10 Sweet Signs Your Cat Thinks of You as Their Mom or Dad

Cat owners snuggling with their kitten

If you keep pictures of your cats in your wallet alongside photos of your human children, you might be the sort of person who thinks of felines as family members—and you're not alone. Plenty of cat owners think of their kitties as kin! But do your cats think of you as "Mom" or "Dad"?

We asked New Zealand-based veterinarian, Dr. Lianne Mellin, BVSc (Hons), to find out specific signs your cat might think of you as a parent. Right away, Dr. Mellin, who prefers to be called "Dr. Lianne," says she's a fan of terms like "pawrent," "pet parent" or "paw-parent" when discussing this subject.

"Cats don’t necessarily have the same concept of 'mom' and 'dad' as we do," Dr. Lianne explains. "However, they do see their 'paw-parents' as caregivers and companions. You may notice your kitty doesn’t do the following behaviors with other people, but it does with you—that’s because it trusts you as its paw-parent!"

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10 Sweet Signs Your Cat Thinks of You as Their Mom or Dad, According to a Veterinarian

1. They Knead You

Kneading, also known as "baking bread" or "making biscuits" to the pawrent, is when cats use their paws to massage a soft surface such as a human lap, cat bed, pillow or blanket. 

They push down with one paw—extending and retracting their claws—and then do the same with the other paw, alternating paws over and over in a rhythmic fashion before settling down for a cozy snuggle or snooze (or both).

"This type of behavior starts when your kitten is nurtured by its mother. It’s a sign your kitty is nice and comfortable," Dr. Lianne says. "Feel-good hormones called endorphins are likely released when your cat does this."

2. They Purr When Near You

"Purring is most commonly known as a sign of a relaxed cat," Dr. Lianne says. "Sometimes, cats purr when they’re stressed too. Usually, this is accompanied by other body language such as flattened ears and tail twitching. But most often, purring is associated with comfort, contentment and security—something paw-parents create for their fur-babies."

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3. They "Talk" to You

"Kittens meow at their mothers when they need something," Dr. Lianne says. "However, when cats become adults, they no longer meow at other cats—you may hear them 'yowl,' but this is different. Adult cats only meow at people. Your cat does this because it wants to communicate with you!"

4. Tail Shape

Want to know if your cat is happy to see you? Look at its tail.

"Being able to read your cat’s body language—including tail language—is incredibly important," Dr. Lianne explains. "If your cat holds its tail in a question-mark or hook-like shape, this means it's happy. You may notice your cat only does this with you. That's because it feels happy around you. Your cat may even wrap its tail around you—this is a friendly greeting!"

What about when your cat's tail vibrates visibly?

"If your cat's tail quivers when you get home from a day out, it's a sign kitty is excited to see you!" she continues.

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5. They "Head Bunt" You

If your cat has ever headbutted you, it's not trying to knock you over. This behavior, known as "bunting" or "head bunting," is common in cats—and also undeniably adorable.

"This behavior begins during kittenhood between littermates and the mother cat," Dr. Lianne says. "Your cat may do this with you too as a social behavior. They also do this to mark you with their scent—to claim you as part of their family!"

6. They Lick You

Nothing says "I love you, Mom," like a sandpapery cat tongue—truly!

"Licking is also a very social behavior between cats. This shows they trust each other," Dr. Lianne says. "They’ll often extend this behavior to their paw-parents because they feel most relaxed with them. As with head bunting, it can be a way to mark you with their scent and claim you as their family!"

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7. They "Slow Blink" at You

"This is when your cat makes eye contact with you and slowly blinks—it almost looks like a very sleepy person trying to stay awake," Dr. Lianne explains. "It can sometimes be tricky to identify, but it's a sign of great adoration. Some people even consider it your cat’s way of kissing you!"

8. They Come to You When They're Hungry

Cats know when it's mealtime. When pawrents feed their furballs at roughly the same time every day, their kitties show up around that time and meow until the message is received.

"This follows the idea that cats understand that you’re their caregiver or provider," Dr. Lianne says. "They know and trust that you’ll ensure they always get enough food."

But what if your cat is pestering you for food all the time?

"It can be tricky to say 'no' to cats that are constantly asking for food," she continues. "Make sure you check with your veterinarian that you’re feeding them enough or that there aren’t other underlying conditions causing them to be hungry all the time."

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9. They Bring You Things

"Hunting is an innate behavior," Dr. Lianne says. "Cats that have access to the outside world may bring you things like mice, leaves or crickets, while cats that live inside may bring you toys. They do this to reward you for caring for them!"

10. They Sleep Near You

"When a cat sleeps near you, it's a serious sign of comfort and trust—even if they’re out of arm’s reach," Dr. Lianne explains. "This shows that your cat knows you’ll protect it if danger approaches when it's asleep. This also shows that your cat doesn’t see you as dangerous."

Up Next: 10 Sweet Signs Your Dog Thinks of You as Their Mom and Dad

Source

• Follow New Zealand-based veterinarian Dr. Lianne Mellin, BVSc (Hons), on Instagram and watch her videos on YouTube.