Your cat wants to be near your face to show deep trust, affection, and to mark you as family by depositing their scent from cheek glands, creating a sense of security and belonging, often seeking warmth and comfort in this vulnerable position. It's a significant compliment, indicating they feel safe enough to be near your head, a vital but vulnerable area for a cat.
Your Cat is Bonding with You
They adjust their sleeping patterns to match yours, seeking the soothing rhythm of your heartbeat and breath. It's also about marking you with their scent, an intimate gesture in the cat world, signifying that you are a part of their trusted circle.
Face touching allows them to exchange scents and express trust and affection in a way that feels safe and comfortable for them. It's also a more controlled form of interaction from the cat's perspective, allowing them to initiate and end the contact as they wish.
A cat chooses you through affectionate behaviors like slow blinking (cat kisses), head bunting (marking you with their scent), kneading ("making biscuits"), grooming you (allogrooming), bringing "gifts," following you, sleeping near you, and exposing their belly, all signs of deep trust and family inclusion. These actions show they feel safe, see you as family, and want to bond, indicating you're their favorite person.
They're Claiming You Through Scent
So not only is rubbing against you a sign of a happy “hello” or “welcome home,” but cats also want to make sure that they have marked you with their scent. Cats have scent glands on their cheeks, chin, top of their head, and base of their tail. These scent glands contain pheromones.
To say "I love you" in cat language, use slow blinks, offer gentle head/cheek rubs (scent glands), let them initiate contact, provide interactive play, and simply share calm presence, mimicking their natural affection signals like grooming and trust-building.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often going undetected until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), which damages organs without obvious signs until blindness or seizures occur, notes Muirfield Animal Hospital, Pet Health Network, www.springwoodvets.com.au, Close Veterinary Clinic, Killarney Animal Hospital, Physicians Mutual Insurance, Sykesville Veterinary Clinic, Mona Vale Veterinary Hospital, Nimbus Pet Hospital, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Covetrus North America, ASPCA Pet Insurance and PetCareRx. Other serious conditions include Hyperthyroidism, Heart Disease (like HCM), and Fatty Liver Disease (Hepatic Lipidosis).
The 3:3:3 Rule: Help Your New Cat Adjust to Their Home The 3:3:3 rule explains some general expectations for the transition process and some tips on how to support your cat through each stage: 3 days for initial acclimatization, 3 weeks for settling in, and by 3 months, they should be comfortable and at ease in their ...
Signs your cat has bonded with you include affectionate behaviors like kneading ("making biscuits"), slow blinking (kitty kisses), head bunting to mark you with their scent, grooming you, bringing you "gifts," sleeping near or on you, and showing their vulnerable belly. They'll often follow you, greet you at the door, and communicate with happy meows and purrs, showing deep trust and comfort in your presence.
To apologize to a cat, use a soft, calm tone, offer treats or toys, initiate slow blinking, give space if needed, and respect their boundaries for physical touch, focusing on actions and tone over words to rebuild trust and affection. Don't force interaction, as they respond to reassurance and positive experiences more than human language.
Cat behavior red flags signal potential medical or emotional issues, including sudden changes in eating/drinking, litter box problems, excessive vocalization, increased hiding, aggression, lethargy, or changes in grooming (like overgrooming or stopping). Because cats hide illness well, any significant deviation from their normal routine, such as increased thirst, appetite changes, or unusual hiding, warrants an urgent vet visit to rule out serious underlying conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or pain.
Yes. Cats may check if you're breathing while you sleep to confirm whether you are alive or dead. …
When a cat senses death, they may display a change in behavior. They may become more affectionate, refuse to leave the person's side, or show signs of anxiety or distress.
Cats are often thought of as being independent creatures who are happy in their own company. But your cat can get lonely. Interacting with the human they love helps to enrich their lives (and yours). If your cat sleeps with you this indicates that they enjoy your company and want to spend time with you.
Happy Cat: Signs of a Content and Satisfied Feline
10 signs your cat has imprinted on you
While most cats likely miss their owners sometimes, they're usually still happy to entertain themselves or take a long nap while you're gone. However, occasionally a cat can miss their owner so much that they develop separation anxiety or other separated-related behaviours.
Here are some of the top signs your cat loves you:
Cats are incredibly sensitive to their environment. Major changes such as switching owners and households can be dramatic and very stressful. Cats are aware of even the smallest changes in your household.
Signs of Anxiety in Cats
Cats can experience stress and confusion during a rehome, especially if the change is sudden. But sadness, as we experience it, isn't quite the same for cats, and they usually settle once they feel safe.
Cats hate strong, pungent, or bitter smells, with citrus (lemon, orange), vinegar, and harsh cleaning chemicals (ammonia, bleach) topping the list, along with certain herbs (lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary) and spices (cinnamon, pepper) that can irritate their sensitive noses, with some being toxic if ingested. Strong odors like spoiled food, other animals' scents, or menthol are also highly disliked.
Cats do remember negative experiences, but they don't dwell on resentment the way people do. Instead, they react based on learned associations and their need for safety. With patience, consistency, and care, most cats return to positive behaviors quickly.
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