Facts about Territorial Marking in Big Cats
- 05
Scratch marks clawed into tree bark by big cats serve a dual purpose, combining a visual signal with scent deposits from interdigital glands on the paws.
- 04
Cheek rubbing, known as bunting, allows big cats to deposit secretions from facial glands onto surfaces as a form of territorial advertisement.
- 03
Tigers regularly patrol and re-mark their territorial boundaries, returning to the same scrape sites and spray points to refresh scent signals that fade over time.
- 02
Flehmen response, a curled-lip behavior, allows big cats to draw scent molecules into the vomeronasal organ to analyze chemical messages in territorial markings.
- 01
Lions and other big cats use scent glands, urine spraying, and scratch marks on trees to communicate territorial boundaries to rivals.