Cats express their love for those they consider family in a variety of adorable ways, including kissing, grooming, tail fluffing, chirping, and meowing. The subtlety of a cat’s displays of affection makes them easy to misread or perhaps miss altogether.
So, how do cats display affection? Cats are not known for their outward displays of affection toward humans. They don’t wag their tails or give kisses to their loved ones like some dogs do. Instead of openly showing their adoration, cats prefer to whisper.
Here are some signs of a cat’s love that every cat parent should know.
Through their eyes
If your cat looks at you with half-closed eyelids while gently blinking, it likely trusts and appreciates your company. Cats are known for their unique eye blinks, which are known as “cat kisses” and are mutual. By giving your cat kisses, you may show her that you love her as well. This loving gesture from a cat will improve your bond with her and help you both relax. Maybe she’ll give you a few slow blinks as a response.
Through their tails
Emotions can be correctly read from the way a tail is held, the angle at which it is held, and the degree to which the fur is fluffed out. They convey a wide range of feelings, from anger and fear to love and joy, when paired with other cues. Whereas most people are aware of symptoms of fear and violence, they are less aware that tails are also indicators of cat devotion.
Cats’ tail placements frequently reveal their emotional bonds. As a sign of affection, they will wrap their tails around the limbs of their best friends. When cats are comfortable with their humans, they may lay their tails on them or lean against them to show their affection.
In addition to tail wrapping and stroking, kittens exhibit delight and warmth by fluffing out the base of their tails while softly quivering them. They simultaneously hold their tails upright with a tiny curl at the top. This is known as the happy tail dance. It is usually accompanied by an appealing kitty loving blink.
Through cheek rubs
Cats will rub their cheeks on those they trust and feel safe with. When a cat gives you a cheek rub, it’s a show of affection and an invitation to play. Kitties have smell glands on their cheeks that create pheromones. In addition to exhibiting their favorite individuals trust and affection, felines mark ownership through behavior and mix their odors with those they are close to.
Extending your index finger toward a cat you don’t know at around nose level can help with socialization. It makes no difference if she’s a few steps away or across the street. She’ll come up to your finger, contact it with her nose, and then turn her head so that your finger is resting on her cheek if she wants to say hello. She might rub your hand across her cheek if she feels comfortable with you. This may be the start of a wonderful friendship!
Through head bunting
How can cats express their adoration with head butts or head bunting? This is an expression of devotion from your cat, but it also leaves a fragrance mark on you. This is an affectionate social behavior in cats that serves a dual purpose. Head bunting is a symbol of ownership as well as trust and friendship. When your cat buts you on the head, she transfers the scent she produces in the glands on her head to you.
Through language
Love and trust are frequently conveyed through sounds like chirps, purrs, trills, and mews. It’s true that mother cats use chirps and chortles to reassure their young, but these endearing noises of cat affection are typically kept for the few people to whom they are really attached. Cats can also show how they feel by making special meows and mews. Some of these sounds are soft and kitten-like, while some are louder.
When your cat purrs, it may mean that he or she feels at ease and contented in your presence. When combined with kitty kisses and other expressive cat affection signals like touching you with a paw or tail, her purrs may be a sign of affection.
Through grooming
When cats are friendly and near to one another, they will groom each other (allogrooming). This practice calms them down, shows trust, and creates a shared scent that aids in identifying familiar faces. Grooming isn’t just a gesture of affection between cats and other cats; cats will do it with humans too. Cats will occasionally lick their human companions to show affection while combining their odors.
By hanging out on and around you
Cats enjoy the company of folks they get along with. Perhaps your beloved cat is purring peacefully at your side or dozing off in your lap. She may lean against you, patting your leg with her paw, or lay against you so that she can touch you in some other way. If your cat isn’t lap-friendly, she may show affection by lounging close by.
Some felines will follow their owners everywhere they go. They don’t follow their people around in search of food; they just appreciate being around them.
This is the bottom line on cat love and cat language:
Body language, posture, and vocalizations are all ways in which cats express their emotions, making them excellent communicators. Cats’ displays of love and trust for their human companions might be subtle and convoluted, yet they always find a way to convey their feelings.
