How cats show affection and love?

With cats often appearing to be nonchalant about our affection for them, it’s important to understand the many ways cats demonstrate their love for us, especially when they’re subtle signs you could easily miss. We’ve put together a list of the Top 10 signs that show how much your cat loves you which will reveal just how big a hit you are with your feline.  

How do you know if your cat loves you? 

Cats show their love in many ways including cuddling, kneading, trilling and even licking! Reading this feline body language will help you understand how cats show affection and strengthen your shared bond. So, let’s begin the countdown of the Top 10 signs that your cat loves you. 

Cat Love Sign #10 CURLING UP WITH YOU IS A COMPLIMENT

Curling up next to you for warmth and protection is a simple sign that your cat likes you. This is especially true when they’re sleeping. If they nap on top of you, take this as a significant reflection of your cat’s affection. As well as you being chosen to keep them safe when they’re most vulnerable, they’re saying ‘you belong to me’ by marking you with their scent.     

Cat Love Sign #9 TRILLING TRANSLATES AS ‘I LOVE YOU’

Trilling, also known as chirping, is the high-pitched, repetitive sound that cats make when they see someone they like and is trusted by them or when they are feeling content. Trilling may also be an invitation for you to spend some quality time together. “If you find that your cat persistently trills at you, they may be seeking your undivided attention,” says the pet author, Open in a new tab Sara Nelms. A trill is always a sign of how much your cat loves you, whereas a meow can sometimes mean annoyance too. This said, trilling can sometimes accompany excitement or arousal, such as when they are playing with a toy or have caught prey.     

Cat Love Sign #8 A CAT ROLL IS A WARM ‘HELLO’

Rolling over is how cats show their affection on your return home and means “I'm so excited you're back” in cat language. They are exposing the vulnerable area of their belly, and this is a sign that a cat both trusts and loves you. This sociable gesture may not always be a green light for a tummy rub though, as it’s not an area cats generally enjoy being stroked, so proceed with caution!    

Cat Love Sign #7 LICKING SAYS I LIKE YOU

A lick from your cat often means that you are being claimed as the closest of friends. From an early age, kittens are cleaned by their mother’s tongue and then use their own to groom each other as a sign of affection. It could also be that your skin tastes good, whether that’s the remnants of a meal that you’ve eaten or even your body moisturiser! Read more to find out why your cat licks you. 

Cat Love Sign #6 A STRAIGHT TAIL IS READY FOR LOVE

Your cat’s tail position can be a sign of their affection. Cats can’t wag their tails like dogs, but they can use their tails as a barometer of their positive feelings towards you. A tail pointing straight up that isn’t bushy or bristling, and has a curled tip, signals that they’re pleased to see you and want connection time with the person to whom they feel the closest.

Cat Love Sign #5 SLOW BLINKING IS A CAT KISS

How do you know if a cat loves you? They can’t express it more than with a ‘cat kiss’. When your cat slowly blinks with half-closed eyes, it is a gesture of affection that shows huge contentment. If your cat likes eye contact, you can try kissing back by mirroring the same action to strengthen your bond even further.

Cat Love Sign #4 YOUR CAT KNEADS YOU AS A FRIEND

Kneading is another way your cat shows affection and stems from when they were nursing and wanted to stimulate their mother’s milk production. There are two types of kneading to be aware of though. A gentle kneading while sitting on you is a signifier of contentment, though kneading onto blankets or clothing in a fast motion can mean they want to be fed or they are self-soothing. 

When they knead you, the action allows them to mark you using their scent glands. Some cats retract their claws while kneading and if they don’t, you should generally still take it as a sign of a cat feeling love for you albeit in between wincing a little! 

Cat Love Sign #3 FOLLOWING YOU AROUND

If you find that your cat follows you from room to room, this is a sign that they consider you a special companion to them. The reason they follow you around is quite obvious, they simply enjoy being around you and watching what you’re up to. They’ll likely join you in bed - or in the bathroom while you shower - too, if given the chance.

Cat Love Sign #2 HEAD & LOWER LEG RUBS

When a cat rubs up against your ankles, or even your face, they are using their scent glands to spread pheromones onto you. Rubbing their head or face against you is generally a sign of affection, while their paw pads are used to mark their territory and say, ‘you are mine’. 

Cat Love Sign #1 THE PURR-FECT LOVE

While the mood of your cat can determine the type of purring they exhibit, including pain relief, the majority of purring is to show love and happiness – just like when humans smile.  Cats purr using the part of their larynx that surrounds the vocal cords. As they breathe in and out, the muscles in the larynx constrict and expand and the air vibrates causing a purr. 

Do cats feel love when you kiss them?

Many owners ask, ‘do cats like it when you kiss them?’ and if your cat pulls away or flattens its ears, it’s an indication that human kisses aren’t appreciated. Don’t take it personally though. Open in a new tab  Jenn Savage says, “Some cats are socialised as kittens to be held and kissed, while others haven’t had that exposure and might be put off by a kiss as an expression of love”.  Being held and kissed can make cats feel trapped. As you come in close for a kiss, they’ll not understand what you’re doing and may even scratch. If in doubt, stick to returning their cat kisses instead.     

Can cats have a favourite person?

Unlike dogs who largely love everyone, cats can be selective when it comes to their special human to love. Their choice is based on whether they bonded with you as a kitten and if you now take the time to understand how they communicate with you. As John Bradshaw, the cat behaviour expert says in his book, Cat Sense, “If you’re the person in the family who knows the difference between your cat’s “good morning” meow and their “feed me now” meow, then you might be their favourite”.

Did you recognise how much your cat shows affection using these signs? Even if you are not proving a total hit with your cat, do remember that some cats are more affectionate towards humans, especially if socialised  at an early age. The important point is that now you understand the special language cats use to show love, you can work on developing an affectionate relationship further. Why not check out some more of our articles, ‘How to get your cat to like you’ and ‘Caring for your cat’ for some great tips?