17 Surprising Ways Your Cat Tells You “I Love You”
When take a cat home, he becomes a part of your family. He very quickly figures out the best places to nap, finds the ideal perch for watching birds and squirrels, and also determines the best way to get you to give him food and treats. However, another fun thing happens: You have become a cat owner. This means you’re responsible for that stinky litter box, of course. However, it also means you become obsessed with figuring out what your cat is thinking.
You’ll probably take note of yourself constantly guessing at why your cat is meowing or what she wants when she stares you down from across the room. And every once in a while, you’ll more than likely find yourself wondering whether your cat actually loves you. Despite their infamous aloofness, kitties actually are capable of love. Here are the ways his behavior might tell you he really does adore you.
#1 He shows off his butt to you
Surprising ways your fur-baby might show his affection for you? Putting his furry little behind in your face. The Spruce characterizes this particular behavior as “a back-handed feline compliment.” When cats greet each other for the very first time, they sniff each other’s faces and necks to say hello. Then, they may sniff each other’s sides and finally their hindquarters, beneath a raised tail. Your cat doesn’t actually believe you will sniff his butt. But the fact that he’s showing you that part of his body is a major vote of confidence in his trust for you.
#2 He rubs his entire face against you
Vox reported that many cat owners interpret it as a sign of affection when their cats rub up against their legs and ankles. “Many cats, for instance, will rub up against the leg of their owner (or another human) when the person enters a room,”
You will probably think your cat is saying he loves you when he rubs against your legs. That may be true. However, he’s also signaling that he regards you as a non-hostile cat, according to what The New York Times said. And as Vox added, “Many researchers interpret this as an attempt, by the cat, to spread his or her scent — as a way to mark territory.” So he’s basically saying you belong to him.
#3 He slowly blinks his eyes at you
Yet another common way cats show their affection for the people around them? The famous “slow blink.” VetStreet reporte when cats interact with people whom they don’t feel threatened by, they communicate that they’re a bit comfortable around you with this characteristic eye movement. Your cat will look over at you and slowly blink, leaving his eyes closed or almost closed for a several seconds. A cat who slow blinks at you may might not want you to pet him, but he’s definitely signaling he’s comfortable around you.
#4 He responds to all of your emotions
If you believe the popular notion that cats are a bit passive-aggressive or even narcissistic, you might be surprised to learn cats are able to pick up on how their humans are feeling. The BBC reported according to a recent study, cats behave differently when their owners are smiling than when they are frowning.
Cats actually respond to a smiling owner with positive behaviors, such as purring, rubbing, or jumping into their owner’s lap. And they wish to spend more time with a smiling owner than a frowning one. If your cat seems to respond to your emotions, you probably aren’t imagining it. He’s more than likely learned to read your facial expressions over time — even if he doesn’t exactly empathize with you.
#5 He will knead your lap or legs
Many cats knead by pushing their paws in and out of their owners’ legs or lap. It can get painful because the cat’s claws often get involved. However, the behavior might be a sign of your cat’s bond with you. Kittens learn to knead when their mothers nurse them because the movement can help stimulate the flow of milk. Older cats actually persist in kneading to show their contentment or even to mark their owners with their scents using glands in their paws.
#6 He will treat you like a cat
Owners of particularly independent cats may assume because their kitties treat them just like any other feline, they don’t really have very much affection for the humans in their life. But the opposite might be true.
As National Geographic reported, researchers have found cats don’t really socialize with people any differently than they will with other cats. They put their tails straight up in the air, rub around our legs, and sit beside us as they groom themselves. Cats will use behaviors with us that they learned with other cats. And that’s a true sign they want to communicate and bond with us — even if they don’t really make the distinction between cat and human.
