Cats intrigue us with their independent and mysterious character. It is normal for cat parents to ask themselves if their cats love them back. Despite their discrete nature, cats have their own way of expressing their emotions and bonds. But how can you know if your cat truly loves you? In this article, we will go over the various signs.
Do cats show their feelings?
Many cat owners would love to know if their cat loves them or not. To better understand this, it is important to know if cats are really capable of having feelings.
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The difference between feelings and emotions
It is pretty common to hear that cats can feel love or hate. With that being said, scientists insist on pointing out the difference between emotions and feelings.
Emotions are intense responses to an event. These responses only last a short period of time and implicate a behavioral or physiological change. An emotion can lead to:
- running away,
- sweating,
- accelerated heart rate.
Feelings make up an emotional state that is much more complex and lasts a long period of time. Constructed thanks to emotions and experiences, it includes love, jealousy, spite, hate, happiness, and insecurity. According to scientists, cats can feel rather intense emotions, but these emotions are not as complex as true feelings. A cat can love or appreciate their owner, but it is not the true type of love that a human can feel.
The various emotions of cats
As emotions indicate a change in behavior or physiology, some indicators can allow people to understand the emotional state of a cat.
When a cat is scared for example, this is manifested through their body language (ears facing backwards and lying flat for example). Cats can also curve their back, tap the ground, or run away. On the other end, a joyful cat blinks their eyes slowly. They can also purr and have a calm and relaxed attitude.
The way in which cats feel joy, fear, anger, or sadness can be similar to that of humans.
Emotional wounds in cats
Cats are general affected by changes in their environment or their routine. They can also be hurt emotionally. A cat can become sad or depressed. They can also feel sorrow and loneliness, just like dogs when they lose their owner or an animal companion.
Since cats can form bonds with their owners, these bonds can also break. With that being said, some cats are more sensitive then others. Because of depression, they can become apathetic, lose their appetite, sleep more, lose their interest in playing, or even try to find hiding spots.
Signs of affection: how do I know if my cat loves me?
Cats are mysterious and ever-changing animals that can sometimes not show their attachment to their owner. Cats express their love in a way that is more subtle than dogs. You can, nevertheless, clearly recognize signs of love from your cat if you pay close attention to their behavior.
My cat loves me: they follow me everywhere around the house
A cat that loves you will follow you everywhere. You will hear the sound of their footsteps as soon as you get off the couch and they will constantly be around your legs. Your cat can even follow you to the bathroom when you try to take a shower. This behavior is a sign that your cat does not want to leave you. It is, therefore, clean that they love you a lot.
Your cat brings you gifts
To show you their affection, your cat can give you small gifts from time to time. Unfortunately, it is not things that you appreciate (oftentimes, the gifts that they give are disgusting). Never punish your little kitty because they give you an offering. It is proof that they appreciate you.
Not all cats give gifts. If your cat brings you carcasses of little animals (rodents, birds etc.), even if it is generally unpleasant, take this as an obvious sign that they have a lot of affection for you. A cat that does this shows that they consider you to be a member of their family and they want to take care of you.
They show you their belly
A cat’s stomach is a vulnerable part of the body and a lot of them do not like to being touched. If your cat often shows your their belly, this shows that they feel comfortable and safe with you, enough to let their guard down.
By showing their belly, your cat allows you to caress them or stroke their belly. It’s a sign of love you should appreciate. However, be it is important to be careful. Sessions of belly caresses can become more or less violent. By having fun with you, your cat can scratch you sometimes, but this is nothing serious.
Your cat rubs themselves against you
Your cat frequently comes to you with their head tilted and gives you little head bumps. This is a form of a caress from your cat, a way for them to mix their odor with you to cement your link. Then, there are rubs. When a cat rubs themselves against you, it is a way for them to mark you as one of their own. It is a sign of love that you should receive with pride.
Your cat visits you at night
Cats are discrete animals that do not generally want to show their affection to humans. Your little companion can, therefore, choose these moments that do not necessarily fit you to come and place themselves against you. Often, it is the night when you sleep that your cat comes into bed and rubs against you to show love in their own way. The fact that you are asleep does not change anything regarding the meaning of these acts. A cat that gets into your bed and comes to sleep against your belly or in your arms when you sleep is showing the affection that they have for you.
They slowly blink their eyes
Cats express a lot with their eyes and can even say “I love you” through blinking. When a cat is happy and feeling good with you, they will look at you and close their eyes slowly before opening them again. It’s a way to say that they love you and feel good in your company. The best response to this is to do the same to them. Blink your eyes slowly to show your cat that you love them too.
Keep in mind that some people use the slow blinking of cats to introduce themselves in a reassuring manner to a new cat. It is a sign that is well known for felines that proves to an animal that you do not want to do anything wrong.
My cat does not love me: how do I fix things with my cat?
It is sometimes deceiving to not feel love from a cat. You probably have a cat that you love, but they give you the impression that they do not appreciate you. While this can be frustrating, know that just like humans, every cat has their own personality and individual preferences. It is, however, possible to improve your relationship with your cat.
Do not invade your cat’s space by trying to make them loves, because this could cause them to do the exact opposite. Respect their intimacy and do not force interactions that they would not really appreciate. Instead create positive experiences:
- give them treats,
- take part in activities that they like with them,
- play with their favorite toys.
If while you are playing, your cat seems stressed or uncomfortable, stop the activity and let them relax alone. Make sure that they have a comfortable place to rest, an appropriate scratching post, toys to play with, and a balanced diet. The most important thing is to persevere, even if your cat seems indifferent towards your efforts. Developing a strong bond with your cat can take time, but could end with them loving you in the end.
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