shared family scent and saying, you're part of my crew, you're familiar, you're safe. In cat language, that's a beautiful compliment. The more I learned, the more Toby's morning ritual made sense. He's creating me. He's reconnecting with me after a night apart. He's reminding himself and the other cats that mama belongs to the family. And yes, sometimes he's probably also saying, by the way, breakfast would be nice. I also learned that timing matters. When your cat robs on your legs after you come home, it's often a warm greeting. Around feeding time, it's usually a faction mixed with a request for food. When your cat is feeling stressed, rubbing can even be self-soothing because familiar sense help cats feel secure. In multi-cat household, cats often rub on each other for exactly that same reason to maintain the shared family sense. One more thing I found interesting is that cats rarely rub this way against people they don't trust. It's considered one of the clearest signs that a cat feels comfortable, bonded, and safe with you. So of course, if the rubbing suddenly becomes excessive or comes with scratching, headshaking, skin irritation, restlessness, or other unusual behavior, it's worth checking with your bed because discomfort, allergies, fleece, or ear problems can sometimes contribute to excessive rubbing. Now when Toby nearly knocks me over in the morning, I see it differently. Instead of wanting what he wants, I recognize it as one of the sweetest greetings a cat can give. It's his way of saying, Morning, Mama, you're part of my family. I feel safe with you. And honestly, as a cat mom, I can't think of any better way to start the day than hearing this message in the language of a cat. Thank you for being here with me. This is Diary of a Cat Mom. Don't miss the next entry. There's always another little lesson, another moment, another story waiting to be shared. I will talk to you in the next entry. Diary of a cat mom.