Actually, cats have scent glands on their cheeks. They're marking you. By the way, the Infectious Disease bunch at our hospital went around and cultured everything they could think of. The most germ laden surfaces were the elevator buttons, followed by the floors, doorknobs, slap plates for automatic doors, chair backs, and cafeteria tables. Toilet seats were like 17th on the list. Handles on doors leading out of the toilets, however, were pretty high on the list. Nurses cringe at kids playing in the floor of hospitals. I wouldn't even take younger kids to the hospital!