Love of a cat!

[Randi]

The observations below, I found on the net. I think they describe a cat's behaviour pretty accurate.

Cats are said to be independent, aloof, and not in need of company except on their terms. This is true only of some cats; certainly not all. Cats raised by people from an early age either think they are almost human, or that the human is almost a cat.

In fact, throughout a cat-person bond, the two may switch roles without realizing it. On occasion, a cat will bring home a dead or half-dead animal as a token of her love and respect (a touching, if gruesome, method of confirming the bond).

Bringing home “love offerings” of this type is a sign of attachment and belonging. There are others that require less clean up. When the bond is strong, a cat will:
*   Tend to follow you around. She may not follow immediately, but after a moment or two she might casually saunter into the room where you’re sitting (as if she’s trying to play the whole thing down). Your cat may jump in your lap or may just find a chair nearby. Either way, she prefers to spend time with you.
*   Become slightly depressed when you leave, and greet you enthusiastically upon your return. She may learn to recognize the sound of your car pulling up and run to the door, expecting your presence.
*   Send subtle cat signals of affection to you throughout the day. These often take the form of classic “cat kisses” – staring at you adoringly, then squinting or slowly closing her eyes.
*   Send not-so-subtle signals, such as rubbing her head upon you (marking you with her scent), and of course, purring.
*   Lying on her back, with her stomach exposed. This is a sign of trust, because your cat is now in a vulnerable position. Many owners mistakenly think this is a request for a belly rub. It usually isn't.

This is a cat’s affection at its most intense. They can’t hold your hand, and they are not given to jumping up and kissing you. There’s no difficulty to describe this sort of relationship as love.

Ps. John has gone on a business trip over the weekend and Fister has just come to sit next to the Mac I'm on now, he normally ONLY does that when John is sitting here - I'm honoured! It will be interesting to see how he behaves tonight - John not in bed!

[kimlovescats]

Thanks for the extra confirmation that my kitties really do love me!!!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Out of my 3 cats, Leonardo is the one who does most of those. I think it's because I bottle fed him when he was about 10 days old. He really thinks I'm his mawmee! I found it hard to feel honored though when he brought me a mouse while I was sleeping. I'm so glad I woke up before he dropped it on my pillow. Thankfully, that was the last one that got into the house.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Except that Edwina never brings live animals (darn!) she does these. It always amazes me that she is waiting at the door when I come home (except on Mondays - too tired from the weekend ) My mother was visiting once and watched from "inside." Said Edwina was at the door before I had even turned into the driveway!

[Cataholic]

Very interesting, Randi! I now know my cats love me!!! Some more than others, it seems...

[AmberLee]

Originally posted by Cataholic
...Some more than others, it seems...

Some cats are just more demonstrative than others.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by AmberLee
Some cats are just more demonstrative than others.

Just like people I s'pose.

Tubby does all of those, except exposing his tummy/asking for belly rubs. He has never done that. Peanut does that, but does not bump her head, so I guess each shows their love in different ways.

It's nice having Terry working from home because he says, for the most part, Tubby sleeps all day, then about 5:00 pm or so, he heads down stairs and starts waiting for me. I normally show up anywhere from 5:45 - 6:30, so sometimes he has a longer wait. But when I come up to the door, he's sitting right on the other side by the window looking out - waiting for me. Peanut doesn't wait for me, but she does come running down the stairs as soon as I come in the door. So I've got Tubby sitting right there waiting, Peanut running down the stairs then rubbing her gums on the corner of the half wall - then Terry comes down the stairs - the whole family comes to greet me. Awwww....that's so sweet. Until you realize they all want just one thing.....food!

[krazyaboutkatz]

All 3 of my cats do all of these things. I guess they really do love me. Sunny will even give me headbumpies to my head and lick my head. I guess he thinks that I'm the mother cat.

[wayne0214]

Yesterday evening (saturday) all 4 of my newest adoptees, were sleeping on the couch while I was watching TV. These are the most affectionate furkids that I have "owned" . After bringing Puma home from the vets' on Friday, last night she was her usual self again, giving head-bumpies and kitty kisses, with her little wet nose. Chris is always laying on his back, tummy exposed, purring. for me to rub. Happy purrs immediately when I even touch him. He will jump up into my lap and begin to nurse my shirt , while King Otis, will sleep next to me, without demonstrating any affection, not like the others. However, in the mornings after I get up, Tiara is always in my lap for scritchies. They certainly fill in what would otherwise be a lonely existence.

.........wayne

[moosmom]

There is nothing better than the love of a cat (or cats). It's unconditional. Or the love of all the people here on Pet Talk

[Randi]

Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
I found it hard to feel honored though when he brought me a mouse while I was sleeping. I'm so glad I woke up before he dropped it on my pillow. Thankfully, that was the last one that got into the house.

LOL! Sorry I'm laughing, I can just picture it MOFF! So did you finish it off and put it in the bin?

KAK! Isn't that SO sweet. Fister does that too sometimes, but it's mostly my hand. However, if I'm wearing perfume, he'll come up and lick my hair - I suppose he wants to wash it off.

I know now for sure that John is his favourite, last night, he came up in bed, standing there looking at John's pillow, then lay on his duvet for a while - sniffing, and dissapeared for the rest of the night.

[Barbara]

Filou only licks Siegmar's head because his hair is as short as a cat's fur. I am sure he thinks Siegmar is the Big Cat (that's what I think too)

Many people who tell about their cat of the day say something like ..is more like a dog.. follows me around etc.
I always knew this was no doggish behavior but the behavior of cats that really live with their humans -they are different than the farm cats in the time of our grand parents who were more living within their peer group.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Both Emily and Tanner are demonstrative to me. The both greet me at the door at the end of the day (hoping for food ). But there is usually a little "discussion" in the evening over who gets to sit on my lap (since there are two cats and only one lap it can create problems sometimes). They both like to expose their tummies, although Tanner likes to have his rubbed, Emily justs likes to show it off. The one strange thing is that Tanner likes to lick me. Let me tell you there is nothing quite like a kitty tongue on your eyes lids to wake you up in the morning And of course they both give eye kisses ... I think they realize that they are well loved and I wouldn't know what to do without them.

[HayleyRosie]

Hayley is always waiting at the door when I get home from work. She also watches me leaving in the mornings from the window. I find that really hard because she looks so sad. I'm glad her being at the door when I get home is a sign that she loves me!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Randi
They can’t hold your hand, and they are not given to jumping up and kissing you.

i'll challenge that thought.....eddie will come to the sofa and lie at
my feet with one paw touching me at all times! it''s funny and bizarre, but that's his security blanket......he does that to my mom and brother when we go a visitin'
also i get the jump-into-my-lap, kitty-kiss, and hey-i'm off-again...