13 Heartwarming Ways Cats Show Their Love for Humans
Cats are mysterious creatures. One doesn’t always know what’s going on in their heads. One moment you are giving them belly rubs and the next they are chomping on your hand. Dogs are at least easy to get. They wag their tails, lick you, and jump for joy every time you come home.
But there is no way to know whether your feline furbaby merely tolerates your presence because you feed them or if they actually like you. Or is there? Like dogs, cats have their own unique yet heartwarmingly dorky ways to show their affection for you.
Without further ado, here are 13 ways cats show their affection for their humans:
1. Always in the same room as you
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Ever notice that your cat seems to be always in the same room as you? They may not always be lying near or next to you but they are somehow always there, maybe just a lil out of reach. And no, it’s not a coincidence no matter how much they pretend it is. When cats love and trust a human, they always want to be near them. It’s why they will yowl and throw a tantrum every time you close the bathroom door. Cats are clingy creatures. They are just very good at hiding it.
2. Trying to groom you
Grooming is not just about cleaning. If you have multiple cats in your home, you will notice that they often groom each other. Mother cats will lick their kittens to keep them sparkling clean and also as a bonding exercise. So, when your cat runs their sandpaper tongue all over you, they are basically telling you that you are family. And they take their job of keeping you looking presentable very seriously.
3. Forehead bop
Cats will often bump and rub their head against you to show their affection. Sometimes they will take it up another notch and press their forehead against yours. If your cat does this to you often, know that the angry little furball has more than a soft spot for you.
4. Sleeping near you
Cats may have domesticated themselves but they never lost their wild instincts. Being a small animal in the wild means that they often fall prey to larger animals. This makes them always play on the defensive side of things. When they are asleep, they are the most vulnerable. So, if they often fall asleep near or on top of you, they are telling you that they know you will have their back no matter what.
5. Showing you their belly
The throat and belly are the most vulnerable spots in their body. When they bare their throat to you for some good ol’ scritches or expose their belly to you, they are telling you that they trust you with their lives.
6. Bringing you gifts
Cats will often show their care for their human by bringing them gifts. This may mean bringing you their favorite toy or a bit of their food. Or it can translate to the sudden appearance of a dead bird or rodent at the foot of your bed. And while a dead rat may not make for the best sight first thing in the morning, know that your cat is just trying to keep you well-fed and happy.
7. Slow blink
Does your cat often stare you right in the eye before slowly, deliberately blinking at you? Slow blinks are the cat equivalent of flying kisses. The best part? You can slow blink right back at them to show them how much they mean to you.
8. Rubbing against you
Cats rub against you so their scent is all over you. It’s how they mark their territory. They want you to smell like them so everyone knows you are theirs and theirs alone. Now if that’s not love, then what is?
9. Trusting you with kittens
Cats are wild forces of nature. And they are very protective of their kittens. They won’t let just anyone come near or interact with their kittens, especially when they are very young. So, if your mommy cat leaves her kittens in your care without batting an eye, it means that she has as much faith in you as she has in herself.
10. Sleeping on your clothes
When cats love you, they don’t just like to rub their scent on you. They also like your scent on or near them. It brings them comfort and makes them feel protected. It’s why they will often lie on things that smell of you, like your laundry.
11. Following you
A lot of cats like to pretend that it’s an accident that they are always near where you are. Others don’t bother with such pretenses and will straight-up follow you wherever you go. Sure, a cat winding between your legs while you walk is a trip hazard. But even if you fall and break your neck, you will die knowing your cat loves you.
12. Lying on your laptop
Cats are jealous creatures, especially when in love. The little menaces are major attention hoggers. It’s why they lie on your laptop while you’re in a meeting or right on top of the book you are trying to read. They don’t like that your attention is focused away from them and this is their way to fix that.
13. Flag held high
Dogs wag their tails when they are happy to see you. Cats are more subtle creatures. So, instead of enthusiastically wagging their tails, they prefer holding it straight up. A cat pattering up to you with its tail pointing skyward is a surefire sign that they love the sight of you.
