Have you ever wondered if your cat loves you back? There are a lot of misconceptions about feline affection, with many people (read: dog people) claiming that they're not capable of love.
While they might not be as forward as our canine companions, they certainly have emotions and aren't as heartless as they're made out to be (they just like to play it cool, OK?).
If you're looking to strengthen the bond with your cat, there are lots of ways to go about it – from regular playtime sessions with the best cat toys to feeding them their favorite food.
If you're doing all of these things already, your cat is bound to feel affection towards you. But to give you some reassurance, Amanda Campion, a feline behaviorist with more than 30 years of experience, has revealed eight signs your cat loves you below. So, if you can tick any of these off, you know it's true love.
Signs your cat loves you
1. Wanting to hang out together
Just because your cat doesn't like being smothered with affection, it doesn't mean they don't love you back. Sometimes, they just want to sit in the same room as you and enjoy your presence, but would prefer if you kept your hands off.
Hanging out together is one of the biggest signs of affection – they enjoy being around you, and that's a huge compliment!
Amanda says: "Just wanting to hang out and be close to you. Some cats don't actually want to sit on your knee, but if they're happy just being close to you, then that's love enough."
2. Bunting
If your cat likes to rub their head against you, it’s a sure sign they love you. This cat behavior might seem a little strange, but they’re actually just trying to transfer their scent onto you as a way of showing affection.
Amanda says: “[Your cat] is transferring their scent onto yours as well as showing you with their body language that they love you."
3. Slow blinks
Give yourself a pat on the back if your cat has ever slow-blinked at you – you’ve made them feel safe and happy in your presence. Cats close their eyes when they feel comfortable, so shutting them or slowly blinking is a sign that they’re at ease.
Amanda says: "If your cat slow blinks at you, make sure you slow blink back."
To learn more, read our guide on why cats blink.
4. Licks and nibbles
Dogs aren’t the only ones who lick to show affection – cats do it too! Don’t be offended if they give you a gentle nibble either, as this is just another way they show their love (as counter-intuitive as this sounds!)
Amanda says: "Your cat may lick you or gently nibble you. Love bites aren't aggressive at all, and again, it's just a little cat language that they like to share with us humans."
6. Spritz tail
Your cat’s tail can tell you a lot about how they’re feeling, and a quivering, vertical one means they’re very pleased to see you. That, or they’re about to spray – so maybe proceed with caution…
Amanda says: "Have you ever seen the spritz tail? That's a sign that the cat is really really happy and excited to be in your presence – it doesn't always mean that they're about to spray."
6. Sleeping close to your head
There’s nothing better than taking a nap with your cat, and if they like to sleep by your head, you can rest easy knowing that they love you. Not only does your kitty feel safe and protected, but they might also find your scent reassuring to snuggle into.
Amanda says: "Cats like to sleep next to each other where faces are touching, especially if they're really really bonded."
7. Gifts
You might not appreciate this one as much as the others, but if your cat brings you a gift (yes, even a dead carcass), it means they love you. This might not be the same way we humans express affection but trust us, it’s a huge honor.
Amanda says: "Some cats may even bring you their prey as a token of their appreciation."
8. Asking to jump up on you
As a cat parent, it's the biggest privilege when your cat wants to jump up on you – and it's a telltale sign they love you. This is more common in affectionate cat breeds, but most felines enjoy a cuddle from time to time if they love you.
Amanda says: "Asking to come up and jump on your knee- that's another sure sign of affection."
How many of these does your cat do?
Read next: The sweetest ways that cat show affection and do cats know we love them?
Practicing as a full clinical animal behaviorist member, Amanda's passion is cats. She helps to correct all their quirky unwanted issues, anxiety, and stresses that can manifest from time to time. Amanda has worked alongside charities for many years, helping to rehabilitate cats from surrender and euthanasia. She previously had her own cattery, fostering and rehabilitating traumatized shelter cats, enabling them to go in to have happy lives with their new owners. She loves engaging with the cat caregivers and deciphering what problems they are having, as well as using her detective skills to find out what the cats’ problems are. As a CAB, she assists with a wide range of feline behaviors but the most rewarding to her is to see a previously traumatized or anxious cat start to trust again which is life-changing for the cat.
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis De Leaver.
Recent updates
This page was last updated on March 19 by Megan Milstead.
