Unlike dogs, which express their devotion and love for their owners in a more emotional and obvious way, felines have less obvious ways to communicate their feelings. Like any living creature, each cat is individual, has its own temperament, character, and behavior patterns. That is why our pets demonstrate their attitude and sympathy towards humans in different ways. In fact, even a pet's hurtful behavior can be a sign of love. So, do cats love their owners and how do these unique animals show their sympathy for humans?
Manifestations of cat love
Contrary to the popular belief that cats are attached exclusively to the house and live with people for their own benefit, these animals, despite their independent nature, feel the need for love, attention and affection. Cats are smart, noble creatures, and if you treat them properly, create the most comfortable conditions, surround them with affection and warmth, they will definitely reciprocate. The affectionate cat's soul is capable of strong friendship with the owner and members of his family. But how can you tell that a cat loves its owner?
You can determine a cat's love and sympathy by the behavior and habits of your pet. From the first days of a kitten’s appearance in the house, it is very important to establish contact with the animal and create the most favorable, comfortable environment. Finding itself in an unusual, unfamiliar place, a kitten or an adult animal will be disoriented and will try to adapt to new conditions through hearing and smell.
During the adaptation period, an animal can be tamed only with a friendly attitude and care. The cat should feel completely safe. Representatives of the cat family are straightforward and frank, and cannot tolerate disrespectful or rude treatment. To win their sympathy, you need to earn the cat's trust. Furry pets remember the feeling of security all their lives and perceive their owner as a friend. Only in this case can you count on the love and tenderness of the cat’s soul.
She meows
An interesting fact is that furry pets do not meow when communicating with each other. They use this method of communication only when in contact with people. With its “meow,” your cat is trying to ask for something, or express dissatisfaction or, conversely, joy. Professional cat owners, through many years of observation, have become convinced that the mood of their pet can be easily understood, you just need to listen to its intonation.
Manifestations of cat love
Undoubtedly, cats are capable of loving their owner, but they show their feelings in their own way. There are several signs by which you can determine a cat's friendship and favor. Some manifestations of cat love are obvious, while other signs of sympathy, on the contrary, may be implicit.
To find out whether cats love their owner, you need to carefully monitor your pet and study the animal’s body language. It serves to express a whole range of feline emotions. Pay attention to what sounds the cat makes and how it behaves in a given situation. By meowing, she can attract attention, demonstrate anxiety, and the need for affection.
Signs that help you understand whether cats love their owners include:
- purring, loud purring;
- gentle biting, head butting;
- tail twitching;
- attempts to bring their “prey”, toys;
- “stomping” during rumbling;
- cat kisses, licking hands, faces;
- blinking, long, peaceful look;
- permission to rub the tummy;
- sleep next to the owner.
Eye contact
One of the signs of a cat showing love and tenderness towards its owner is eye contact. Representatives of the cat family do not like long, close gaze and perceive it as a threat. Therefore, prolonged visual contact is only possible if the animal completely trusts you. If eye contact is complemented by a leisurely blink, you can rest assured that you have earned the cat’s trust and received a kind of “cat kiss” from your pet.
He's looking at you
The kitten's eyes, in proportion to its body, are very large. And if the human body had the same proportions, then we would have eyes with a slit of 20 centimeters. Cats are very protective of their eyes, which is why they are not used to making eye contact with someone. And if you catch yourself feeling that the cat is literally following you with his eyes, this indicates his complete trust. Zoologists sometimes call this gaze from a pet a “cat kiss.” If you notice that the cat blinks during the exchange of glances, do the same in response.
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Precious gifts from a cat
By nature, cats are natural hunters. They happily chase toys, laser beams, birds, and small rodents. Having brought home another “trophy”, the cat shares the spoils with the owner, expressing gratitude for the attention and care. If the animal brought a gift, be sure to praise it for its generosity. Otherwise, the cat may be offended.
Cats also show their love during play. At the same time, biting, scratching, and menacing meowing do not at all mean aggression on the part of the pet. On the contrary, the one of the family members whom the furry animal has chosen as an object for play is the animal’s favorite. You can also talk about complete trust if the cat brings his toys, organizes an impromptu hunt, attacking you from hiding.
Fluffy animal plays with you
Cats can express their love through playing with their owner. At a young age, kittens play for so long that they never seem to get tired. They can scratch, bite and get real pleasure from it. The family member who receives more attention is usually the animal’s favorite.
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Cat tenderness
If a cat rubs its muzzle against your legs, arms or face, this does not mean at all that the animal is “marking” its owner as property. On the head of cats there are secretory glands that secrete special substances that allow them to leave their scent on well-studied objects and people that do not pose a danger. The presence of such identification marks allows the animal to feel confident in the surrounding space. The manifestation of such signs of feline attention is another proof of the love, gratitude and trust of a pet to a person.
If a cat licks exposed parts of the body, rubs its whiskers on its hands and face, this is the highest degree of manifestation of cat love and devotion. Stroking a person with a paw is a sign of affection and tenderness. If a furry pet rolls from side to side at your feet, exposing its tummy, this indicates that the animal wants to attract attention, completely trusting you.
If a cat doesn’t trust a person, he will never let you touch his tail and will definitely grab your hand. A cat's tail is a kind of mood barometer. And if the cat follows you with its tail raised like a pipe, this means that it invites you to dialogue, demanding attention.
A sure sign of cat affection is “stomping,” shifting from paw to paw with claws extended. This habit begins in childhood, when babies stimulate the flow of milk. Adult animals thus show that they feel completely safe, they feel very good with their owner, just as they once did with their own mother.
How to show your cat your love?
You can pet your cat more often, give her attention, bathe and dry her, brush her fur at night, and comb out any clumps or undercoat. When an owner strokes a cat, for her it is a sign of good attitude towards herself, a sign of respect. If your cat has done something wrong, never allow yourself to lay a hand on the animal. This is your friend, and, moreover, completely dependent on your mood.
You explain where the cat is wrong and try to avoid these situations next time. You can also make it clear that you love a cat by walking with it on the street, you can use a leash, telling it about the world around you as a person, and consulting with it. By the way, if you ask a cat for advice, then perhaps she will come to you in a dream at night and describe everything to you.
Joint gatherings
A cat, like any other animal, must have its own space and territory where it can retire to sleep or rest. But a sense of comfort is not the only motive that drives pets. Sometimes an animal, in need of attention, is ready to sit and even lie in an uncomfortable position just to be close to its beloved owner. If your cat chooses a place to rest next to you and tries to climb onto your lap, rest assured, this is another way of showing her love.
Everyone knows that cats sleep most of the day and can spend up to 20 hours sleeping. But it is in their sleep that they feel most vulnerable, so they prefer to rest in the safest places. If the cat lies down at the feet, next to the owner, this indicates complete trust. This means that the animal feels completely safe with you.
People that cats love
Sometimes cats express love for only one person. The choice is made regardless of who feeds, walks and spends more time with the pet. For people who have many cats, it happens that one of them does not recognize the owner at all.
Most often, cats choose a person who is phlegmatic or even melancholic. Animals feel protection, calm and positive energy. They will be attracted to a calm, balanced family member with a quiet, monotonous voice. Perhaps your pet will like your habits with minimal physical activity. People who like to read, knit, embroider, watch TV for a long time or sit at the computer will be able to enjoy cat company to a greater extent.
Also, the pet will like a person who does not bore you with his attention and does not require constant affection from the cat. Therefore, many avoid communicating with hyperactive children. If you want to make friends with your pet, blink slowly a couple of times while making eye contact. Such a gesture is a small declaration of love.
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Cat pranks
Sometimes cats can show love in not entirely obvious, veiled ways. For example, if a pet sharpens its claws on upholstered furniture, this does not always mean that it is sharpening its “weapon.” Often, scratches left by sharp claws are nothing more than territory marks. You may notice that damage to furniture occurs in places where people like to spend time.
Oddly enough, you can tell whether cats love their owners by the smell of cat urine. Of course, such animal behavior must be stopped, but if a cat defecates in shoes or even on the bed, this means that this is how he attracts attention to his person. This behavior may also indicate that the animal has suffered stress, for example due to moving to a new place of residence or as a result of a long separation from the owner.
Do not forget that cats are independent, confident animals, capable of making their own decisions. Despite the fact that they need affection and attention, cats have a need for personal space and are not always ready to communicate with humans. You should not bother your pet with excessive attention if he decides to retire and relax. Maintain balance in your relationship and your pet will love and trust you even more.
How to communicate with a cat?
First of all, you need to listen to your pet, if he wants to eat, then feed him. By facial expressions it will be clear whether the cat is in a good mood or not. If she comes to you and lies on your knees, chest, or head, then this means that she has come to treat you of your illnesses.
At the same time, the cat purrs intensely and makes a chatter, this can last for several minutes, then the cat will leave and lick its fur, thus throwing off the negative energy that it absorbed from the owner or mistress. There are at least sixteen different sounds that cats make.
