How Do Cats Show Love & Affection?
You show your love to your feline friend in some pretty obvious ways, but have you ever asked yourself: “How do cats show affection?”
It’s a common misconception that our feline friends are not affectionate creatures. Yes, it’s true that earning the love of a cat is not always easy, but when a cat begins to show trust and adoration for you, there’s often no better feeling of accomplishment.
Cats have a host of unique ways of expressing their love. Some of the ways cats show love are very obvious, while others are so subtle you might miss the gesture.
12 THINGS CATS DO TO SHOW THEY LOVE YOU
1. BRINGING YOU “GIFTS”
As you already know, cats are very good hunters. One of the best ways cats show love is to sometimes drag their kill to your feet. It’s a not-so-subtle way of sharing a special hard-earned treat. What … you don’t like mice, birds, and the occasional snake?
Though this may turn your stomach, it truly is a sign of love and pride. Your cat wants to reward you for your love. Indoor cats will often do this with toys or objects since they do not have the option to hunt live game.
2. SHOWING OFF THE TUMMY
Cats don’t show their tummy to just anyone. This behavior is reserved for the rare few that they fully trust. Showing you their tummy is rendering themselves defenseless in case of an attack; therefore, know your cat is showing you love when it rolls over without a care in the world.
3. HEAD-BUTTING
Your cat may bump their head against you or rub their cheeks against you to show affection. This is a social behavior that is formed in kittenhood through headbutting other kittens and their mother.
Receiving a head butt from a cat is an indication of your cat’s affection towards you. A head butt from a cat is an effort by your feline friend to deposit their facial pheromones on you. It’s a little head hug that says, “I love you … and own you.
4. PLAYFUL NIBBLING
When a cat nibbles on you playfully, it is an attempt to say, “Hey, I love you, let me play with you.” Nibbling on you playfully is different from a bite that can actually result in bodily harm.
5. FOLLOWING YOU AROUND
Cats often follow their owners around. They may rub up against your legs or even accidentally trip you as you walk. It is important to understand that your furry friend is only doing this because it loves to be around you.
6. KNEADING
We all want to be needed. If a cat loves and knows you, it will knead you just like you knead dough. It is their way of showing love and appreciation. They learned this technique as kittens when nursing from their mother.
Relaxed cats that knead are showing contentment. They will often knead when you gently pet or stroke them. Sometimes cats knead to create a softer sleeping spot, which is considered an innate behavior.
7. FLIPPING THE TIP OF THEIR TAIL
Cats occasionally twitch the tip of their tail to indicate a certain feeling. If your furry friend holds its tail up casually and flips it around, take this as a sign of love.
8. MAKING EYE CONTACT
Cats love to make eye contact with those they know and trust. Therefore, if you catch your feline pet looking at you keenly, wanting to catch your eye, just interpret that as a sign that they recognize and appreciate your presence.
Cats, on the other hand, use eye contact with their people to show adoration, and often only directly look into the eyes of those that they trust and love.
They often will make eye contact with lowered eyelids and steady, slow blinks. This is considered a feline version of a kiss, and you can even try slow blinking to show love back to cats.
9. CHOOSING WHERE THEY SLEEP
We all know cats are fond of sleeping. So much so, they sleep for about sixteen hours each day, and because sleep makes them vulnerable, they tend to choose a secure and trusted place. If this secure place is your lap, it’s a great sign of love and security.
10. MEOWING
When a cat pesters you with many meows, it’s their way to interact with you. It is their way of talking to you, and yes, this is usually a good thing.
11. GROOMING
Cats groom each other as a display of affection, and this behavior will extend to humans when trust is built. Cats will often lick their people or allow them to brush them.
Licking is similar to the grooming they would perform on their feline friends and allows for marking of each other. Grooming builds a bond between cat and human. Just be certain to watch for fast tail swishing and listen for any growling or hissing, because grooming, especially with brushing, can be overstimulating if it’s forceful or goes on for too long.
12. SHOWING THEIR BELLY
This is often considered the ultimate sign of trust for a cat. Cats only lie on their backs and show their bellies when they are in their most relaxed state.
This is not an invitation to pet or rub your cat’s belly, though! They are simply communicating that they feel comfortable and safe enough to reveal one of the most vulnerable parts of their body. If you go in for the belly rub, be careful, as your cat might retaliate with a bite or scratch.
