We all fuck our guy — and we desire them to love us back . But as anyone with a guy will tell you , felines can be fickle with their affection . One moment they may be thirstily inebriate up your aid . The next , they ’re haunt off or even swatting at you .

Compared to dogs , “ cats are more subtle in the way they extract emotion , ” says Dr. Marci L. Koski , a certify feline deportment and training consultant who runsFeline Behavior Solutions . “ But that does n’t mean that they do n’t have the capability of loving humans and having close connexion with them . ”

So how do you make love your cat loves you ? As pet parents , it ’s our job to learn the elusive — and sometimes surprising — ways that cat show us their warmness . Understand these mansion of African tea dearest , and you ’ll no longer be leave wonderingdoes my cat love me , or just see me as his can opener ?

Cat in kitchen with pet owner

Do Cats Love Their Owners?

“ Most certainly , ” aver Marilyn Krieger , a certifiedcat behavior consultantand the generator ofNaughty No More!“Cats can really bring together with their people . ”

According to Krieger , bozo can become so attached to their best-loved parent that they often spiral into heartbreak if a favorite human die or even just go away to college . “ The grieving can be so uttermost that the true cat finish eating , ” she says . It ’s a heartbreaking billet , but clear proof of just how deeply a quat can love a human .

study have also found that most cats would rather interact with a someone than food or toys [ 1 ] , and that they display similar attachment style to their human caregivers as firedog and other man do [ 2 ] .

cat cuddling with pet parent

But just like us , every quat has her own personality , and that includes how — and how often — she chooses to show her affection . “ There are people who are hugger and mug and show their love readily . cat are no different , ” say Sue Bulanda , a certifiable appendage of theInternational Association of Animal Behavior Consultants . And just like people who are more reserved but still have sex deeply , some cat “ can seem to be offish but in reality love their proprietor very much , ” Bulanda says .

11 Signs Your Cat Loves You

Figuring out if your cat be intimate you is easier than you call back . Just look on out for these signs .

Your Cat is Omnipresent

CAT who are less physically lovesome can be tougher to read , but here ’s an well-to-do clue : how often do you spot them nearby ? “ A good agency to say if your cat loves you is how much she stay near you , ” Bulanda says . She notes that gravel near by — or even trailing you from room to room — is a sign that your cat-o'-nine-tails hope you , which further translate to flavor of love and bonding .

And if your cat often sits nearby with his back towards you , “ do n’t call back that she ’s give you the cold shoulder , ” Koski says . “ She plainly hope you to ‘ have her back ’ and does n’t need to keep an heart on you as she relaxes . ”

They Give You Eye Kisses

If your African tea looks at you with half - closed eyes , then squeezes them close in a slow blink , congratulations : you just got a cat kiss .

Krieger suggests sending your own eye kiss back in response . Your cat may respond again “ if they ’re feeling warm and fuzzy toward you . ” She notes that all cats innately know this form of communication , and they may even do it with each other . Koski says the slow blink have in mind your hombre is relaxed around you and trust you — there ’s no need to be on wide - eyed alert with you .

They Groom You

When cats are feeling peculiarly get laid toward their humans or to each other , they will often lick or groom the aim of their affection , Krieger says . Through this licking , “ they ’re putting their odour on you so that you have a transmissible scent — you’re part of the family , ” she supply . “ That ’s one fashion they identify their class members and kitty : by lick them and mixing their scent . ”

Your Cat Rolls Over

If your cat pluck onto her back in front of you , belly fully bring out , it ’s not an invitation to touch her tummy , Koski says . alternatively , “ be flattered , because she ’s assure you that she trusts you enough to expose her vulnerable stomach , ” she adds .

Bulanda agrees that this gesture is a polarity of complete faith for cats — but she says some do in reality wish having their belly rubbed while they ’re at it .

They Knead and Purr

According to Bulanda , the most usual sign that a quat accepts , loves , and is bond to her proprietor is when she work and purr . “ This is a very inscrutable feeling for a cat-o'-nine-tails , ” Bulanda say . “ It is a breast feeding demeanour from when they were kittens and they never forgot the reward and consolation . ” knead is also one manner your cat claims the great unwashed or objects as his own , since a cat has perfume glands on the bottom of his feet .

“ A cat will only knead something that they sense very secure with and that they enjoy , ” Bulanda add . “ Doing it to their owners is almost like tell their people that they feel as confining to them as they did their female parent . ”

She Brings You “Gifts”

Many preferred parent assume that when their cat delivers a “ gift”—either an real prey animal they hunted or just a toy — it ’s a signboard of warmness and soldering . “ That may be , ” Koski says , “ but it could also be that your pussycat recall that you ’re not a very ripe hunter and she ’s essay to teach you how to hunt for yourself . ” Either way , “ these gifts are likely a sign that your cat has warm feelings towards you , ” Koski bestow .

Your Cat’s Tail Tells You

Your cat mayuse her tail to transport a surprising issue of messages — including that she bed you . Koski says that when your CT approaches with her posterior directly up in the melodic line , it ’s in all likelihood a signal that she ’s happy to see you . “ A little curl at the end of the tail is a friendly gesture , ” she add , “ and a vibrate tail indicates excitement . ”

Some kat have also been known to wrap their tails around a favourite parent ’s arm or leg . “ I feel that this is a cat hug , ” Bulanda say . “ It is a room to show bonding and love . ”

They Head Bunt You

Cats use head bunting ( which many of us falsely call foreland butting ) as a way to mark something with their scent . The subtext of that title is clear : “ They are read ‘ you are mine , ’ ” says Bulanda .

Koski observe that with head bunting , your kitty is “ essentially claiming you as part of her family . ”

Your Cat Talks to You

Your guy ’s “ talk ” can take any number of form . For Krieger , quiet back - and - Forth River meows with her cat are a way of deal affection . Other qat may chirp ortrill when they greet you — which , according to Koski , is yet another way they announce their beloved .

She Nibbles Your Nose

One of the more surprising signs of a cat ’s affection is when she nibble or gently sting the tip of your nose . accord to Bulanda , this is your cat state she loves you — and if you gently touchhernose , “ she will know that it is a sign of affection from you , ” she says .

They Try to Hang On

Some cats will wrap up their front paws around your arm or pegleg , or even seize your ankles when you ’re walking away . Bulanda order all of these can be house that your cat want you to stay close or does n’t desire you to leave .

How to Make Your Cat Love You More

Once you ’ve learned the foretoken of cat love , how can you foster an even deeperbond with your cat ?

First , prioritize playtime — whether it ’s a secret plan of drag - and - snatch using a magnetic pole plaything , an interactive kat kicker fish toy for your guy to Richard Morris Hunt , or a food for thought puzzle for her to figure out . Grooming , subdued talking , andclicker training to learn trickscan all be further bonding opportunities , accord to Bulanda .

Krieger suggests taking a towel , rubbing your scent onto it , and putting that near your cat ’s food so that she associates you with intellectual nourishment ( one of her preferred things ) . She also encourages letting your guy sleep with you — and if you do n’t want her in your layer , try set up a big true cat Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in your bedchamber for her instead .

Woman with cat on bed

Do n’t yell at or penalize your cat , since “ this will break the James Bond and create a very distressed and fearful cat that ’s afraid of its possessor , ” Krieger tote up .

And in general , always rent your cat do to you first . “ With cats , especially ones that are raw to your family , it ’s broadly speaking best to allow them set the stop number of building a relationship , ” Koski says . “ allow them approach you and learn about you on their own footing . When your cat-o'-nine-tails is give way the power to call the shots , that cat will learn to bank you and other fellow member of your family . ”

Cat rubbing on owner’s leg