Cat love language can be confusing to people. As a feline enthusiast, I may be biased but it always boggles me how people have such a negative view of cats. A lot of people believe that cats are stand-offish and unaffectionate. That is very far from truth. Many people prefer dogs over cats because they believe dogs are more affectionate.

Sure, dogs come with a lot of energy and will jump all over you and lick you.
However, that does not mean that their feline counterparts don’t have their own unique ways of expressing affection towards their beloved humans. In this article I will demystify cat love language. I will outline the ways that a kitty shows their love all of which I have learned from personal experience.

Your kitty follows you around

Do you feel like you have a mini Shadow following you around?
You’re going to the bathroom? Your kitty follows you there.
You’re going to the bedroom? Within minutes your furry friend is there with you.
And don’t even bother closing the door behind you because the cat will be meowing or scratching at the door to get in. This is perfectly normal behavior when a cat has a close bond with you because they want to be around you all the time. A cat’s world is very small and you are a huge part of their world. So embrace having that little furry shadow following you around and give it a pet from time to time.

Headbutting & rubbing against You

Does your cat always seem to rub against your leg or try to headbutt you?
This means that the cat is marking you. Cats have glands on their forehead, cheeks and chin that produce pheromones. This is a type of scent communication to other cats that tells them that you belong to their colony and also marks you as part of their safe zone. 

Headbutting is also an indication the cat trusts you and feels safe with you. Kitties only mark people if they trust them, so take it as a badge of honor. Also pay attention to your cat’s tail language. Is their tail slightly vibrating or wrapping around you as they’re purring and rubbing against you. Those are all signs that your kitty is enjoying your presence

Affectionate slow blinking

Some people might say that cats have a staring problem, and they’re not completely wrong in thinking that. It all depends on the type of stare that you’re getting. Cats have very expressive eyes and they use them to communicate with their humans. Just by looking at a cat’s eyes can tell you if they’re scared, angry or giving you a loving gaze. 

When a cat is in a relaxed state and they’re making eye contact with you while doing slow blinking, that is a sign of trust and affection. It means that the feline feels safe enough to let their guard down around you. Some even say that slow blinking is an equivalent to human smile. The best response? Look at them and try to reciprocate the slow blink.

Bringing you (unwanted) gifts

Humans and felines might have quite different ideas in mind when it comes to gifts. While you might enjoy getting a bottle of expensive perfume or a nice necklace, your kitty will probably think that the gift you REALLY need … is a dead mouse! The horror! You might want to scream at the kitty or shame it for killing a mouse. Don’t do that. 

Try to compose yourself and appreciate your pet’s efforts. In cat world, bringing you a dead mouse is a way of complimenting you. It means the cat views you as part of their family. This means they love you and care about you. It is also a cat’s way of providing for you. In their eyes, humans are very bad at hunting so they think that they are helping provide for us by bringing us their catch of the day. Bringing you gifts is also a way for a cat to show gratitude for providing them with a home and food. So don’t scold your kitty. Appreciate their efforts and then later – yes, gently dispose of the dead mouse.

Cats express their love by licking you

When a cat licks you or grooms you, it is usually a sign of affection. Mother cats groom their kittens from a young age. This later carries on into their adult lives and they end up licking their humans. Often cats living together will groom each other. It’s like establishing a membership in their group. Sometimes the licking can be for other easons, for example if the cat tastes something interesting on your skin or to get your attention. Sometimes however it can be a behavioral problem to help the cat cope with stress or anxiety. If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to ask your vet but usually it is harmless.

Tiny little love bites

This is not an aggressive type of bite. This where the cat gently bites your skin but doesn’t break the skin. It’s more of a gentle nibble which doesn’t hurt. This is an affectionate little nibble. It can be part of grooming and can start out with licking. This is nothing to be worried about. Just make sure to pay attention to the cat’s body language and observe for any signs of aggression. If the cat looks completely relaxed and content, then it’s usually completely harmless.

Wants to be close to you

There’s a number of ways a cat can express their desire to be close to you. Perhaps your cat sleeps with you every night or snuggles beside you whenever you’re sitting down, reading or working on your computer. Or the kitty is always trying to get into your lap any time you sit down for even just a moment. Yes … that can be a nuisance sometimes when you have things to do and then you feel trapped and unproductive. 

Sometimes when you’re not around, perhaps your cat sleeps in the laundry basket or on your favorite black jumper (which by the way, is now covered in cat hair… thanks Edziu!). This is because your clothes smell just like you.Your kitty associates you with safety and comfort, which is why they love to sleep on things that smell like you. When you have a close bond with your pet, they will always look for ways to get close to you, whether physically or by sleeping on your stuff. Take that as a compliment.

Greets you at the door

If your feline friend runs to the door as soon as you come home, then they are very happy that you’re finally home. Oftentimes if you have a set routine when you come home from work for example, your cat might already be anticipating your arrival and be waiting for you at the door. While cats are quite independent animals, they are social creatures and usually don’t like being left alone because they get lonely. This is why when you finally return home the kitty is very pleased to see that you’re back

Showing you their belly

Cats can be very protective of their belly because it’s the most vulnerable part of their body which stores all their vital organs. Even some cats who love and trust their owners will not allow them to rub their belly. It is a matter of preference. I’ve had cats that loved belly rubs and cats that didn’t. As much as it may be tempting to rub your soft furry friend’s belly, don’t do it unless they enjoy it. If your kitty exposes their soft little pouch for some belly rubs, consider it a real compliment and a sign that they trust you completely.

Making biscuits

Making Biscuits, also known as kneading, is a behavior that carries on from kittenhood.
Kittens knead at their mother’s tummy in order to get milk from her. This behavior carries into their adult lives. 

Cats will usually start making biscuits when they snuggle up to you on a soft surface such as a duvet, a fluffy blanket or a bathrobe. When a cat is in a warm, soft and fluffy environment with their favorite human, it can trigger their kittenhood instincts. If your kitty is making biscuits on you, they’re essentially viewing you as they “mommy”. This means that the kitty feels safe and cared for around you. Kneading is usually accompanied by slow blinking and also lots of purring and trilling. This means the kitty is in full relaxation mode.

Happy sound effects

Our furry family members have various ways of communicating with us. Cats can meow at their owners when they want our attention. Interestingly, adult cats don’t meow at other cats. They only meow at their mother when they’re kittens. When cats mature into adults they usually continue this method of communicating with their human owners. This means that the cat now sees you as a “motherly figure”, because you care for it and keep it safe.

Another sound that you may be familiar with is cat purring. This is usually an expression of happiness and contentment. Kittens also use the purring sound when they’re bonding with their mother. This behavior carries into their adult lives and with their owners as they snuggle up to them.

Cat trilling is another sound that cats make when they are feeling happy. It is similar to a purr but with a high pitched sound. Cats usually trill when they’re with a well-liked person or animal. It is a sign that the cat is very happy. Thrilling can occur when you’re having a petting and snuggling session with your cat and they’re expressing their pleasure.

Final thoughts

These are the most common ways that cats can express love and affection towards their owners. There are plenty of others that have not been addressed in this article. Hopefully by now you have a better understanding of cat love language. Your kitty may express all of these behaviors or just a few of them. Every feline companion has different personalities and preferences. Don’t be disheartened if your kitty doesn’t express all of these behaviors and do appreciate their own individual ways of showing you their appreciation. 

Perhaps you’re reading this article and you’re thinking ‘but what if my cat doesn’t do any of these things and just runs away from me’. Maybe you’re worried and you think that your kitty hates you. Don’t worry, I’ve got a solution for you. Head over here to get my free guide to making your cat fall in love with you.