❤️ 14 Ways Your Kitty Shows You That They Love You ❤️

Every day, there is more research on feline behavior completed, and none is more interesting to us than the studies that look at the human-cat bond. Recent research shows that cats have developed social skills that allow them to understand human emotional signals that can promote interspecies relationships and create emotional bonds. So we know we love the kitties in our lives, and science now shows that they can measure how kitties love us back!

Here we will show you some of the main ways most kitties show love and trust to humans, but please remember that all kitties have distinct and individual purrsonalities! Understanding each kitty for their own unique traits and behaviors is the key to having a loving and trusting relationship with them. Some kitties are more overtly affectionate, and others are more reserved but they can still love you just as much as an extroverted kitty. Knowing each of their unique feline personalities will help you communicate with them, and show your own love for them! Sometimes kitties enter our lives before we have the chance to fully understand their purrsonalities, and some kitties take longer to build relationships with their humans. Knowing that the sometimes takes more time shows that you respect their boundaries and give them choice in the relationship.

When you understand how to tell how your kitty is feel, whether that is when they are happy, sad, hungry, or angry, you build a new level of respect and trust that gives you a very special bond!

So, in honor of February, the month of love, here are 14 common ways a kitty can show you they love you:

1 - They give you Slow Blinks - and you give them back!

Recent researchproves what ailurophiles have known for decades - the slow blink from a cat signals great affection, akin to a kitty kiss! When a kitty slowly closes their eyes while looking at you, they are signaling that they trust you. Cats are vulnerable to predators when they close their eyes. So, when they slow blink with you, it is a great signal that they feel safe and are showing their love for you! You can return the feeling by mirroring the behavior and slow blinking back to them. I like to do this very slowly, while gently saying “I love you” as you close your eyes. So, make sure you get and give lots of these special kitty kisses!

2 - They want to smell you!

A good way to see if a cat wants to interact with you is seeing if they want to smell you. A bent knuckle is a good thing to offer to a kitty to smell, as that shape mimics the cat’s nose shape. They consider this something like a nose boop, and a friendly greeting! Making the first move like this will give the cat a choice to interact with you (or not), which all kitties appreciate when meeting someone new. A cat’s sense of smell is far superior to a human’s, with almost forty times the odor-sensitive olfactory cells. A cat also has on average forty times more scent receptors as compared to the average dog, but some breeds like beagles, basset hounds, bloodhounds, and German shepherds can out smell any cat. Cat’s can also detect chemical signals called pheromones that convey messages about their surroundings, other cats, and other creatures in their environment that are not detectable to humans. The vomeronasal organ (Jacobson’s organ) is tucked behind their incisors in the roof of their mouth which allows them to detect these special pheromonal signals. The organ allows for a combination of both smell and taste - imagine being able to taste a smell! That is what the vomeronasal organ does for kitties! If you see them open their mouths slightly while singing, then curl their lips back and inhale, they are passing these special chemical signals to their vomeronasal organ in hopes to interpret the signals and decide if they represent something that want or something that need to avoid. It is called the Flehman Response. If your kitty does this to you, they are trying to get to know you better by taking in more of the scents associated with you. Typically bodily fluids will trigger this response, and alert the kitty that there is something interesting to explore or avoid.

3- They do “Bunting” with you - kitty headbutts!

If a kitty initiates a head bonk with you, take this as a very nice compliment! By doing this bunting behavior, they release those special chemical signals called pheromones that show both trust and affection to the recipient, as well as mark you as their own. All cats have sebaceous glands in their cheeks, forehead, chin, and paw pads that emit these pheromones. When they rub their head, cheeks, and chin on you, they are letting you know that you are their special human! It is very endearing to get a kitty headbutt, and make sure you gently lean into it so they feel the slight pressure as a signal of your love back to them!

4 - They like making biscuits on or near you!

Kneading, affectionately known as “making biscuits” is an action that kittens do on their mama to stimulate her to lactate while they are nursing. It is very comforting and it evokes a sense of connectedness. Not only does this act of them kneading their paws make them feel safe and comfy, but they make you as their own with their paws too! Remember the sebaceous glands that secrete pheromones? Well, they use the ones on their paws here to make sure you know you are one of their chosen ones!

5 - They talk to you!

When a kitty directs soft meows, chirps, or trills to you, it means they are happy and excited to see you! Research shows that domesticated cats have a very complex vocal repertoire, and that they have even evolved some of their vocalizations to cater to the human ear! This is incredibly exciting, because it means they are actually trying to make sounds to which we humans will respond! They hav learned over time that sounds that mimic our own human baby sounds get a response from us. So when a kitty mews, chatters, or chortles at you, you can rest assured that they are directing the conversation to you! They reserve this special communication to those closest to them, so if you hear these from a kitty, you are definitely in their inner circle! You can also mimic the tone and sound the kitty is making and do it back for them. Pair this with physical attention that they desire, and you will signal to them that they are loved right back!

6 - They groom you!

Some kitties like to groom their people just like they would do for a litter mate, or a beloved kitty house mate. Cat’s tongues are amazing, with the most prominent feature being hundreds of filiform papillae. These tiny keratin protein spikes are why cats are excellent groomers, and why their tongues feel like sandpaper to us! These spikes can “hook” onto debris on their coat, helping to keep them selves very clean, but on our skin it feels a little rough. But still, if a kitty wants to lick you, they are signaling to you that you are part of their community, and they consider you a very close companion. You can by brushing their coats gently, stoking them lightly, or even taking a small warm damp cloth over their fur to emulate a giant tongue grooming them in return!

7 - They give you love nibbles (NOT bites!)

If a kitty nibbles on you, this is part of the act of grooming and can be reminiscent of a mama cat licking and nibbling a kitten while they groom their litter. These are gentle and never break the skin. They always happen when the cat is relaxed and calm. If there are signs of fear or aggression, this is not a love nibble, but rather a fully fledged bite and can also have scratching, swatting, growling, and lunging. For more help, please see our helpful information guide on redirecting nipping and biting. Love nibbles are always gentle and very endearing, so if you get some, you know you are a trusted family member that they love!

8 - Their tail is up when they greet you!

Two kinds of upright tails are great to see when your kitty greets you! An upright high tail means the kitty is happy and confident. A tail that is upright and curves like a question mark means they see someone they know and love. When a kitty approaches you with one of these upright happy tails, give them a slow blink to recognize their love! If you are lucky, they may also rub against your legs with their greeting!

9 - They follow you like they are your shadow!

Cats will follow you if they enjoy your presence, so this is a great sign of love and trust. They feel safety and comfort with you, so they want to be where you are, and will follow you in hopes of spending time with you!

10 - They want to hang out with you!

Cats can show love and affinity for their humans in a variety of ways. If they are more of a lap cat, you will find them hanging out directly on you - laps, shoulders, chests, leg gulleys - whatever is available and cozy for them! If the kitty is less of a lap cat, it does not mean they don’t like you. Sometimes kitties are more comfortable hanging out next to you, or near you. This means they still enjoy your presence, but they also like a little more personal space. It is great to recognize this as the cat’s choice, and they will love you more for understanding their preferences! You know they are happy and content if their demeanor is calm, and their body posture is relaxed when they are near you.

11 - They show off their belly to you!

Cats that expose their belly means they feel very comfortable. This position makes them very vulnerable and they will only do this around those that they trust. Some kitties may even roll around for you when they see you - showing off their bellies and their rolling skills! If a kitty falls asleep in a cute fluffy-belly upside down pose, it does not mean they want a belly rub! Be respectful of their vulnerability, and do not rub them if they do not want it. They will love you even more if you show this level of respect for their choices!

12 - They are your napping buddy!

If a kitty trusts you enough to fall asleep with you, they have definitely placed you in their inner circle of love. You are someone they feel safe being vulnerable around, and they enjoy your presence a lot! Naps with kitties are not only warm and snuggly, but a wonderful sign of high trust and love!

13 - They bring you things!

Cats have preferred associate in their social circles, and if you fall into that category you may get a present from them. They want to offer you the most important things that they find valuable like toys or food. Toys are considered object of the hunt, as well as real targets like mice and birds. Cats are natural hunters and they only share their prey with those they love and trust! This is a big token of affection!

14 - They are your training companion!

Finally, if your kitty is open to doing training with you, you can bet that they love you enough to interact in these fun sessions! Cats will naturally engage in activities they find stimulating. It is good mental and physical exercise. When they do these activities with people they like, it is a great way to strengthen your relationship and the emotional bond that you share!

As a side note, Purring can also signal that a cat is happy, but there are also times when cats purr to self soothe. So, not all purring results form a happy situation. Look for negative body language, fear, anxiety and stress to see if you kitty is purring to self-soothe. If their body posture is relaxed, they are feeling calm, and you get some slow blinks, you can bet their purring is happy! The feline purr has even been shown to have healing properties! Certain purr frequencies correspond to vibrational / electrical frequencies used in healing bone fractures, pain, edema, and wounds.

Cats are amazing and if we pursue meaningful interactions that are respectful of their choices, we may be lucky enough to be considered one of their Chosen Ones! Make sure to show your kitty some love every day ❤️

==