Cats are popular pets for a reason. They’re cute, funny, low-maintenance compared to dogs, and they run the house like tiny landlords. But the real reason people fall hard for cats is their personality. They’re strange, selective, emotional in unexpected ways, and impossible to fully decode. Which is exactly why people keep asking: Does my cat actually love me?
If you live with a cat, the answer is yes. They just don’t show it in ways humans expect. I live with eight European cats. I’ve been woken up by paws in my face, judged for breathing too loudly, and had my belongings stolen for naps. Over the years, I’ve learned that most of the things cats do that confuse, annoy, or slightly traumatize us are actually… affection. Here’s how cat love usually shows up.
1. Your Cat Brings You Something Horrifying
No, it’s not a threat. No, it’s not revenge.
When your cat brings you a dead mouse, bird, or something you absolutely did not ask for, they are giving you a gift. A deeply upsetting gift, but a gift nonetheless.
They’re showing you they can hunt. They’re sharing their success. In cat logic, this is generous. Notice how they often don’t eat it. The point wasn’t hunger. The point was you.
You don’t have to be grateful out loud. Just know: in your cat’s mind, this was a loving gesture.
2. Your Cat Shows You Their Belly (But Don’t Get Ideas)
When a cat rolls onto their back and shows you their belly, that’s trust. Full stop. It does not automatically mean “please touch.” It means “I feel safe enough to expose my most vulnerable part.”
Some cats enjoy brief belly contact. Many absolutely do not. If you get bitten afterward, that’s on you. The belly reveal itself was the love language. Everything after that was a risk you chose to take.
3. The Tail Tells the Truth
Cats don’t fake politeness. Their tail will tell you exactly how they feel.
A tail held upright, sometimes with a slight curl at the tip, means your cat is happy to see you. This is the closest thing to a friendly greeting.
A tail whipping aggressively from side to side means you’ve pushed too far. That’s your warning. Ignore it, and consequences will follow.
Cats communicate clearly. We just like to pretend they don’t.
4. Your Cat Rubs Against Your Legs Like a Drunk Roommate
This isn’t begging. It’s ownership. When your cat rubs against your legs, they’re marking you with their scent. It’s social, territorial, and affectionate all at once. They’re basically saying: You’re mine.
I once assumed this meant my cat was still hungry. I fed her again. She didn’t touch the food. She just kept rubbing against me.
She wasn’t asking for dinner. She was saying thank you. In cat language. Which is inconvenient and confusing, but sincere.
5. Your Cat Sleeps Next to You (Instead of Literally Anywhere Else)
Cats love warmth, yes. But they love safety more. When your cat chooses to sleep next to you, they’re choosing your presence while they’re most vulnerable. That’s not random. That’s trust.
They could sleep on a chair, a radiator, or a box you forgot to throw away. They chose you.
Congratulations. You passed whatever invisible test they were running.
6. Your Cat Sleeps on Your Stuff When You’re Gone
Clothes. Laptop. Backpack. Freshly worn hoodie. All stolen. All covered in fur.
When you’re not home, your belongings smell like you. Sleeping on them brings comfort. That’s it. That’s the reason.
Sometimes you’ll catch them in the act. Sometimes they’ll flee the scene and pretend nothing happened. But the evidence is always there. Your cat misses you. They just refuse to admit it directly.
7. Kneading You Like You’re Dough
Kneading comes from kittenhood. It’s tied to safety, comfort, and early bonding. When your cat kneads you, they’re relaxed enough to revert to that state. Yes, it can hurt. Yes, claws may be involved. No, they’re not trying to injure you.
This is one of the clearest signs of affection cats have. If your cat kneads you, you’re not just tolerated. You’re trusted. You may bleed a little. Love has its price!
Love, Just… Cat Version
Cats don’t love loudly. They love in routines, habits, choices, and strange behaviors that only make sense once you stop expecting them to act like humans.
If your cat does even a few of these things, you’re not just their owner. You’re their person. And yes, they still might ignore you for six hours straight afterward. That’s just how cats are.
