We love cats, we relate to cats; we like them because they're cute, but also because we see them as similar to ourselves. They're lazy, they're homebodies, and they like comfort. There's also a saying: "Dogs remember faces, cats remember places." But do cats really love our houses more than they love us?
As a dog person, I find dogs to be more straightforward: they always wear their emotions on their proverbial sleeves, they do what they're told (most of the time, anyway), and they depend on you in ways cats really don't. In a sense, it seems that cats may not even need us. But, as a (at first reluctant) co-owner of two cattos, I've started to realize their bond with an owner goes perhaps even deeper.
Cat behavior consultant and professional trainer Laura Cassiday tells Bored Panda that there are several ways cats show affection. And while not every cat may love snuggles and react to belly rubs like dogs do, they're excellent at showing affection, too.
Laura tells us one sign of affection can be when your cat has its tail up. "When your cat approaches you with his tail up, or in a question mark shape, he is signaling that his approach is friendly and he's willing to interact," Laura says. Showing off their belly is another way cats show you their vulnerable side. "[It's] not an invite for belly rubs, but rather a sign of trust," Cassiday explains.
Laura tells us that even when your cat chooses to spend time in the same room as you, that's a sign of affection. "Not all cats are snugglers," she explains. "Others show they like you by choosing to spend time in the same room with you, even if they aren't touching you. It's the cat version of 'hanging out.'
Did you know that cats also have their version of a kiss? Apparently, in catspeak, slowly blinking their eyes is the equivalent of a kiss. "If your cat looks at you and slowly blinks, it's like a 'kitty kiss,'" Laura explains. "This is a sign of trust and affection."
Some behavioral traits of a cat can depend on how they were brought up. Laura says that the most sensitive socialization period is when they're two to seven weeks old. "[This] is the time period where kittens learn how to interact with other members of their species, people, other animals, and their environment. Exposure to these things during this time can have a longer-lasting effect on the adult cat's behavior."
"Kittens who don't receive proper socialization can have more inappropriate play behaviors, be more neophobic, and be more reactive and sensitive to physical contact, noises, new people, or animals," Cassiday says.
If the cat distribution system hasn't yet provided you with the kitty (or kitties!) of your destiny, you might not know that cats have a homing instinct. That means that they will always return to their home, or at least will try to. That's why, when we move, we have to help our cats readjust for a few weeks, and we can't let them outside. Otherwise, they would try to return to their old home!
Cats don't really do well with changes in general. Chris Whyle, a behavior wellness coordinator, explains that "Cats love the familiar and become very uncomfortable with even the smallest of changes." Breaking routines in feeding, playtime, and litter scooping can result in a cat getting more stressed.
"Cats are homebodies and get very comfortable in their environment as it is a relaxing, stress-free place to be," the experts at the Alondra Animal Hospital write. Even when you're moving together with your cat, they recommend furnishing rooms with their own scent as well as the owner's. The more familiar the surroundings, the more relaxed the cat will feel in their new environment.
