### Differences Between Head Pressing and Affectionate Head Butting in Cats Perfectly healthy cats sometimes sleep in awkward positions, resting with their head pressed up against the couch or your leg. It's also normal for your cat to butt its head against your hand or face to get your attention. But a cat pressing its head against things that are not alive, like a wall or couch, may need to see the vet. This behavior is called head pressing and can be a sign of a problem with the cat's nervous system. **Head Pressing** Head pressing is when a cat pushes their head against a wall or other hard surface over and over for no apparent reason. This is different than head butting, where your cat bumps or rubs their head against you as a sign of affection. Head pressing is a compulsive behavior, meaning the cat can't help but do it. Unlike the gentle nudges of head butting, head pressing looks like long, persistent pressure against something nonliving, like furniture or a door. **Possible Causes of Head Pressing** - **Encephalitis**: Inflammation of the brain causing it to swell. - **Metabolic disorders**: Imbalance of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. - **Infection**: Bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections affecting the nervous system. - **Liver shunts**: Blood bypasses the liver, leading to toxin buildup. - **Stroke**: Sudden stop of blood supply to part of the brain. - **Toxicity**: Poisoning from plants, medications, or household items. - **Brain injury**: Caused by seizures, heart disease, diabetes, or trauma. - **Tumors**: Rare but possible brain tumors. A cat may push its head against hard objects so much that it ends up with face or head injuries. If this happens to your cat, it's important to get them to the vet as soon as possible. **When to See the Vet** If you notice your cat pressing its head against hard objects, call your vet. They may do some of the following tests to find out what's wrong: - **Blood pressure**: Measuring blood pressure using an inflatable cuff. - **Eye exam**: Checking for signs of infection, inflammation, or brain problems. - **Lab tests**: Testing blood and urine for signs of infection, metabolic problems, or toxins. - **Imaging**: CT or MRI scans to show inflammation, infection, internal bleeding, or cancer. Treatment will depend on the reason for the head pressing. If, for instance, your cat has a metabolic disorder, you may just need to give it medicine at home. Other causes may require surgery and a hospital stay. Either way, once your cat is recovering at home, call your vet if any new symptoms pop up. And be sure to keep all follow-up appointments so your vet can monitor your cat's progress.