10 Ways Your Cat Says ‘I Love You’

Our cats have their own way of expressing their love for us - not all of them are obvious. How many of these do you recognize?

By Dr. Karen Becker

1. He grooms you.
Mother cats groom their kittens from the moment they're born, so being licked was one of your kitty's very first feelings of being cared for. Siblings raised together often groom each other throughout their lives. So if your kitty is licking you, she's showing her love for you.

2. She rubs her body against you.
Rubbing is how cats show contentment and affection. If your kitty rubs up against your leg or your face or head butts you, she's putting her scent on you and claiming you as her own. It's important to your relationship and bond with your cat to allow her to rub against you.


3. He gives you love bites.
This show of love from your kitty can prove to be a bit painful, especially if he nips at your nose or elsewhere on your face, as many cats do. Kitties nip each other affectionately, and their skin is tougher than ours, so your cat really doesn't understand his love bite isn't always pleasant for you.

Nipping seems to be an instinctive drive in some cats and so it's difficult to stop the behavior. But since it's pretty easy to predict when you're about to get "love bit," the best plan is to get your face, finger or other body part out of the way ahead of time.

4. He pretends to ‘mark’ you.
Male cats urine mark to claim their territory. Since much of your kitty's love for you takes the form of claiming you as his own, don't be surprised if your male backs up toward you with a quivering tail. Fortunately, it only seems he's about to urine mark you — he won't actually produce a urine spray.

Occasionally, a cat may show love by urinating in his owner's bed. This is most often a show of love and not a show of aggression or defiance, as many cat owners mistakenly believe.

5. She rubs her gums against you.
It's a little weird, but... if your cat rubs her gums (usually the upper gums) against you, know that it's just another way she's claiming you as her own and showing her love for you.

6. He blinks slowly at you.
This might be the display of cat love that is easiest for humans to understand. If your kitty first stares at you, then blinks, then opens his eyes wide, then slowly blinks a second time, he’s telling you he loves and trusts you. It’s the equivalent of being kissed, in fact. According to Jackson Galaxy, a California-based cat expert who hosts “My Cat from Hell” on Animal Planet, if you mimic this behavior to your cat, soon he’ll begin returning it to you.

7. She purrs.
Newborn kittens can't yet see, so they are guided to their mother by her purr. That's why purring is a sign your cat is feeling content. Purring also lowers your kitty's heart rate, so she may sometimes purr to sooth herself. Unless your pet is ill or feeling stressed, rest assured her purring means she feels cared for by you.

8. He brings you something dead.
When your kitty brings home a small dead something and presents it to you, it's a sign he feels safe and secure in your home.

9. She rolls around in front of you.
When your cat either drops to the floor and rolls around, or jumps up on your bed or another piece of furniture and does the same, she's trying to get your attention and affection. When a kitty shows her tummy voluntarily, it's only to those she truly trusts and loves.

10. He sleeps on you.
Your cat is most vulnerable when he's sleeping, so where he chooses to snooze must feel safe and secure to him. If one of his favorite nap spots happens to be your lap, legs, or the top of your head, consider yourself well-loved by your kitty.