Last Updated: 8 months ago
Ever wonder if your cat loves you?
Like, really loves you and doesn’t just think of you as a good source of food?
While your kitty may not be able to say the words, there are signs that prove cats really do get emotionally attached to their owners.
Today, we’re going to explore seven signs that your kitty is trying to say, “Hey, I really do love you!”
Let’s check them out!
Are Cats Really As Aloof as We Think?
Cats are often considered to be aloof and independent.
In fact, many people who say they don’t like cats cite this as the reason why. In our experience, cats, like people, run the gamut of personalities.
We have a formerly feral cat who loves to lay in my arms as I work on my writing (which makes it challenging, but I adapt), an old, long-haired calico who hates everyone but me, and a massive tuxedo who likes to sleep wrapped around my head at night.
We also have a smaller, older tuxie who loves kisses on the head and would be carried everywhere if you let him, and a tortie who must be in contact in some way whenever possible.
Five for five—not one of my cats is what I would call aloof.
Some of the cats I grew up with were a little more independent—not lap cats, at the very least—but none of them expressed any interest in striking out on their own or avoiding us for an extended period of time.
Signs Your Cat Loves You
There is some evidence that, unlike dogs, we did not domesticate cats; they decided that they would benefit from our company and moved into our homes and barns of their own accord.
This makes sense and does contribute a little to their reputation as independent—and maybe a little bit selfish—but I believe they have grown to love and appreciate us, and they show it.
1. They want to be near (or on) you
Your cat wouldn’t want to be near you if they didn’t care about you!
Cats aren’t worried about being polite and pretending to be interested in you; they either are or they aren’t.
If your cat follows you around the house, curls up next to you on the couch, falls asleep in your lap, or fights you for your spot in bed, they are showing their affection for you quite clearly.
2. They carry on conversations with you
Feral cats don’t meow at all as a rule, and domestic cats don’t meow at each other. From a survival perspective, staying quiet makes sense.
Feral cats, unlike wild cats, still need to be cautious of predators, and drawing attention to themselves by making a lot of noise tends to be a bad idea.
Cats don’t need to communicate verbally with each other; pheromones and body language are more than enough for their needs as a colony.
Meowing is a language cats have essentially developed strictly for speaking with humans.
I always imagine them rolling their eyes when they meow and sighing inwardly at the fact that we humans are still so dense that they have to spell everything out for us.
3. They bring you gifts
Sometimes it’s hard to be appreciative of the gifts our cats bring us.
Dead animals (or, almost worse, not dead ones) are common gifts, although I know at least a few cats that have brought toys instead.
They are much more pleasant to receive, as they don’t involve chasing an injured animal around the house for hours on end, followed by disinfecting every surface they may have touched, but I digress.
Gifts are your cat’s way of taking care of you, as they would their young or a weaker member of their colony (take that as you will).
Yes, it’s their way of saying, “I don’t think you can provide for yourself, so I’ll help you out,” but would they do that if they didn’t care?
4. They mark you
Cats are very territorial creatures.
They have a number of scent glands on their bodies and will rub these on you at every opportunity.
They will twist around your legs, pressing against you as they do, or rub their chin and cheeks on you when you get close enough.
As sweet as this gesture may seem, what your cat is doing is actually marking you and claiming you as their own.
Any other cat will smell this and know you belong to someone.
Even knowing the origin of this, it’s still nice to know that your cat loves you enough to want to make sure everyone knows you’re theirs.
5. They bite you
This one may not sound much like love, but cats have different types of bites.
Sometimes, a cat will nip at your chin or nose while snuggling with you to show its affection.
These are referred to as “love bites”, and while some cats bite a little harder than they should, they won’t usually bite hard enough to break the skin.
Sometimes a cat will start out by licking you and getting carried away; others go straight for the bite.
You can discourage this if you wish by firmly telling your cat “no” and pulling away from them.
They will usually get the gist of it pretty quickly, or you will learn to modify your own behavior to prevent it. Cats are quite good at training us.
6. They trust you
Cats are always aware of their surroundings. While some are friendlier with strangers than others, they usually don’t fully trust anyone they don’t know or care about.
If your cat rolls onto their back for a belly rub or lifts their chin so that you can scratch under it, they are demonstrating affection and a great deal of trust, as those are two of their most vulnerable spots.
These are sure signs your cat loves you!
7. They tell you
I’ve already covered “verbal” communication from cats, but they have another clear way to show they love you.
If you have ever noticed them slowly blinking at you, that’s as close to saying those three words as your furry feline family member can get.
It’s a sign of trust (see above) as their eyes are closed for that moment, and it is one way you can tell them you love them too.
Slow blink at your cat, and watch what happens – there’s a good chance they will respond.
Cats may be more independent than dogs (then again, maybe not), but they are as capable of love and companionship as any pet, and they will happily show you if given the chance.
Have you seen any other signs that your cat loves you? Share below!
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don’t have a cat but I love the 7 signs of love 🙂 so sweet
My cat Joey, a ginger will be sitting or lying next to me and all of a sudden he will bend his head backwards and look up at me. The look could only be described as adoration and love. It’s like a person giving another googly eyes.
My ginger girl, Carrington, does this also!
I remember our adopted stray cats when they brought me a special gift–a dead mini snake!
On march 27 of this year, i lost my best friend of 18 years. In oct of 2002, i came home from work to find a small ,wet bundle of fur on my front porch. This was to become a lasting love affair between a single man and a 10 week old kitten. She would greet me at the door each night, was always sensitive enough to know when something was wrong and try her best to comfort me. When at home, she always wanted to be close to me, and at night she would snuggle ino the small of my back as if to say” i love you and i am here for you”.She died in my arms on march 27, and i am still heartbroken. Cherish and love your furkids, they DO love you unconditionally.
☹❤
I remember our adopted stray cats when they brought me a special gift–a dead mini snake!
When my cat, Emma, lays on my stomach, looking at me and purring, she extends her right paw out to touch my face.
Why does my cat always walk right in front of my feet? I have to be careful not to trip over him.
So sorry to hear that. I have a 15 years old cat who was born on my sofa, the last one of a litter of 5. He is now a quiet and sweet old guy. Every day I tell tell him I love him. He seems to understand my words whispered into his ear.
My cat was a rescue and it took a lot of love and time to bring him around to love and trust me, but I wishe would stop walking in front of my feet as I am old and shaky on myfeet.
I just lost my 18 year old cat, and she was there all the time. We did everything together and I miss her dearly. I’m sorry about your kitty cat 🙁
That’s so sad, I lost “my son” on March 28, 2019. He wa15yrs old. My heart still aches. I rescued him when he was 6weeks old, he was the runt of the litter. My baby was 28pounds the size of a cocker spaniel. He was not like any animal I’ve ever encountered. He had empathy, like he had a human soul. I can’t explain it but I miss him so much ?
I am so very sorry for your loss ??
I feel for you and hope the loss eases with time. I know one thing, she is waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge and then you will be together forever. No one understands the loss of a beloved pet. They are more human than they think.
God bless you.
Oh, heartbreaker. Cherish the memories.
Oh I am sorry. I have had multiple older pets who have died and it just tears me apart. My last pet alive is a stray cat that has been with me for 20years, he will be 22 in 2022. He is a grey stray that I named Gandolph the Grey. Gandy for short;)
Im so sorry 😔 for your loss I lost my furbaby on Dec 30,2022 of 14yrs so I m still so heart broken.I miss him licking my cheek at night.Talking to me.Yes your furry babies will give you unconditional love.Treasure him as long as as they are with you.I always decorated for Xmas cause he loved the Xmas lights but I don’t know if I will do it next year.Anyway God Bless all who has a Pet
I’m sorry hear of your lost .my scooter was 19 and he broke are heart we cried for a month. Then one day I was driving by are pet human society and my car turned in I went in and ask if they had any kittens they had 2 I called my husband at work and said come over after work he was there in five minutes and we went home with grace Kelly we love her so much. Go get another baby kitty please .
David I am so very sorry for the loss of your sweet furbaby😢 I know how hard it can be I looove cats & I have 2,I read your reply an just wanted u 2 know I care..I wish u well,and maybe in time u can bring yourself to love another sweet furbaby that just may need love,u take care💖
so sorry for your loss
Sending love 🐈
I am sooo sorry you lost your baby. Maybe you will get another furry baby to love,again. May her memory be a blessing and May she rest in peace.
My cat, Aanypompom always be the first to sit near me..waiting what i m doing…calling me When hide from her…
How sweet!!!♥️
I’ve always been more of a cat person than a dog person, because cats like to be lazy and lay around and I love that. When we had a cat, he would always crawl up and cuddle with me. But we lost him a few years ago and haven’t gotten a pet since.
I know the feeling of loss you have. It took me and my husband 7 years to get another. Go to your local humane society and you’ll find yourself falling in love with a new buddy. Your new cat will be given his/her forever home.
I have 2 6month old females ,Jelly & Jeffie , they follow me every move I make , they bring me gifts like my makeup sponges that I give them because they watch me put on my face daily, I have always had a dog an still do but my cats are unbelievable when it come to showing their love for me ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
A new cat Will fill a void in your heart that your last pet left. Although that pain of them passing never goes away but from experience I can tell you that it does get better, especially when you take in a cat that needs you to love and care for them. Get another baby.
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I have two cats, Diamond (male) is a longhaired-black/white/grey, the other is Dutch (male) short hair/jet black. I’ve had them both since April 2016. Diamond loves my bed better than me, when I’m asleep he curls up next to my feet and rest his head on my legs. I suffered a heart attack and had surgery in 2017, since then Dutch started snuggling next to my side or my back while I’m sleeping. Sometimes, if I’m lying on my back, he creeps alongside of me until finally he is resting in my chest, don’t know why, but if I don’t move he will eventually lay a paw on my cheek as to get my attention. He loves laying in my lay while watching TV, Diamond will be curled up next to my feet, if not laying across them. Dutch fusses back at me when I tell him no or stop or get down. I work night shift and every morning they are waiting at the door when I get home. Dutch is a fast learner and he watches my hands as I do certain. He turns the water on in the bathroom (I had to video this one to believe it). I have to keep my storm door locked, he knows how to push the handle and run out. He turns on the dishwasher and loves watching westerns on TV. Diamond enjoys looking out the window at birds and squirrels and will do this for hours.
I grew up with all kinds of pets and cats were one of my favorite as a kid. My mother still has cats and loves them.
Ever since I can remember there was either a dog or a cat at home. No wonder, I just love animals, but my preference is a cat. Im the type if there’s a stray I payed my eyes, then it’s mine. Bring it home and give the cat it’s forever home. My daughter is Mitch the same. I’ve rescued cats on the side of the highway, from bowling alleys and on the street. Twice I got a cat from a friend or news add. It don’t matter how many cats I have Ill love them, and take care of them forever.
My cat always lying on my chest when I sleep
I just want to know why my cat sees on my dogs rug. or her coat and the kitty litter is clean I have had other cats and never have I had this problem and she has pooped where I sit on the Lounge as well I spray with a special spay and she won’t go there I just want to know why ? pS please reply!,!
My cats hate to be groomed. They were never groomed as kittens. I got one when she was 3 months. I found her a homeThey ended up bringing her back at 8 months. She is 11. She doesn’t like to be groomed at all. She hisses and growls. The other cat we got at 8 months. She is 7. She hates to be groomed too. She is all stressed out. They say it is important to groom them. Hair balls, hair all over the house. I don’t know what to do. They don’t trust me now. I am pretty upset!!
Have you tried sitting next to them and petting them when they eat? If they let you do that you can try to brush them just a little at a time. My big cat will let me brush a few licks at a time when he is eating. If i grab him at all, he will scream at me then go for my face. But he has been quite cuddly a few times on his own terms.
You can get a glove with rubber spikes in it. Just stroke your cat as you would normally, but wear the glove.
My cat HATES me !
No he doesn’t, why do you think that?
when i’m in my bathroom a paw usually comes under the door and we play a touching game while i’m on the toilet . silly
My Frankie does that too, he is so cute!
I no longer have a cat, she passed away several years ago but she was very affectionate. We now are new dog owners and I cannot help not wonder after reading this article if some of this applies to dogs.
We have a kitten that does all of these things – she “talks” and gets on our lap, and kneads her paws and just wants to be with the family all the time.
I remember when my parents had to explain to me that when my cat left dead animals on the porch that they were actually “gifts”. My cat must have REALLY loved us because she would regularly bring home whole families of rabbits!
How sweet. After reading this, it seems my cats DO love even if they bite me sometimes.
I’m really glad you wrote this. So many people think cats don’t show affection, but they just don’t understand HOW cats show affection.
I had a cat that chose me at the Spa. I was really there to get a younger kitten.She s curled up under my chin and started to purr and said” you ‘re my mother”…I didn’t have any say in the matter! She loved to bring me presents; crickets, 2 bats and garter snakes( I’m deathly afraid of ALL snakes!) The best gift ever was a shiny slice of copper pipe, she knew i liked shiney things on my fingers. She was so proud of herself! I was hoping that one day she would bring home a diamond ring too but that never happened. She has been gone now for 5 years but I still treasure her and that piece of copper pipe.
I rescued a kitty before, and he sure did show me some love and loves to share my ice cream! He was a clingy little kitty!
No doubt that my cat loves me because she is doing these signs at me. Lol!
This post is so sweet, cats are the best.
I really do love this so much. Cats are for more reserved than dogs, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love their people. They get a bad wrap about being uncaring.
I have two cats and they do all of these. They’ve done them all with my whole family. It’s interesting the way they show their love.
My cat passed away a few years ago, but I am happy to know that he loved us. (We always thought he did.)
I miss having cats! Our cats used to love to sit on our laps and would follow us everywhere 🙂 They have so much personality!
I love when my cat nudges into me and purrs. He has the loudest purr it’s so cute.
I don’t have cats but I am delighted to learn about this things. At least I am learning from your post. I would love to have a pet someday and I guess learning first is better before getting one.
What a bunch of cute cats that say “I love you!”
Aww…This is really nice to know! Cats do have their own ways to show you how they feel. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t have a cat but my sister does, I love the 7 signs and sent them to her!
This is a very fun post to read! I own a hamster and always wonder if he loves me and my family.
In January 2021 I lost my Pixie Dust. She was 18 years old. She was my friend. She would come and lay on my lap when I was in the recliner. She would jump into my office chair when I left the office and I would have to move her to another spot when I needed to work. She would come and snuggle up at night right next to me in the bed. I would extend my arm and she would snuggle there and sleep all night. I miss her so much.
My 13 old cat that died in 2019 was the love of my life. We had a beautiful bond together. He lay in my neck and head in the evening and went out to with my son. I never felt so much love from animal as this taby cat.
My cat like to climb under the covers and snuggle up beside me. She reaches up and touches my face with her sweet paw while purring. If this isn’t a gesture of love, I don’t know what is!
All cats have their own personalities and show how they love us in different ways and sometimes we forget about the ways they show us love.
Our cat was born in a no kill cat shelter. Someone adopted her for a few years and then gave her back. She sat in the shelter a few more years until we came and adopted her. We’ve had her 3 years now. She did only love the boy…but now she loves me too. 🙂 I know because she follows me everywhere I go and lies down next to me. She’ll still run to the boy if he calls her, but I’m making progress. 😉
Aw now I want a cat! How sweet.
My cat head bunts a lot. It’s really cute and definitely a I love u gesture. She also does the look. Curled up in my arm and leans her head back and does the look. So adorable. You can’t mistake that look of love. (Which of course I always return!)
I know she loves me. She’s always with me. We eat together, sleep, bath, watching tv.
My cat Lily gets up on the bed while I’m dressing. Then we head bump several times. It’s a must in the morning. I love her so much!!! She is 12 .
I have had cats all my life, never a dog. The first one I carried home from school when I was 11 was a 3-mile walk. I am now 84. My current girlfriend is a Tonkinese who watches me on my computer, checks on me once or twice during the night, and sleeps on me when I go to bed. She has 3 months to go, and she will be 21—my longest living feline furry friend ever! Transformation came after reading about pet food makers, and I bought a tub of cat vitamins, one per day sprinkled on her breakfast, and I had a kitten again, toy mice, etc.—tempted to try them myself!