How Can You Tell If Your Cat Loves You?

Cats can be very expressive and loving pets, but sometimes their affection isn’t as simple as a lick on your hand. While some cats are outwardly affectionate, other cats show their love in some not-so-obvious ways. Therefore, how do you know if your cat really loves you?

Below are 12 different ways that cats show their love for you:

1. Cat Purrs

Cats purr for all sorts of reasons, but when you hear that full body rumble you know that your cat is sending you their love. Purring also relaxes your kitty and makes them feel less inhibited to show their love. And therefore, the cat purr is their way of showing their happiness and love for you.

2. The All-Loving Head Butt

If a person were to head butt you, you wouldn’t be happy. But if a cat ‘head butts’ you, it is a loving sign. When a cat head butts you, your kitty releases facial pheromones that represent their feelings of trust and safety they have with you. They might even put their butt in your face as a sign of love!

3. Grooming You

Mother cats groom their kittens from the moment they're born, so being licked was one of your kitty's very first feelings of being loved and cared for. Therefore, if your kitty is licking you, she's showing her love for you. It could mean that you’re her or his favorite.

4. Love Bites

If your cat gives you a quick painless bite, your cat is professing his love for you. It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between a love bite and a regular cat bite because one hurts and the other tickles!

5. Follows You Around

If your cat follows you around, from room to room and maybe even the bathroom, it’s another way of showing their love. They want to be near you, connect with you and just hang out!

6. Exposing Their Bellies To You

When your cat throws him or herself right on the floor in front of you and starts rolling around, your kitty is trying to get your attention. Cats only show their tummies voluntarily to those they can trust. Feeling safe means a lot to a cat, so when they sprawl out in front of you, this is a sign that they feel loved.

7. Kneading You

When your kitty kneads you, it’s their way of showing the happy moments they experienced as kittens (since mama cat kneaded them). So next time your kitty starts moving its paws up and down on you, you will know that they are expressing their love for you.

8. Slow Blinking

While some cats will kiss or lick you on the lips, other will kiss you with their eyes. Cats use their eye contact for people they know and trust. Staring right at you is one way that your cat shows his or her love; however, if it is coupled with slow blinking, then you’ve just received a kitty kiss. Return the love by mimicking the behavior and slow blink back!

9. The Cat Gift

It isn’t very fun when your kitty brings you a small dead something (like a rat or bird), but a kitty that presents you with this bounty deserves to be praised. Even if they are indoor cats, some cats show their love by sharing their prizes with you, whether it’s a toy, a dead rat or bug!

10. Pawing At Your Face

When your cat paws at your face, it’s their way of showing their love and trust. They want to touch you and release their scent on your face as a way of saying, “You’re mine.” It’s just one of their many ways to establish a connection with you and touch you.

11. Sleeping On You

If your cat likes to sleep on your chest or even right next to you, that is another sign of love. They want to be right near you and trust you.

12. Jumping On Your Lap

Your kitty plopping down on your lap for a rub down or even on your favorite t-shirt is showing you his or her love. Your cat is basically saying that she wants to be all over you and loves you! Even if your kitty sits right next to you and puts his or her paws on your chest, it’s a sign of love as well. They want to touch you.

Each cats shows their love differently and while they might not lick your face, they will purr and knead and jump on your lap! But, we can all learn how our cats show their love by watching for the signs and understanding their own language.