Cats have a reputation for being quite independent animals and detached from people, but how true is this statement? The truth is that the vast majority of people who have lived with cats throughout their lives, flatly deny that their cats are not affectionate or, at least, they know that some cats are more affectionate than others
Knowing your pet is of vital importance to positively relate to it and live harmoniously without misunderstandings or false expectations, which can be really harmful for your furry friend. For this reason, if you are interested in finding out if cats are affectionate, read this article on our site in which we tell you how cats love and show affection. cats.
Do cats love their owners?
When we compare a dog with a cat, it is obvious how overwhelming canines show affection compared to felines. It seems as if dogs are unable to hide their joy at seeing us: they wag their tails, jump from one side to the other, lick us… Cats, on the other hand, seem more introverted animals, which they don't throw big parties showing us their affection, but that doesn't mean they don't love us or that cats don't have feelings.
The main difference between a dog and a cat is how they have learned to relate to us through the ages, because dogs have been domesticated longer, have moved away from their ancestors, the wolves, to adapt to us, becoming much more expressive and winning the hearts of many.
On the other hand, the way cats behave and express themselves is much more instinctive and has not evolved as much with human contact. This does not imply that cats do not love their owners, but rather that their way of expressing it has not evolved together according to us and, therefore, we humans are the ones who have adapted to them.
For your cat, you are his figure of reference and attachment, because you provide him with care and protection, in the same way that the mother of him For this reason, cats that have been raised from childhood with people often express themselves as puppies to express their needs. Hence the belief that cats are selfish animals arises, but nothing is further from the truth, because this fact only reflects how much your cat trusts you and how important you are to him.
How do cats express affection?
Cats also have their own way of expressing their emotions towards us, some may be really clear signs of affection, while others are a little more subtle. Understanding your cat is key to being able to get along with him, so let's look at the many ways cats express love:
- Purrs: Without a doubt, this is the main way cats have to express that they feel happy and at ease. For this reason, when you are with your cat, he is unable not to purr.
- He rubs against you: When a cat rubs against a person or object, either with its head, with the side of its body, etc., is leaving its aroma. They do this because they want to make sure that they make it clear to other cats what their family and territory is. Therefore, rubbing against you or other individuals shows your belonging to the group and acceptance.
- Licks you: Mutual grooming is part of normal behavior in cats belonging to the same group. It is their way of leaving their characteristic scent and taking care of each other.
- Follows you everywhere: It is common for a cat that feels a deep attachment to its human guardian to constantly follow you everywhere. rooms of the house. In some cases, even, some owners comment how surprised they are because their cats call them when they lock themselves in the bathroom.
- Stares at you: One cat staring at another can be aggression, but if your cat stares at you and placidly, it is quite the opposite, because he does not feel threatened by you and is curious about what you do. Also, he may be trying to get your attention
- He comes to greet you when you get home: It is not strange that your cat comes to greet you at home when you arrive, because he misses you miss you when you're away.
- He shows you his belly: when your cat shows you his belly it is usually because he wants you to pay attention to him, but he is also a clear indicative that he trusts you, because the belly is a very vulnerable area for him.
- Sleep with you and/or on top of you: when a cat sleeps soundly with its owner, it does so because by its side he feels comfortable and safe in the face of threats, because when he sleeps he is completely unprotected.
- Meows at you: When a cat wants your attention to get something from you, he usually resorts to meowing. He doesn't just do this because he wants you to fill his bowl with food, but he might want you to just spend some time with him, petting him or playing games, for example.
- Brings you “gifts”: While this may not be the most pleasant token of love for owners, it is certainly intended which counts, since it is common for cats to bring their recently hunted prey (insects, mice, birds…) to their owners as an offering.
You may also be interested in this other article about 10 signs that your cat loves you.
Adorable Cat Breeds
In the same way as people, each individual is a world For this reason, we cannot fall into the expectation that all cats they behave in the same way and are just as affectionate. There will be some more friendly and expressive, and others who prefer to show their affection from a distance and in small drops. Now, whether or not a cat is more affectionate is influenced by two main factors: genetics and environment.
We understand as genetic the innate biological predisposition in the animal. In many cases, this is determined by the breed (or breeds, if mixed), as there are breeds known to be very affectionate due to how they have been selected over time for their character, such as:
- Siamese cat.
- Ragdoll.
- Maine coon.
- Exotic cat.
- Burmese cat.
- Bombay cat.
- Havana Cat.
- Persian cat.
- Scottish fold cat.
- Common European cat.
By environment we refer to how the animal has been reared, that is, its environment and learning. For this reason, a cat that as a puppy has been correctly socialized and has maintained contact with people, will be much more tame and affectionate than one that has not grown up in a family environment. Similarly, a cat that has had bad past experiences or whose owners don't quite know how to properly relate to him (for example, if they are overly affectionate and do not respect your individual space), you will be more reluctant to contact and generally surly.
