If you don’t consider yourself a ‘cat’ person, you might find it a little hard to determine whether a cat is friend or foe.
With their waggy tails, toothy smiles and slobbery kisses, dogs make things pretty easy. But cats tend to use a more gentle and wary approach when it comes to meeting new people, which non-‘cat’ people often mistake as moodiness.
Cats can be difficult to read, but that’s because they simply have their own ways of communicating.
Here are a few cat behaviours that show if your kitty really likes you…
They love a chat
Cats don’t tend to meow at each other; this is a behaviour they seemed to have developed just for interacting with humans. Cats also don’t tend to meow at unfamiliar humans as much as they do with humans they trust. This means that if your cat meows at you, they feel close to you!
Kitty headbutts = love!
When a cat rubs their head against you, they’re identifying you as a friend. They’re also marking their territory! Felines have scent glands on their chins, cheeks, forehead, and lips. By rubbing its face on you, your cat is spreading a unique scent on you and marking you as a buddy.
They’re not tummy-shy
If your cat isn’t afraid to roll over and show off their big, beautiful belly, then you’ve definitely got a special place in their heart.
Cats usually show their bellies voluntarily to creatures that they trust. It shows that they feel safe and are comfortable being vulnerable. If your cat stretches out on the floor beside you and rolls around, you can bet it’s feeling affectionate.
A purring cat is a happy cat
Purring is a good indication that your cat likes having you around. In fact, cats reserve their purrs exclusively for humans they adore. They don’t purr for other cats – except their own kittens. When a cat purrs while around you, you can usually assume they are ‘smiling’ because they are content and feeling emotions of happiness and love.
They become your shadow
Does your kitty follow you from room to room? By following you around the house, your cat is saying they want to spend time with you! Even if they don’t come over and sit right next to you, the act of wanting to be around you means they love you and want to keep you close.
So what we’re saying is, there are a heap of ways your cat can show they love you! And don’t be put off if they don’t show all these signs, as every cat is totally different.
As long as you are gentle, talk to them regularly, and try to spend quality time with them, your cat’s love for you can only grow.