You’ve probably spent countless hours scrolling through cat memes, debating whether your feline friend actually loves you or just tolerates your existence for the food bowl refills. Here’s the thing though. While your cat might act like they’re too cool to care, they’re actually showering you with affection in ways that would make any royal court jealous. The problem is that most of us humans are completely oblivious to this regal treatment.
Your cat isn’t being aloof or indifferent. They’re speaking a love language you’ve simply never learned to translate. Let’s be real, these subtle signals are easy to miss when you’re used to the enthusiastic tail wagging and face licking of dogs. So let’s dive in and decode the aristocratic gestures your cat has been bestowing upon you all along.
The Slow Blink Royal Kiss That You Keep Missing
When your cat looks at you and slowly closes their eyes, they’re telling you they trust and are comfortable around you. Your cat is relaxing their guard during a slow blink, making themselves vulnerable at that moment, knowing they are safe with you. Think about it. In the wild, closing your eyes around another creature is basically an invitation to become lunch.
Research from a 2020 study found that cats were more likely to slow blink after their owners slow blinked at them, and when humans initiate the slow blink, we are telling the cat that we trust them. You can actually return this royal gesture by narrowing your eyes at your cat and closing them for a couple of seconds. Watch what happens next. Your feline might just blink back, creating a secret language of trust between you two.
Head Bunting Is Actually Your Cat Crowning You
Cat headbutting, called bunting, is usually a friendly behavior where cats mark you with their scent to show bonding, comfort, and familiarity. Those little bonks on your leg or face aren’t random acts of clumsiness. Cats have glands on their cheeks, forehead, and chin that contain pheromones, and when a cat headbutts you, they are rubbing pheromones on you.
Cats headbutt to connect to familiar people, making headbutting a cat’s way of choosing you, and to a cat, headbutting makes you special, so if a cat decides you are worthy of headbutting, consider it the highest of compliments and absolutely a sign of affection. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a more intimate gesture than literally marking you as part of their inner circle. Your cat is essentially putting up a sign that says “This human belongs to me.”
Those Weird Gifts Are Actually Royal Tributes
Let’s address the elephant in the room, or rather, the dead mouse on your doorstep. When your cat brings you dead animals, it might be because they think you’re a terrible hunter and want to help you practice, and while that might sound a bit insulting on the surface, it’s one of many ways cats show you their love. I know it sounds crazy, but your cat is genuinely concerned about your survival skills.
Feral cats often live together in groups called colonies where female cats often care for kittens that don’t belong to them, and by gifting you a dead animal, your cat might be trying to signal that you’re part of their group, essentially viewing you as part of the pack. Cats view us, their human owners, somewhat like inept kittens, and when your house cat brings you a dead bird or mouse, it’s possible she’s attempting to teach you how to hunt. It’s their version of passing down family traditions. The fact that you find it horrifying is beside the point.
Kneading You Like Dough Means You’re Royalty
The action of kneading provides adult cats with the same feeling of contentment, and grown cats tend to knead when they are around a special person that makes them feel safe and loved, often kneading their human’s chest, side, or lap. That rhythmic pushing motion your cat does with their paws isn’t just some leftover kitten behavior. It’s a deliberate expression of deep affection.
The better a cat feels, the harder they are likely to knead, and they are not trying to hurt you, they are trying to show you how happy they are. Kneading usually means the cat feels happy, friendly and safe. Sure, those claws digging into your thigh might be uncomfortable, but your cat is literally giving you their highest form of praise. They’re saying you make them feel like they’re back with their mother, safe and nurtured. That’s pretty special when you think about it.
Sleeping on You Is the Ultimate Trust Fall
Cats feel most vulnerable when they sleep, so if your cat curls up on you or next to you, it means they trust you and enjoy being with you. Every time your cat chooses your lap over literally any other spot in the house, they’re making a conscious decision to be vulnerable in your presence. This isn’t just about warmth or comfort.
Think about how many nap spots exist in your home. The couch, the bed, that sunny spot by the window, the cardboard box they love so much. Yet they choose you. Cats often show their love by simply being near you, and if your cat chooses to sit on your lap, sleep beside you, or follow you around the house, it’s a clear indication that they enjoy your company and demonstrates their comfort and desire to be close to you. Your cat is essentially saying “I trust you with my life while I’m unconscious.” That’s royal treatment if I’ve ever heard of it.
Following You Around Like a Royal Attendant
Evidence shows cats can recognize your voice, and if your cat comes running when you call them after being gone for the day, it’s a good sign they’ve missed you and are happy to see you. Those moments when your cat trails you from room to room aren’t coincidences. Your cat is choosing to spend time with you over their other favorite activities, like napping or staring out the window.
Cats are much more subtle in showing their love, though that does not mean that the shared bond between cats and humans is any less than with dogs. When your cat sits outside the bathroom door waiting for you or watches you cook dinner from their perch, they’re basically saying “I want to be wherever you are.” Some cats even greet their humans at the door like tiny, furry welcoming committees. That kind of attention and devotion is reserved only for those who’ve earned a cat’s respect and affection. Congratulations, you’ve been knighted.
Conclusion
Your cat has been treating you like royalty this entire time, and you’ve probably been too busy questioning their affection to notice. From slow blinks to head bunts, from questionable gifts to lap naps, every gesture is a carefully chosen expression of trust and love. The next time your cat brings you a dead bird or kneads your stomach at three in the morning, remember that you’re receiving the feline equivalent of being crowned.
The beauty of cats is that they don’t give their affection freely. They make you earn it. So when they do show love, it means something profound. Now that you know the signs, you can finally appreciate just how much your cat adores you. What do you think? Did your cat do any of these things today? Maybe it’s time to slow blink back and show them some royal appreciation in return.
