How does cats show affection

So when your cat comes up to greet you with its tail in the air, it is also a sign that they are glad you are home, and they love you! Headbutting and rubbing the sides of their face on you is a sure sign your cat adores you.

When your cat rubs up against your ankles, it is their way of showing affection. Jumping up on counters and furniture is just a way for your kitty to try to be closer to you.

When your cat rubs on you, they leave pheromones on you to tell other cats you belong to them. They bring me food, maybe I should trust them. But it'll be an adjustment to living indoors," Delgado says. According to Delgado, the key to a cat's happiness is setting up an environment in which cats can express behaviors that are natural to them.

Be the doer of everything the cat loves: Providing treats, and playing hard to get. Also, Nold suggests getting your feline friend a climbing tree. Generally speaking, Delgado says, cat behavior is consistent between breeds. Whereas dogs were bred to replicate different behaviors, the same isn't true for cats, which were bred for looks—not personality. As a cat owner, your impulse may be to immediately cuddle with your buddy.

But Delgado recommends letting your cat take charge of interactions. And if you let them make the first move, you'll have a better interaction," Delgado says. Cats will only expose their bellies to someone they trust, Naser explains. But don't necessarily go in for a pet, because usually it's only for looks—and you run the risk of being clawed. If your cat really loves you, however, Naser says they might let you rub their belly.

Cats hold a lot of power in their tongues. As certified applied animal behaviorist Megan Maxwell explained to PetMD , a cat's lick can indicate a multitude of things. Cats may lick their owners to let them know they want their attention, perhaps to play or be pet. But they could also be trying to clean you, which is a behavior they do to bond. On top of all that, licking is often "a sign that a cat is calm" around you, meaning they love you.

All Rights Reserved. Open side menu button. These feline behaviors are how your cat tells you they love you. By Kali Coleman February 12, Read This Next. Now's the time to settle it. Why Are Cats Obsessed with Catnip? The feline narcotic induces an all-too-human reaction. Latest News. A survey finds these carriers are late most often. One less common sign of a cat's fondness is habitual nibbling or soft biting. According to Care2, a cat will sometimes deliver a gentle, tickling bite to those it loves.

This is definitely distinguishable from a real bite, as one hurts and the other doesn't. If your cat is using you as a chew toy, it could be a sign that you guys are best buddies. Though it might sound strange to people who don't own cats, some felines make a distinctive high-pitched gurgling or "chatting" sounds when they're feeling friendly and sociable, according to WebMD.

These sounds are distinct from the typical meowing sound and might be made by a chat that's in a particularly cheerful or excited mood. If your cat is a gurgler, you're probably keeping them in good spirits. If your feline insists on hopping into bed with you, sneaking into the bathroom when you're showering, and watching you eat, you're probably a big interest of theirs.

Being followed around even when it's close to mealtime is also a big indicator that you're popular with your feline, according to Cosmopolitan. You probably know that some animals groom each other as displays of care and affection, and cats are no different. Grooming behaviors such as licking a human's hair or ears signals that a cat trusts that human and considers it a close companion , according to Care2.

It's a sign of friendship and shows that your furry friend cares about you. Kittens knead their mother to stimulate milk flow, but adult cats also use kneading as a way to cozy up to their keepers. A cat may exhibit this behavior because it sees you as its mother, authority figure or it's the cat's way of saying, 'I trust you,'" writes pet behavior researcher Gayle Hickman on Petful.

Scent glands in the paws are also activated by kneading, so your cat may also be trying to mark you as its own. Cat owners are probably familiar with the trance-like gaze felines can sometimes deliver.