How To Know If Your Cat Loves You: 9 Tell-Tale Signs
Signs of feline affection can be subtle or downright hard to read. Look for the following feline behaviours for how to tell if your cat loves you.
Wondering how to tell if your cat loves you? Look for these 9 ways cats show affection. From slow blinks to making biscuits, these are tell-tale signs that can help you tell if your cat likes you.
Top signs of feline affection + how to tell if your cat is saying, “I love you!”
How do you know if your cat likes you? Do those extra nighttime cuddles mean your furry family member is smitten? Does that “present” they left on your pillow mean they like you, or is it a threat?
Understanding your cat’s attitude can be the key to knowing if your cat likes you. Not all cats are super cuddly, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love you!
Here are some ways to know if your cat loves you that you might not have realized are actually feline signs of affection.
#1 Following You Around (Everywhere)
You hear the th-thud-thud of four paws hitting the floor when you stand up from the couch. You nearly take a tumble while carrying a large pot of water over to the sink because someone is underfoot. Or maybe you haven’t used the bathroom alone in years. All of these are signs that you are lucky enough to have a cat that doesn’t want to leave your side.
This one is pretty clear-cut, but if your buddy is always following you around, you can bet that your cat loves you a whole bunch. Consider bringing your cat to your work, school, or other social functions—a built-in conversation piece and an amazing lifestyle choice all in one!
#2 Belly Up
A cat’s stomach is their most vulnerable spot. By showing you their belly, your cat is revealing that they are comfortable enough with you to be unguarded and at their most vulnerable. And if your cat rolls on their back and allows you to rub their tummy? You’ve hit the big time!
This is the ultimate sign of trust and a sure way to tell if your cat loves you.
WARNING: A tummy rub can turn violent at a moment’s notice. You may have to live with some light scarring. Cats are capricious, and it’s important to have a good read on your cat’s body language/behaviour and build trust before going straight in for a belly rub.
#3 They Leave You “Gifts” (Also Known As Bringing You Dead Things)
Though these gifts might be of dubious distinction (or, yes, downright disgusting), do not chastise your cat for leaving you an offering. It is a sign of their esteem for you. When your cat drags the lifeless carcass of a small animal to your bedside, it can be difficult to take it as the compliment that it is, but it unequivocally means they are totally into you.
Bringing you the “treat” of a dead mouse, dead bird, or, if you are luckier, the toy version of the same, is a sign that your cat thinks of you as family and wants to provide for you. Like all gifts, it’s the thought that counts; accept it graciously (once you’ve finished dry-heaving).
While it may be unconventional, it’s one of the more obvious ways cats show love for their chosen family.
#4 Head Butts and Cheek Rubs
When you see your cat coming at you with a cocked head, brace yourself, you’re in store for a good head butt! Head butts are like a hug from your cat and are one way cats try to mix your scents together to cement your bond.
Closely related to head butts are cheek rubs. If your cat is milling around your legs, try holding your hand (with a closed fist) near their head to see if they rub their cheeks on your knuckles. Both head butts and cheek rubs are self-guided pets that mean your cat is marking you as her own.
Receive these with pride and rest assured that it’s a good sign your cat loves you.
#5 Visiting You for Nighttime Cuddles
Your best feline friend can be a secretive creature and will often not want to show their affection for their human to anyone—including you. As a result, your best cuddle session may just happen when you are fast asleep. You may be drooling and your hair might be a real mess, but your cat is using this time to express love on their own terms.
Just because you aren’t awake to share in it, doesn’t diminish its significance. Your cat coming to you in the night and sitting on your chest, face, or side is a surefire sign that they love you.
When your feline friend does eventually doze off (if you’re lucky), their sleeping position can be another sign of how they feel about you. When a kitty is sprawled out in bed, they are comfortable, content, and relaxed. They feel secure and love the home that you’re a part of!
#6 Offering a Slow Blink
Cats do a lot of talking with their eyes, and one very special way they say “I love you” is through the slow blink. When a cat is happy and content with you, they may just look over and slowly close and reopen their eyes. In this they are saying, “Hey friend, I love you, and I feel comfortable enough around you to let my guard down.”
This is basically a marriage proposal from a cat and the best response is a reciprocated slow blink accompanied by the warm feeling in your heart from the certainty that you know your cat loves you.
(Helpful tip: The slow blink is also a great way to introduce yourself in a non-threatening way to a new cat to show that you mean no harm.)
#7 Kneading or “Making Biscuits”
There are competing theories about why exactly cats knead. One theory holds that adult cats forever associate kneading with the comfort of nursing (kittens knead to stimulate their mother’s milk production), so when a cat kneads near her human, it shows they are relaxed and comfortable with their family.
If that’s not love, what is? And when that kneading happens on your lap and is accompanied by purring and an intense, searching gaze, you know you have one content cat on your hands!
#8 The Tail Has It
Cats often greet people they like with a question-mark-shaped tail. Pay attention to your cat’s tail to judge how happy they are to see you. (Check out more about reading feline body language with helpful visuals).
#9 Hanging Out In Your Space
Cats will show animosity or discomfort, particularly with strangers, by simply vacating the premises. Your cat may not be overly affectionate, but if they’re always in the same room you’re in—even if they seem to not be paying you any attention—then they value your company.
Simply put, not all cats are lap cats; this is frequently misunderstood as aloofness or indifference, but sometimes proximity is all a cat needs to be happy with you.
We call these special guys Nearby Cats. Your Nearby Cat is just out of reach on the couch, at the foot of your bed, or in an adjacent chair in the living room. This reserved fellow loves you just as much as those showy lap cats. Trust us.
These are just a handful of the signs for how to know if your cat loves you. Ultimately, the way your feline friend shows affection may be different from the next. In fact, you might even have two cats that are on totally opposite ends of the affection spectrum, but that doesn’t mean one loves you any less!
Want to learn more tips about cat body language and feelings? Check out more Modern Cat for insight into everything cat life.
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