How do you know if a cat loves/likes you?

[WUME]

I have always been a dog person ( @ saying that here!) and it's quite easy to tell if a dog likes you or not.

We have two new kittens which I adore.

They are brothers but have completely different personalities.

One jumps up on me when I sit down for attention. So I get that he likes me.

The other one follows me everywhere, even to the toilet and will sit outside the door. Sometimes he wants attention but most of the time he gives off the don't stroke me vibe - whilst going everywhere with me. Is this cat love?

[OllyBJolly]

Don't be so deluded! Cats love no one but themselves. They might pretend - oh yes - very good at that! There is always some long term sinister plan behind any (contrived) show of affection. Do not fall for their wiles. Stay strong.

Dogs, on the other hand.....

[GemmaTeller]

Cats have different personalities, we've always had two and sometimes you can't believe how different they are.

In the house, Boycat (3) sits on me, loves up to me, bumps noses, cuddles up in bed with me but ignores me in the garden - won't do any of this loving stuff with DH but will walk round the garden with him and 'show off' running fast across the lawn and up the trees then waiting for DH to go over and tickle his head.

[QuickSilverFairy]

My cats adore me and worship me as a sort of feline Goddess. I know this to be true as they bring me offerings of small varmints, curl next to me to keep me warm and only vomit on my husband's side of the bed.

[Celestria]

Cats love no one. They always have an ulterior motive. For example my charming bengal will suck up to me like he adores me. This means he wants food. And if he doesn't get it, his affection turns into huge cat clamped onto my leg by claws and teeth.

No love. Ulterior motive.

[CatCushion]

Following you and jumping up for cuddles are both clear signs of trust (although I wonder if dcat is trying to trip me on the stairs with her following and stair naps sometimes).

The one who follows might want to play. Try teaching him to fetch rolled up balls of foil or pipe cleaners. :)

I'm not sure it's love, more an expression of their needs.

[Celestria]

Nose rubs. Love? Oh no. Ownership. I own you human. You are my territory. Accept my mark or I will pee on your pillow.

Curling up into bed. Love? Oh no. I am cold. Your bed is comfy. If I must pretend to like you to sleep on it, I will do so. I'm comfy. Move and I will pee on your pillow.

Curled up on lap. Love? Oh no. I have sensed the human needs to pee. Let us torture her with cuteness until she pees on her own pillow.

This is why I love cats. They are utter bastards. And pull it off so well!

[RubbishMantra]

I have a toilet follower. At least you'll never be lonely or bored.

I think cats have love for the old hoomans.

[Celestria]

Prime example. Just walked past bengal. Who immediately puts on a show of cuteness. Unfortunately for him I am wise to his evil ways and take no notice.

Huge cat on leg with fangs and claws. Attention whore.

[RubbishMantra]

But they are good at being bastards.

[PurpleStripedSock]

Ha ha ha ha.

[CatCushion]

Yeah.I was ill in bed, catching up on last night's Silent Witness with 'D'cat snuggled right on top of me. (She was adament she had to be on top of me, not beside me). There's a sudden loud noise on the TV and all her claws stick out into me just to give her a better launch across the room. She then came back to lick my blood off her paws before snuggling up at my feet. Little bastard.

[QueenFuri]

My cat hates me unless its 2am and she fancies a midnight snack. She knows the more she hates me the more attention and love and dreamies I give her. I am now a cat slave.

[cozietoesie]

I'm never sure that 'love' or 'like' come into the equation for them - I suspect that humans just are, like fires and birds and sunshine and.....and.....and........

[tribpot]

Have you ever heard the expression "cats don't have owners, they have staff"?

You exist purely to provide whatever the cat needs. Attention when he wants it but certainly not when he doesn't. If he's following you around he may actually just want feeding, but otherwise you are merely a curiosity that has caught his attention.

Don't worry if they like you. If they haven't killed you in your sleep yet, they are willing to tolerate you for now.

[MephistophelesApprentice]

My cat follows me around everywhere at home and cries if I take my attention off her for more than a minute. Apparently she becomes frantic if I do not return home by 17:45 and will howl mournfully until about 18:30, when she goes off to sulk in my bed.

She also won't let anyone touch her other than me and will take every opportunity to aggressively groom the hairless part of my arm.

The family is torn between whether or not she is in love with me, or (because I am a weed smoker) she just likes to suck left over THC from my skin.

[ArabellaStrange]

Ummn, I am not daft or anything and I know these posts are meant to be humourous but they don't help with the whole 'cats are standoffish bastards' which in my experience, is not the case at all wth the majority of cats I have known and loved. I have expereinced gratititude, true gratitude from a cat I rescued, it wasn't me projecting the happiness and love he showed me for bringing him into my home, is something that will stay with me forever. And that is just one example. Please can we stop giving cats a bad name?

[CatCushion]

Arabella, anyone with a pet cat has to treat the cat with love and respect no matter what. If everyone were saying how totally affectionate and gorgeous their cats were, I'd be more worried to think people would treat a moody/picky/loner cat as bad and even punish them. It's our job to love them, not the other way around!

[bettyboop1970]

Cupboard love with my cats!

[WUME]

Wow I never knew cats were such bastards

I'm looking at my little follower now - he's sat watching me as I mn load the washing machine.

He must love me, he follows me!

He's got me fooled already hasn't he?

[shaska]

Your pair sound like mine. One wants pats 24/7. The other never does, but watches me pee and follows me around the house.

Sometimes I think the affectionate one loves me. But then I remember that she's a cat. The other one is just a pervert.

[chockbic]

The old girl definitely loved me. She was affectionate and caring. Although didn't come out of the box like that

[ShebaRabbit]

My Tom adores me and I adore him. I tolerate the very odd scratch when he's had enough rubs as I believe he's hardwired to do it and really cant help himself. when OH and I argue he ignores him for a few days even though I'm usually the one doing the shouting. If I go to the bedroom to sulk/cry he's down after me and stays with me, licking my hands. He comes when I call him, follows me on walks down the lane and sits waiting for me for a few hours before I'm due home.
My female follows me around a lot too but I have my doubts about her affections....I still love her though I'm aware it may not be mutual

[RubbishMantra]

Aoww, don't think anyone's trying to give cats a bad name here Arabella.

Just acknowledging that they can be dicks sometimes.

But they're cats, so have that right. Because we luffs 'em.