If you’re a first-time cat parent, you probably wonder how you can tell that your cat loves you and enjoys your presence. Most cats aren’t overly demonstrative about their feelings, so if you expect in-your-face signs, you’ll likely be disappointed.
Nevertheless, cats give clear signals when they’re bonded with their owners, and if you become fluent in interpreting them, you’ll be able to give love back in ways that they appreciate to deepen your bond.
Let’s unravel the enigma of cat love and how you can love your best friend back.
How Can You Tell Your Cat Loves You? The Signs
Despite their reputation for being independent and non-commital — at least by comparison to dogs — cats are social and affectionate pets that easily bond with their parents. They even display the same behavior toward us that they do toward their biological parents.
Their body language may not be as easy to decipher as that of dogs or other animals, but it’s plain to see once you learn what to look for. Let’s start with the obvious signs that your cat loves you and move on to the subtler ones.
If your cat rubs against you, headbutts you, licks you, grooms you or kneads you with their front paws, they’re officially telling you you’re part of the family, and they have accepted you as such. These behaviors are common among bonded cats.
When your cat performs them, it shows that it is familiar with you and considers you a friend. Nonetheless, they’re also marking you with their scent to tell the world (or other cats or pets) you belong to it alone.
Another obvious sign of love is meowing in response to your voice. Try speaking softly to your kitty and observe its reaction. If it gives you a short, quiet meow, it’s responding to your voice and saying “Hi” to you.
For example, my cat greets me in the morning with a kitten-like meow and awaits my reply. If I ignore him, he’ll meow again. If I respond with a greeting, he’ll come over and rub against my leg, encouraging me to pet him and even showing me his belly — a behavior that humbles me because it shows the highest level of trust.
Your cat may follow you around, greet you at the door when you come home from work, or purr whenever it catches sight of you. These are subtle signs that your cats love you and enjoy your company.
Check out their tails when they approach you. You’re in their good books if they hold their tails upright with a hook at the top. They’re overjoyed to see you, even more so if their tails rattle — a clear sign they’re looking for pets and hugs.
Other less obvious signs that your kitty adores you include sleeping close to you during the day, joining you for bedtime, and bringing you its favorite toy as a present. Your cat feels safe in your presence and wants to reward your love.
While it may be hard to accept a half-eaten mouse for a present if your cat is allowed outdoors, try to bear in mind the gift comes from a place of love and accept it without losing your lunch.
Do Cats Know That You Love Them? How To Give Love Back
Now that you know a few signs that your cat loves you, you may wonder how to show your love in a way that translates well for your beloved pet. Since you want both of you to feel love, you’ll need to reassure your friend that it holds a special place in your heart and will never lose it.
Since cats don’t speak English, bonding with them depends on behaviors that release oxytocin, the love hormone, in their bodies. Petting, brushing, and hanging out with them are great ways to ensure this hormone floods their system and they feel loved.
If you’d rather be more communicative than that, try slow-blinking at them. Make eye contact with your kitty, and slowly close and open your eyes. You may feel silly the first time you do it, but remember that it’s a way to greet your friend and give it kisses — and it’s much more effective to show love than directly kissing your pet.
Once you’ve mastered the slow blink, try mimicking your cat’s voice, particularly those coos and trills it makes when it sees you first thing in the morning. Although some grammar mistakes are unavoidable, your cat will know you understand and love it.
Regular grooming and massage sessions, giving your kitties toys and playing with them, and caring for their health by providing species-adequate food are other ways to show your love and appreciation for your friend.
Finally, you can’t show someone love without respecting them and their nature. With cats, this involves accepting that they need their alone time and letting them enjoy it at their own pace.
It also means you’ll accept and learn to enjoy their quirks, like singing an operetta while running up and down the stairs and carrying their favorite mouse toy at five in the morning.
Navigating feline love and affection isn’t straightforward, but it’s hardly daunting. Once you learn and respond to your kitty’s love language, your bond will be complete and stronger the longer you spend together. You and your cat will feel safe, loved, and nestled in your special relationship.
