The 10 Incredible Ways Your Cat Shows You Love

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Have you ever asked yourself, “Does my cat love me as much as I love my cat?” I used to wonder, until I came across “The 10 Incredible Ways Your Cat Shows You Love” by Phil Mutz. These messages your feline friend gives you are all about LOVE. I’m happy to say that my precious “Moonpie” practices all of these methods regularly. Before I got my beloved cat three years ago, {I found him in a mud puddle when he was a kitten} I always thought I was a dog person. Well, now I can’t believe how much one person can love one pussycat!

Cats have their own special way of showing their love, affection and gratitude to their human counterparts, which I think, only adds to their bewitching mystery and charm. The quiet, subtle, dignified language of the fabulous feline is in vivid contrast to the yapping, tongue lolling, tail flapping antics of the comical canine. But you may be unaware that some of the habitual behaviors of your precious pussycat are actually messages of love sent directly to you. “The 10 Incredible Ways Your Cat Shows You Love” will help you to know that your beloved cat does indeed love you as much as much as you love your cat!

The 10 Incredible Ways Your Cat Shows You Love By Phil Mutz

1.} Kneading You

Kneading is when your cat uses their paws to push in and out against a soft surface, such as your lap. This is one of the many ways your cat tries to say “I love you.” According to PetMD, “If your cat is curled up and kneading your lap while you’re petting him, he’s returning the affection and telling you he loves you right back. Unfortunately, this can be quite painful, since the happier he is, the harder he’ll dig in with his sharp nails.” They recommend that you ease the painful part of this kneading by “placing a thick soft barrier between the cat and your lap.”

My darling Moonpie not only does the wide awake, conscious kneading, but when he’s napping and I come and nuzzle him gently and give him “whiska-kisses” {yup, kissing him right on the whiskers}, he subtly moves his front paws in dream kneading. SO adorable.

2.} Bringing You A Present

You may be familiar with your cat bringing you presents, such as toys or small, dead animals. This is your cat’s way of showing love. Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Amy Shojai writes, “Cats love with gifting. Mighty hunter cats that catch everything from toys to bugs, mice or frogs, often share the bounty with those they love. Kitties who present you with this bounty deserve praise.” While it might seem odd, Shojai says, “They wouldn’t bring these special gifts if they didn’t love you.”

I am fortunate enough to live in the lovely state of South Carolina, where pecan trees and palmetto trees are abundant. Equally abundant is the palmetto BUG which UNfortunately, is my Mighty Hunter Moonpie’s prey of choice. {Not cool to find a palmetto bug in one’s bed, dead or not.}

3.} Head-Butting You

Head-butting may seem like an odd behavior, but it actually shows that your cat truly cares about you. According to Mother Nature Network, “Cats have secret glands concentrated on certain parts of their bodies, including their cheeks and heads. When your kitty rubs her head or face against you, she’s marking you with her scent and claiming you as part of her family group. This scent is a source of both comfort and familiarity for your kitty.”

My little Mooshpie {he has many nicknames} also returns this favor. When I get in a mood where I want him to come and cuddle with me, I just go over to where he’s chillin’ and rub my face slowly on his head and neck. Then I climb into bed with my laptop and here he comes, ready to curl up next to me, kneading and purring.

4.} Staring Into Your Eyes And Slowly Blinking

Staring at you and slowly blinking is a way in which your cat shows you great affection. Dr. Karen Becker writes, “This might be the display of cat love that is easiest for humans to understand. If your kitty first stares at you, then blinks, then opens his eyes wide, then slowly blinks a second time, he’s telling you he loves and trusts you.” She says this is an extreme sign of affection. “It’s the equivalent of being kissed.”

Also, even if your fabulous feline is just laying across the room from you, if he or she is gazing at you with dreamy half-closed eyes, that’s the kitty-cat version of bedroom eyes, full of love and adoration.

5.} Showing You Their Belly

The flashing of the stomach is one way that your cat is saying “I love you.” According to IHeartCats.com, “Like most animals, cats do not show their stomachs to just anyone. If your cat rolls over on its back to give you a flash of that fuzzy belly, this is an indication that they feel comfortable around you. Not only this, but they feel loved and protected by you, rendering themselves defenseless while on their backs.”

My Moonpie doesn’t just show me his belly. MY Moonpie curls and scrunches himself up to show me belly, bottom of chin and bottom of paws.{And he has parti-paws too, pink with black spots} I know he feels safe, loved and protected by me because he even lets me nuzzle his belly, the most vulnerable part of every animal.

6.} Curving The Tip Of Their Tail

The tail can actually be an incredible barometer into how your cat feels about you. In an essay entitled Ask A Behaviorist: How Do Cats Show Affection To People?, Catster writes, “Kitties express happiness and warm feelings by fluffing out the base of their tails while subtly quivering them. Simultaneously, they hold their tails upright with a slight curve at the top.” They continue that this tail curve “is sometimes called the happy tail dance.”

This one is subtle and if you don’t know about it, it’s easy to miss. But sure enough, Moon does do “the happy tail dance” and it’s delightful to finally notice, especially the first time. I first noticed it when he went happily and greedily to his supper bowl and I gently brushed him with his cat brush while he was eating…his tip-of-tail went CRAZY!

7.} Nipping You

Don’t get mad, because gently nipping at your fingers is another way your cat is saying that they love you. According to Dr. Karen Becker, “This show of love from your kitty can prove to be a bit painful…{but} your cat doesn’t really understand her love bite isn’t always pleasant for you.” These love bites can also be seen as your cat interacts with other cats. “Kitties nip each other affectionately, and their skin is tougher than ours.”

Moonpie is definitely into this one but he’s settled down some from his kitten days. He used to madly attack me with kitten teeth and claws and my hands and wrists always had tiny nips and scratches. Now he just playfully nips at my hand when I “rub him the wrong way” {but he knows he’s just making me laugh.}

8.} Rubbing Against Your Legs

When your cat just can’t seem to get enough of your legs, that is likely a sign of true love. Dr. Karen Becker writes, “Rubbing against another creature is how cats show affection. If your kitty rubs up against your leg…he’s putting his scent on you as a way of claiming you as his own.” This is quite similar to the head-butting behavior. “It’s important to your relationship and bond with your cat to allow him to rub against you.”

I love Moonpie to rub against my legs especially when I’m in shorts and flipflops.

9.} Purring

You’ve heard your cat purr before, but you may not have realized that this was a love purr. According to certified expert Amy Shojai, “Cats love with purrs. Her purrs can mean a variety of things, from delight to expressions of concern. And kitty purrs range from soft and subtle to Mack-truck loud.” In case you had any doubt, she writes, “When your cat purrs in your presence, you can be sure she’s expressing her love for you.”

DID YOU KNOW? “A cat’s purr begins in its brain. A repetitive neural-oscillator sends messages to the laryngeal muscles, causing them to twitch at a rate of 25 to 150 vibrations per second. This causes the vocal cords to separate when the cat inhales and exhales, producing a purr. But not all cats can purr.” I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!

10.} Following You Around

If your cat can’t seem to get enough of your company, you know you have a loving connection. According to Mother Nature Network, “If your feline friend follows you from room to room, jumps onto tables and counters to be near you, and always seems to be where you step, she clearly enjoys your company.” A good test is if your cat continues to follow you, “especially if it’s not near feeding time.”

When I’m doing daily household chores, I don’t actually notice my precious pussycat following me around but it’s amusing to to suddenly almost trip over him in the middle of the kitchen floor, or have to shoo him off the dirty clothes pile when I’m folding in the laundry room. I once knew a woman who kept her cat’s litter box in the bathroom and in the morning’s they’d share special moments together. Sorry Moonpie, we need SOME boundaries!