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How to Tell If Your Cat Loves You

by Jane Meggitt - 4/22/19

Cats are mysterious creatures. That’s one reason why humans are attracted to them. Dogs are pretty obvious when showing affection, but cats are much more subtle. How to tell if your cat loves you? Watch her carefully—the little things often give her feelings for you away.

Obvious Signs of Affection

Some cats are fairly obvious in their affections. If your cat is by your side all the time, not just when you’re about to put food in his dish, it’s a good bet he’s quite fond of you. For some people, the highest praise they can give a cat is that he’s just like a dog. On the other hand, calling a dog “catlike” is usually not a compliment. If your cat follows you from room to room—and going to the bathroom alone is no longer an option—your pet is in love. However, many cats aren’t that demonstrative. They show affection in other ways.

Newly Deceased Gifts

If your cat goes outside and regularly brings you gifts of rodents or birds she’s caught, consider yourself honored. You may not appreciate the gesture, but it’s how a cat says that you’re important. If your cat lives strictly indoors, she may bring you toy mice or other small presents. Thank Kitty appropriately, even if you have to figure out the best way to dispose of the body.

Physical Contact

Cats mark their territory via the scent glands on their heads. If your cat gives you a good cheek rub anywhere on your body, he’s marking you as his own. Just as he leaves his odor on you with his cheek rub, he’s picking up your scent as well. Cats also show affection with head butts. Then there’s kneading, also known as “making biscuits.” When a cat kneads on you, often accompanied by purring, you’ve hit the feline love jackpot.

The Look of Love

As the old song goes, “The look of love is in your eyes.” Where felines are concerned, that look of love may consist of the slow blink. Your cat slowly closes her eyes, then opens them to gaze upon you. If you receive a slow blink from Kitty, return the favor. You’re letting her know—although she certainly realizes it already—that you love her, too.

Let’s Spend the Night Together

Sleeping is serious business for felines. When your cat deigns to join you in bed, he’s letting you know just how much you mean to him. If insomnia is a problem, there’s no way better way to get to sleep than by having your favorite fur person next to you, purring.

What Does It Mean When a Cat Wags Its Tail?

Tail wagging in dogs and cats connotes two separate states of mind. When a dog wags his tail, it indicates he’s in a happy frame of mind. That’s not the case with Kitty. If your cat’s tail is wagging, that means he’s annoyed about something, so it’s best to leave him alone. The faster the tail is moving, the more annoyed he is. However, if your cat comes to you with his tail straight up and just the tip quivering, that’s a sign he’s happy to see you. This type of tail movement is usually followed with cheek rubs and purrs. When your cat winds his tail around you, that’s his way of saying, “This is my person.”

A graduate of New York University, Jane Meggitt’s work has appeared in dozens of publications, including USA Today, The Alternative Daily, nj.com, The Happy Cat Site and The Nest Pets.

References

  1. www.petmd.com/cat/slideshows/does-your-cat-love-you-7-signs-look
  2. www.moderncat.com/articles/9-signs-your-cat-loves-you
  3. www.catster.com/cat-behavior/cat-tail-wagging-the-meaning-of-different-cat-tail-wags
  4. www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-cat-rub-his-face-on-everything