Emily Blackwell, a senior lecturer in animal behavior and welfare at the University of Bristol, highlighted the key ways that cats show their owners that they love them in a new article, and it’s all based on science. The first and possibly most obvious way cats show that they see you as family is through scent marking. Both domestic cats and their big cat ancestors use scent marking, generally by rubbing their faces and ears on something to mark it as theirs. If your cat does this to you, it signifies that they think of you as family and helps ward off other cats. According to Blackwell, “Cats have scent glands on their flanks, head and around their ears, and often rub their heads against people and objects that are familiar and comforting.” Another way to tell if your cat cares for you is by looking at how they greet you. In general, most cats greet someone they trust and love with an upright tail, which Blackwell calls “the feline equivalent of a wave.” If your cat also rolls on the floor and shows you its belly, or if you get a head bump, the “feline version of a high-five,” then there is clearly intense trust between you. As Blackwell says, head bumps are “usually saved for a cat’s closest feline friends and most trusted humans.” Of course, one of the most talked about ways that a cat shows that it loves you is through blinking. Yes, your read that right, blinking. According to studies, slow blinks between a feline and its owner are “a form of positive emotional communication between cats and humans.” Try blinking slowly at your cat to show affection in their language, and they will likely respond in kind. As some cats don’t love physical affection as much as others, this could be how they show their love for you. Lastly, a clear way to tell that your cat loves you might be the most obvious to some: cuddling. Unlike most dogs, many cats are protective of their personal space and don’t usually let people get too close. So if your cat lets you cuddle up on the couch or while sleeping at night, your cat has a strong emotional connection with you. Blackwell says that it “suggests a close bond, particularly where the contact is frequent or long lasting.” On top of that, if your cat sits on your lap or grooms you, you can be certain of their affection. Sure, cats might be hard to understand at times, but rest assured that your little feline loves you in their own unique way. More News:
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