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 relate positively with him and live harmoniously without misunderstandings or false expectations, which can be really harmful for your furry. For this reason, if you are interested in knowing if cats are affectionate, read this article in which we tell you how cats love and show affection.
Do cats love their owners?
When we compare a dog to a cat, the overwhelming way that dog’s show affection compared to felines is obvious. It seems as if dogs are unable to hide their joy when they see us: they wag their tails, jump from one side to the other, lick us … Cats, on the other hand, seem more introverted animals, which do not make big parties by showing us their affection But that doesn’t mean they don’t love us or 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, since dogs have been domesticated for longer, they have moved away from their predecessors, wolves, to adapt to us, becoming much more expressive and winning the hearts of many.
In contrast, the way cats behave and express themselves is much more instinctive and has not evolved as much with human contact. That does not imply that cats do not love their owners, but that their way of expressing it has not evolved together according to us and, therefore, it is humans 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 his mother did. For this reason, cats that have been raised from a young age with people usually express themselves as puppies to express their needs. Hence the belief that cats are selfish animals, but nothing is further from the truth, as 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 bit more subtle. Understanding your cat is key to being able to get along with him, so let’s see the many ways that cats express affection:
- Purrs: without a doubt, this is the main means that cats have to express that they feel happy and at ease. For this reason, when you are with your cat, it is unable not to purr.
- It rubs against you: when a cat rubs against a person or object, either with the head, with the side of the body, etc., it is leaving its aroma. They do this because they want to make sure they make it clear to other cats what their family and territory is. Therefore, having it rubbed against you or other individual’s shows your pertinence to the group and acceptance.
- Licks you: mutual grooming is part of the usual behavior in cats that belong to the same group. It is their way of leaving their characteristic smell and taking care of each other.
- Follows you everywhere: It is common for a cat who feels a deep attachment to his human guardian to constantly follow him through all the rooms of the house. In some cases, some owners even comment on how surprised they are that their cats call them when they lock themselves in the bathroom.
- He stares at you: for one cat to stare at another can be an aggression, but if your cat stares at you placidly, it is the opposite, because he does not feel threatened by you and is curious about what you do. Also, she 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 when you are not there.
- 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 it is also a clear indication that he trusts you, because the belly is a very vulnerable area for him.
- He sleeps with you and / or on top of you: when a cat sleeps soundly with its owner, it does so because by his side he feels comfortable and safe from threats, because when sleeping him is completely unprotected.
- Meows at you: When a cat wants to get attention to get something from you, they usually meow. This is not only done 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, for example.
- It brings you “gifts”: although it may not be the most pleasant token of love for the owners, without a doubt the intention is what counts, since it is common for cats to bring their recently hunted prey (insects, mice, birds …) to their owners as an offering.
Affectionate 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 behave in the same way and are just as affectionate. There will be some friendlier and more expressive, and others who prefer to show their affection from a distance and dropper. Now, whether or not a cat is more affectionate is influenced by two main factors: genetics and environment.
We understand as genetics the innate biological predisposition in the animal. In many cases, this is determined by race (or races, if mestizo), as there are races known to be very affectionate due to how they have been selected over time for their character, such as:
- Siamese cat.
- Maine coon.
- Exotic cat.
- Burmese cat.
- Bombay cat.
- Havana cat.
- Persian cat.
- Scottish fold cat.
- European common cat.
By environment we mean how the animal has been raised, that is, its environment and learning. For this reason, a cat that has been properly socialized as a puppy 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 who has had bad past experiences or whose owners do not know very well how to properly relate to him (for example, if they are excessively affectionate and do not respect his individual space), will be more averse to contact and surly in general. .
