For us humans, kissing can mean many, many different things. It is a form of body language that is most commonly associated with romantic love but actually has far more varied and nuanced uses. Kisses can be used as greetings, goodbyes, thank yous, congratulations.
A kiss can display sympathy, desire, care, and comfort. It is almost always used as a sign of affection. But how do our pets interpret this human behavior?
If you love your cat and always like to give it kisses, you may well be wondering whether or not your kitty actually enjoys the exchange and how they themselves can communicate their feline affection? In this article, we take a look at the ways you can best display love to your furry friend and how they can show it back to you.
How Do Cats Show Affection For Humans?
Purring
Kneading their paws
Drooling
Head Butts
Slow Blink
Licking
Sleeping on those they love
What Is Purring?
Purrs are one of the simplest forms of communication between felines and their owners. They are often considered an indicator of contentment in both people and animals.
When cats purr, they use their diaphragm and stomach muscles to make a low-pitched sound which is usually accompanied by rubbing their tummy against their owner’s hand. This action is thought to help release endorphins into the bloodstream which makes them feel happy.
What Is A Feline Head Bump?
A head bump is when a cat gently nuzzles its face into your palm. The head bump is also known as “cat chin rub.” This is a very common sign of cat affection.
Cats have scent glands in their cheeks and faces, and they rub their cheeks and forehead against you in order to transfer pheromones onto your skin. A cheek rub is a form of affection.
What Is Kneading?
Kneading is when a cat rubs its paws together, either on top of each other or across the floor. This is another gesture of affection as cats also have scent glands in their paws. By pressing them into your lap or hand, they transfer pheromones onto those they love.
Why Do Cats Drool?
Cats drool for two reasons: firstly because they are thirsty, and secondly because they want to express their affection. If you notice your pet licking his lips, he may simply be trying to get some water into his mouth. However, if you see him doing so while sitting next to you, then he is probably expressing his affection.
Why Do Cats Lick You?
Licking is a way for cats to clean themselves. Mutual grooming sessions are a way in which cats display physical affection towards their own kind. Mothers lick their kittens, and cats lick each other as a sign of trust. When your cat licks you, they are treating you like one of their own.
Why Do Cats Slow Blink?
Giving a slow eye blink is a way in which cats communicate with their owners. If a cat blinks slowly, it means that she wants her owner to approach her.
If your cat holds eye contact and narrows her eyes to a sleepy, half-closed position, it is another of her many signs of affection. She may also blink rapidly if she feels anxious or stressed.
Why Do Cats Sleep On Those They Love?
Sleeping on someone is a way in which a cat shows affection. As mentioned above, cats have scent glands in their mouths and paws, and they rub these areas against their owners in order to transfer pheromonal molecules onto their fur. This is why cats sleep on their owners – they want to share their warmth with their human companion.
Do Cats Like Kisses?
Many cats do love to receive soft kisses from their owners because they appreciate the closeness and physical contact that kisses involve. As cats have scent glands in their own cheeks, they relate to the pressing of mouths against their fur.
However, kissing cats is not advisable for pregnant women, children, and those with low immune systems for hygienic reasons. And it is also important to remember that not all cats will respond to human kisses in the same way.
Some cats do not appreciate being petted or kissed and would prefer to receive your affection in different ways.
How To Tell If Your Cat Likes Being Petted
If you want to know whether your cat likes being petted, try stroking her from behind. Make sure that you stroke along the length of her back rather than just patting her. If she responds by arching her back or turning around to look at you, she loves being touched.
How To Tell If Your Cat Doesn’t Like To Be Kissed
If your cat pulls away from you when you try to kiss the top of her head, it may be a sign that she doesn’t like this form of physical contact and wants you to stay out of her personal space.
Other signs that she doesn’t like to be kissed include: pulling her ears down to a flat position, hissing, yowling, wiping her tail back and forth, flinching, or running away.
If your cat does not seem to enjoy being petted, there are several things you can try instead.
Other Ways That You Can Show Affection To Cats
Spending quality time
Giving tasty cat treats
Feeding your cat nutritious cat food
Getting eye contact
Speaking softly
Mimicking cat noises
Accepting rubs
Petting
Grooming
If you are a die-hard cat lover and you want to know how to show your cat affection without giving your cat kisses, then there are plenty of other expressions of affection that you can try.
Spending Quality Time
Spending time with your cat is one of the most effective ways of creating a strong bond between pet and owner. Cats tend to be very cuddly creatures, and this kind of positive attention will be highly appreciated.
Giving Treats
You can reinforce good behavior and show love by treating your kitty to healthy snacks that make them feel happy and also benefit their overall health.
Nutritious Food
Yes, cats are natural hunters, but they love those who feed them too. The most effective way that you can show love to your pet is to look after them responsibly and feed them high-quality, nutritious food.
Eye Contact
Maintaining eye contact is a sign of trust and will create a bond between felines and humans. This kind of intimate contact with people will mean much more to a cat than kisses.
Accepting Rubs
When your cat gives you head buts (otherwise known as butts) and rubs against you, it is displaying a form of cat affection. You can return the affection by accepting these rubs and letting your cat express themselves.
Grooming
You can show your feline friends affection by partaking in aspects of grooming. You can use a grooming brush and gently comb their fur to create an authentic grooming experience. Your cat will love the extra attention and will feel closer to you because of it.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to show your pet cat affection. Some cats will appreciate affection through kisses whilst others will appreciate you respecting their personal space. Be patient, and remember that every cat is different.
If your cat responds badly to kisses, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. It just means that she would prefer a different form of affection from you. Her favorite treats, eye contact, and care and attention are all great options.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
