There are plenty of anecdotes, memes and ramblings on the internet about how to tell if your cat really loves you (by nature, cats are not as demonstrative about their love like dogs are). But what do the experts think? Here is an excerpt from an animal behaviorist who lays out some signs of affection your kitty is probably trying to communicate with you.
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Signs your Cat Loves You
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♥ Scent of Love: Does your cat rub its head or side against your legs? The soft sensation you feel against your calves is actually your cat identifying you as a friend and is a huge compliment. Cats have scent glands on their flanks, head and around their ears, and often rub their heads against people and objects that are familiar and comforting.
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♥ Tail Talk: A tail held in the upright flagpole position shows a friendly intention (the feline equivalent of a wave), indicating familiarity, trust and affection. Some cats also use an upright question mark shaped tail to greet someone they like, or to motion that they want to play. Cats also sometimes intertwine their tails as a sign of friendship and the human equivalent of this is to wrap their tail around your calf.
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♥ Up Close and Personal: Cats are very protective of their personal space and don’t like unwelcome guests to invade it. If a cat allows you to get close to them, that suggests a close bond, particularly where the contact is frequent or long lasting.
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♥ Twirrly Noises: The chirrup or trill greeting is a melodious sound that cats make when saying hello to preferred individuals. So if your cat sings to you in this way, be assured they are pleased to see you.
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♥ Blink-182: When cats encounter strange humans or other cats they don’t know, they usually greet them with an unblinking stare. But they are more likely to slowly blink at cats they have a good relationship with. Research suggests slow blinks are associated with a positive emotional state and can be a sign of trust, contentment and affection, similar to a human smile.
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♥ Head-Bumps: That familiar feeling when your cat hits the back of your knee can also be a sign that they feel an extremely close bond to you. The feline version of a high-five, the head bump is usually saved for a cat’s closest feline friends and most trusted humans.
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Source: Emily Blackwell is a senior lecturer in Animal Behavior and Welfare at the University of Bristol. Blackwell receives funding from Cats Protection and Waltham Petcare Science Institute. Republished here under a Creative Commons license from The Conversation.
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