Whether you feel it or not, your cat loves you. Unfortunately, there are really times where you cannot fully understand their behavior. Or maybe, they are just way out of line. But don’t fret, sometimes these little felines are just moody but in reality, they value every bit of love, care, and affection you show to them.
But how and in what way? You might wonder. How do cats express their love to their humans?
For starters, humans, most of the time have a very vivid and direct way of expressing their love to one another. And you’ll be shocked that cats are the same, too. But of course, not in “a human” way. 😉
Here are the 12 different ways your cats might be expressing their love to you, and pay attention to how they do it.
Meowing
If you’re observant enough to your feline pets, cats rarely meow at other cats. If you haven’t noticed it, only kittens meow to their mothers. And out of the habit, they do it as adults.
Your adult cat uses these vocalizations specifically to interact with people that they like. Just like humans, cats don’t “talk” to cats they don’t like. So, remember when your cat pesters you with lots of meows, they are actually interacting with you out of love.
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Kneading
Kneading behaviors is actually a practice they do when they were kittens. Kitten paws knead against the mother cat’s breasts to induce milk to be released.
Adult cats, on the other hand, continue this behavior when they feel the most relaxed, content, and loved. This mostly happens when they’re being petted on their owner’s lap. Think of kneading as a distinct expression of adoration.
Rolling
If you see your cat roll in the ground when they see you, it actually means they are excited to see you. Unlike human children, cats don’t roll due to tantrums. They do it because of excitement or mark their territory from other cats.
Remember that when your cat walks or runs up to you, throw themselves on the ground, and begin to roll around, they actually want your attention. This is their loving to you.
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Loving Eyes
For these little furballs, their eyes are important assets for survival and they value it with extreme importance.
So when cats place their faces and eyes-wide-open near a person, they are actually expressing trust and love. Also, their slow “eye blink” from across the room is actually considered a cat kiss. Maybe consider doing a slow blink to return it to them. 😉
Purring
If you did not know, purring is actually the most obvious and common way cats show their happiness and love. Yes, you heard it right!
Cats seem to have a special little motor inside them that get started when they are relaxed and enjoying something. You’ll often hear this rumbling, vibrating noise while you are petting your cat. Purrs can also mean your cat is upset but it’s not as common so don’t worry.
Licking
You might have noticed, cats spend an enormous amount of time self-grooming. In fact, most cats spend between 30 and 50 percent of their day grooming themselves. Also, friendly also groom each other.
Keep in mind that when cats groom their others, their owner, for instance, they actually indicate great affection. So if they start licking your skin, hair, or even nibble or suck your clothing, that is actually how they show love.
Also, this spreads a familiar scent and helps mark their person as an important part of the family group.
Scratching
Aside from sharpening their claws, scratching is actually their way of leaving both scented and visual marks. This is their vivid sign of ownership.
So, pay attention to where your cat scratches the most. The areas most important to a cat are often associated with the owner.
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Playing
If you have kittens, you can justify that they play more often than adult cats. But did you know that they’re playing is actually their way of enjoying a company of a favorite playmate?
In fact, some cats may actually control the interaction by moving just out of reach so you are forced to come to them and start playing.
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Bunting
Bunting is when your cat rubs their cheeks on you or an object, head-butts you with their forehead, or rubs their head on you.
This is their way to leave their scent on you and mark their territory. But most importantly, cats do this when they love something or someone. They may practice bunting on other pets or their favorite humans.
Sleeping
Did you know that cats typically sleep up to 16 hours a day? But although they need it very much, choosing a safe place to sleep soundly is of great importance.
So when you see your cat snoozing soundly in your chair, floor, or table, then they feel secure and trust your location. However, there is no greater loving compliment than a cat picking your lap as their favorite sleep spot. That is just love multiplied by 100 times.
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Hunting and Gifting
Cats are adorable. But, they are still tiny carnivores who have hunting instincts.
You may have noticed that your cats catch everything from toys, birds, newts, or mice and share these bounties to you. Yes, you might have been very furious with them by doing such, but don’t make a mistake and scold them because they did it. They wouldn’t bring and share these hard-earned gifts if they didn’t love you.
So, instead of scolding them, give them praise, instead. They will really appreciate it. Although, it might be a different story if they bring you your pet fish. 😀
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Tail Posture
If you’ve ever petted a cat, you’ve probably encountered the “elevator butt” pose which invites you to pay particular attention to the base of the tail. Cats actually love to have this area scratched.
They use their upright tails to signal their love to you. When a cat approaches you with their tail held straight up and the end slightly tipped over, it’s a sign of love.
A cat that holds their rear end up in your face is also showing a sign of affection. Kittens greet their mother with tails flagged high in respect and adult cats continue this behavior with their favorite people.
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Now, you know what those actions are for. So, when you see your cat doing some of these things to you, that is your sign that they truly love you.
Do you know of other ways on how cats show their love to their humans? If you do, don’t hesitate to share it with us in the comments below.
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