Do Cats Love Their Owners? 5 Signs Of Emotional Attachment

In the great debate about pets and our love for them, there are normally two main sides. There is a team cat, and then there is a team dog.

One of the most common generalizations made is that dogs are loving, caring, and affectionate beings who are attached to their owners and love them, while cats simply do not care one bit.

Since cats might not be as outwardly excitable towards their owners, that proves they do not get emotionally attached to said owners.

Sings Of Cats Showing Their Love And Attachment

If you speak to cat owners in person or look at various forums online, you will see a ton of cat owners with stories of their cats growing attached to them over time.

Every owner likely has a story about a time (or multiple times) when their cat doesn’t want to leave them alone and will follow them around the house or cuddle and beg them for attention.

This sort of widespread evidence of cats showing emotional attachment is hard to deny.

#1 Purring

One of the best-known signs of a happy cat is their purring. Cats purr for a variety of reasons, but it’s often a sign of contentment and happiness.

When a cat purrs while cuddling with their owner, it can be a sign of affection and a way of expressing their attachment.

#2 Kneading

Another common sign of a cat’s attachment to its owner is kneading. This behavior involves a cat pressing their paws in and out against a soft surface, such as a blanket or their owner’s lap.

It’s thought to be a leftover behavior from kittenhood, when kittens knead their mother’s belly to stimulate milk production. When cats do this to their owners, it’s a sign of trust and affection.

#3 Following

Cats that follow their owners around the house or insist on being close by are often showing their love and attachment.

Cats are independent creatures, so when they choose to spend time with their owners, it’s a sign that they enjoy their company and feel secure around them.

#4 Head-Butting

A cat head-butting its owner may seem odd, but it’s actually a sign of affection. When a cat rubs their head or face against their owner, they’re leaving their scent and marking them as their own.

This behavior is a way for cats to show ownership and affection towards humans.

#5 Bringing Gifts

While it may not be the most pleasant sign of love, cats that bring their owners “gifts” are actually showing their affection.

Cats are natural hunters, and when they bring their owners small prey such as mice or birds, it’s a sign that they want to share their bounty and show their love.

Of course, many owners would prefer a different kind of gift, but it’s important to remember that the behavior is rooted in the cat’s natural instincts.

7 Stories That Prove Cats Love Their Humans

1. Smudge Saves His Boys From Bullies

Ethan, a 5-year-old boy living in England, was playing in his front yard with his 2-year-old brother Ashton when three bigger boys started taunting Ethan.

One of the bullies pushed Ethan, knocking him over, when Smudge, the family’s tabby cat, came flying out from under the family car and jumped on the bully’s chest.

The boy stumbled, burst into tears, and ran off. Since the incident, Smudge, the hero cat, now sleeps outside of Ethan’s room to keep him safe. What a good kitty!

2. Missy Calls Out Cancer

In February 2013, Angela Tinning’s cat, Missy, began pawing at Angela’s chest and acting nervous.

With the sudden onset of this strange behavior, Angela went to the doctor, where it was discovered that she had pre-cancerous cells.

Fast forward 3 years, and Missy began acting the same way out of the blue. Yet again, Angela went to see the doctor and learned she had more pre-cancerous cells.

If it weren’t for Missy, Angela says, “My story could be very different today. She is my little hero.”

3. Tink Saves Her Family From a Fire

The 2016 winner of the Cats Protection Hero Cat Award goes to Tink, who saved her family from a fire that started on the property next door.

Realizing there was danger, Tink jumped on the mom’s chest, waking her and giving the family time to escape.

Tink became frightened after taking care of her people, but she was rescued by a firefighter before it was too late!

4. Pumpkin Calms Panic Attacks

Pumpkin is a darling tuxedo cat in England who has helped his teenage family member, Yasmin, ease her depression and panic attacks.

When Yasmin had an episode, Pumpkin would rub against her legs, reassuring and calming her.

This love for his family is in Pumpkin’s nature, as he also held a bedside vigil when Yasmin’s father, Munir, suffered a stroke in 2013.

5. Tara Fights Off The Dog, Saving Her Boy’s Life

Tara, a mild-mannered cat, came to the rescue of Jeremy, her 4-year-old boy, as he was pulled off his bike by a neighbor’s dog.

Tara jumped on the dog, scaring him enough that he ran off. She followed him to make sure he was gone before returning to her yard.

Part of what I love about this story is that Tara was a stray who was adopted by the family; it goes to show that stray cats can be just as wonderful family pets as cats who were introduced as kittens!

6. Pudding Rouses Her Owner From a Diabetic Seizure

One day, Amy Jung took her son, Ethan, to the Door County, Wisconsin, Humane Society to play with the cats.

They saw Pudding and made an on-the-spot decision to adopt him. That same night, after going to bed, Amy began having a diabetic seizure while sleeping.

Pudding came into her bedroom, jumped up on her, and batted her in the face and bit her lightly on the nose until she came to enough to call out for her Ethan to come help her.

As soon as Pudding heard Amy call for Ethan, he ran to the room to wake him so he could come to his mom’s aid. Without pudding, Amy might not have made it to tell this amazing story!

7. Tommy Dials 911 For Help

Gary Rosheisen is confined to a wheelchair due to osteoporosis and mini-strokes, and he decided to get a cat in order to lower his blood pressure.

Shortly after welcoming Tommy the cat into his family, Gary tried to train him to dial 911. He wasn’t sure that the training worked until he fell out of his wheelchair, unable to move due to his medical conditions.

With a 911 call placed, the responders arrived at Gary’s home to find Tommy lounging next to the phone.

Officer Patrick Dougherty, who arrived at the home to respond to the call, simply said, “I know it sounds kind of weird,” but there doesn’t seem to be any other explanation for how the 911 call was placed.

It may be weird, but it’s also wonderful!

Final Word

Do cats love their owners?

The answer is largely inconclusive, and there is something to be said for each side.

However, there has been a study done that has come to the conclusion that cats do not need humans to feel protected, and they even prefer to look after themselves.

The study also found no evidence to suggest the bond between a cat and owner is an emotionally attached one, which may be shocking to cat owners everywhere.

However, before you go and get mad at your cat, you can look at these findings in a different way.

Because the cat doesn’t “need” to stay with you, you should actually take it as a compliment that it decides to stick around and be your companion.

So while at least one study has shown that cats have no emotional attachment to their owners, thousands of cat owners around the world would likely disagree with those findings wholeheartedly and claim their cats most definitely have an emotional attachment to them.