Unlike dogs, who make no secret of their affection, cats prefer to shower their favorite humans with more subtle adoration. To the untrained eye, though, it can appear as though your feline is barely tolerating your presence.
For seasoned cat owners, they know better than to take their cat’s aloofness at face value. We’ve long since learned how cats show their love, whether it’s the obvious love bites or head butting you.
For new cat owners out there, we put together this list to show you that your cat isn’t being weird or rude but is actually expressing their love.
The 13 Ways Cats Show Their Love
1. Always Nearby
Cats like their own space, but they don’t pass up the chance to curl up with you, settling in your lap for a good old purring session.
After all, what’s better than cuddling with a warm, fuzzy friend after a long, chaotic week?
2. Belly Showing
Everyone knows that dogs love having their bellies scratched by their family members or the postman who brings them their favorite treats. Cats, on the other hand, tend to get angsty whenever people attempt to rub their stomachs, especially when they don’t know the person.
If your cat rolls over to show their belly or lets you rub their stomach, it’s one of the highest forms of trust. Your cat, after all, is a predator. Revealing their delicate undercarriage means they trust you not to hurt them and they love you enough to leave themselves vulnerable.
3. Blinking
Cats stare and have an uncanny ability to do so without blinking for long periods. Their attention can be both flattering and a little concerning, simply because it’s impossible to know what your feline is thinking whenever they stare at you.
All cat owners can agree, though, that the slow blinking of a staring feline is their way of saying, “I love you.”
4. Bunting
Another obvious way that cats show their affection is by marking items, people, and other animals with their scent. They have scent glands in their cheeks, paws, and the base of their tail. Bunting you with their head is another way that cats show affection.
It’s also their way of being possessive. By marking you with their scent, they are announcing to everyone that you’re theirs.
5. Gifts
Not all kitty affection makes much sense to us humans. Their idea of “gifts,” for example, usually ends up being the freshly dead remains of a mouse, rat, or bird that they’ve caught. While your feline is probably proud of their hunting abilities and wants nothing more than to share their skills with you, you’d probably rather receive something more pleasant! However, as much as we’d like to think this is our cats’ way of showing us affection, it may be more likely they do it as they feel safe to bring and eat their prey at home, away from undesired attention.
6. Greetings
Many people think that cats don’t care when you come back from work. However, many feline friends will greet their owners at the door when they get back from a day out or even just a walk with the dog.
You might even find that your cat comes to greet you when they return from exploring outside.
7. Kneading
Kittens learn to knead their mothers to get milk, and the habit stays with them as they grow as a way to show their contentment. Adult cats will knead owners whom they adore when feeling safe and reassured, alternating from left to right paw and back again while purring up a storm.
8. Licking
Cat lover or not, you’re probably familiar with how often cats groom themselves. Grooming their fellow cat housemates and you is their way of bonding with their family members. Even if you don’t have fur, your cat will settle in your lap for their version of a spa treatment.
Compared to the love bites, which can be discomforting if your cat is a little too eager to show their affection — those teeth are sharp! — licking is less painful.
9. Love Bites
Biting is often seen as a bad thing, but for a friendly feline, a gentle nibble on your fingers can be a form of affection. Nibbling can also be a way for your cat to play with you, which is best discouraged as it can be painful, or tell you they’ve had enough petting.
10. Naptime
Cats can be particular about whom they sleep with. If they haven’t warmed up to your new kitten, it’s unlikely that you’ll see them cuddled up together. Sleeping leaves them vulnerable, and they’ll only settle down for a nap when they feel the safest.
Your kitty curling up in your lap or snuggling up to you at night is their way of showing how much they want to be around you.
11. Purring or Meowing
Where dogs are inclined to bark, cats are more prone to silence unless they’re talking to their human companions. They’ll meow whenever they’re hungry, but they’ll also chirp greetings when they meet you at the door when you get home from work.
Purring is also a sign of their contentment. They’ll curl up on your lap and purr the evening away or soothe your icky cold with their calming vocal vibrations.
12. Tail Language
More than their voices, cats rely on body language to get their messages across. Most of all, their tails tell us a great deal about what they’re feeling. If your cat is agitated, they’ll whip their tail back and forth, while a sleepy kitty might lazily swish it from side to side.
The next time that your cat runs up to you, meowing in greeting, pay attention to their tail. More than likely, you’ll find it pointing straight up with the tip bent over. This display means your cat is happy to see you.
13. Talk to the Tail
Many things that our cats do can seem rude. Turning away to give you a view of their rear end is one of them. Like showing their belly, however, cats only turn their back on people they trust. If you’ve ever watched your feline encounter a strange cat when they’re out and about, you’ll notice that they always face each other.
While it’s easy to believe that your cat is dismissing your presence entirely by turning away, it’s a proclamation of trust. They’re leaving themselves vulnerable, just to prove that they’re happy and comfortable in your presence.
Final Thoughts
Cats might not be as obvious as dogs when it comes to showering their favorite humans with affection, but that does not mean they don’t care. They just have subtler ways of announcing their adoration to the world and you need to be familiar with their body language in order to recognize it.
The next time that your cat greets you at the door or rubs against your legs, you’ll know that your feline thinks the world of you.
Related Reads:
- Can Cats Fake Limps for Sympathy?
- Cat Affectionate All of a Sudden? Possible Reasons Why
- Do Cats Hibernate? Reasons & Tips
Featured Image Credit: cottonbro, Pexels
