Someone once said, “Cats aren’t showing love when they rub against you; they’re just caressing themselves on you.” This statement is unmistakably a pile of pasture patties!! Not being one inclined to commit plagiarism, I would gladly give credit where credit is due to this incredibly ill-informed person if I could find out their name. I tried to find the author of this hogwash on the web, but came up as empty as obviously his/her head is.
I have five cats, and every one of them shows me their love every single day. Here’s how to tell that your kitty is plying you with his/her affection:
HE/SHE IS A LAPLANDER. Cats do not lap-land on someone they don’t like. If your kitty lands in your lap the second you sit down, this is a sign of true love. The lap is usually their first choice, although your desk chair, your desk (preferable on the keyboard), you bed, or your favorite chair or recliner are all favored landing pads.
RUBBING HIS/HER FOREHEAD AND CHEEK AGAINST YOU. This is definitely kitty’s way of saying, “Take good care of yourself; you belong to me.”
TIP OF TAIL TWITCHING. Cats use their tails in a myriad of ways to communicate their feelings. Straight up is happiness; fast twitching back and forth indicates emotional irritation; down is a sign of fear, illness or pain. But the twitching of only the very tip of the tail is a signal of affection.
STEADY EYE CONTACT. Have you ever tried to out stare a cat? You will lose. But this is kitty’s way of saying, “here’s lookin’ at ya, kid!”
WATCHING FOR YOU TO COME HOME. I have French doors in the front of my house that overlook the yard and driveway. I used to have a beloved little tuxedo friend who was always there in the window waiting for me to come home. I lost her too soon to congenital heart failure, but I still see Julie in the window every time I pull into the driveway. Freud was right when he said, “We are never so hopelessly unhappy as when we lose love.”
GROOMING YOUR HAIR OR EARLOBE. When we think of grooming, we usually envision monkeys and chimps selectively picking fleas. But grooming is not only reserved for the primates. Many animal species groom each other, but only among their own group. It’s the same with cats, and is a natural way of saying “I love you; you are family.”
BRINGING YOU “GIFTS”. If you let your kitty go outside, this “gift” could be most anything depending on your geographical location. Here in Florida it could be a mouse, lizard (some of which are toxic), a palmetto bug, land crab, or whatever. Kitty is not only showing you her browses, but saying, “I give this hunting trophy to you out of love.”
WORMING IN AND OUT BETWEEN YOUR ANKLES. I have accused my cats of doing this to get me down and make sure I don’t outlive the natural human life span, but I realize that this too is a sign of affection. My cats all know that what I lack in the way of profiling and cat psychology I make up for in understanding
Since I’m incapable of doing the Vulcan Mind Meld, I will have to depend on every one of you to fill me in on your experiences with the critters that cross you path (be they native or alien). Please email them to me at your earliest convenience at alliekatz04@gmail.com, and I will beam you up. V^]! (Vulcan for “Thanks!”) Allie
