Should You Butter Your Cat?

Yes, you read that correctly.

There’s an old wives’ tale that says when you move into a new home with your cat, you should rub butter on a cat’s paws to help them settle in.

Apparently, the idea was that your cat would sit down (instead of trying to escape), lick all that delicious butter off their paws and, by the time they were finished, think, Well, I guess this is home now. 

Another thought is that it removes the scent of the old house (by the time they’re done licking all the butter off) and allows their paws to absorb the scent of the new house.

But that’s not exactly how cats work.

Please Don’t Butter Your Cat

While a little lick of plain butter probably isn’t a big deal for most cats, slathering their paws in it is not necessary – and could actually add more stress to an already stressful situation (not to mention the greasy paw prints everywhere). It’s also worth noting that most adult cats are lactose intolerant and butter is very high in fat which can cause digestive upset.

But as with most old wives tales, there may be a tiny nugget of logic hiding underneath this very weird myth.

Not because of the butter. Because of scent.

Cats Make a House Smell Like Home

Cats experience so much of their world through scent. When your cat rubs their cheeks against the corner of the couch, your legs, the doorway or pretty much everything you own, they aren’t just being adorable. They’re leaving behind their scent.

Cats have scent glands around their cheeks, chin and other areas of their body. Rubbing helps deposit their familiar scent throughout their environment, which can help that space feel safe and familiar.

That’s why moving can be such a big deal for a cat.

Suddenly, all those familiar smells are GONE. New floors. New walls. New rooms. New smells.

So instead of buttering your cat, bring as much of their familiar scent into the new home as possible.

Make the New House Smell Like Home

Bring their favorite bed, blankets, toys and scratchers without washing them first. You can even bring along a worn T-shirt that smells like you.

And don’t give them the entire house all at once. Starting them in one quiet, comfortable room with all those familiar-smelling things can give them a safe home base while they slowly adjust to their new surroundings.

As they begin rubbing, scratching, sleeping and exploring, something pretty cool starts happening…

The new place begins to smell like them. And that can help it start feeling like home.

A little pro tip? While you cat is adjusting to their new surroundings in their room, take one of their favorite blankets and rub it all over the new house. About a foot off the ground, rub it along walls, doorways, kitchen cabinets and any new furniture. All the places your cat will be exploring once they’ve settled in. Think of it as a ‘housewarming gift’ to your cat.

After a few days in their safe space, they’ll come out to explore the rest of the house and realize their scent is there to welcome them home.

So, should you butter your cat?

Nope.

Save the butter for your toast and bring the old, loved cat blankets instead.