Cats are absolutely adorable, and there’s even scientific proof that kittens are biologically designed to be cute and capture our attention.1 There’s no denying that humans think cats are cute, but what do cats think about humans?
While more research needs to be done on the relationship between humans and cats, the research that we do have indicates that it’s unlikely cats view humans as cute. Based on observations, cats probably view humans as bigger cats.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cats can’t feel affectionate towards their human companions. We’ll go over cats’ perspectives on humans and how it plays a role in our relationship with them.
How Do Cats View Humans?
It’s most likely that cats view humans as their equals.2 It’s common for dogs to change their behavior when they interact with humans. For example, dogs can adopt different play styles when they’re playing with other dogs and when they’re playing with their human companions.
In contrast, cats don’t really seem to change and adjust their behavior around humans. They seem to treat humans similar to how they treat other cats. They show affection to humans in the same ways they show affection to each other. They can rub their faces against humans, sit by them, and groom them, which are all behaviors that cats can display when they’re with feline companions.
It’s unlikely that cats think humans are cute. Instead, it’s hypothesized that they view humans as large cats and will, therefore, treat them as such.
Do Cats View Their Owners as Their Parents?
Even if cats don’t view humans as cute, they can still feel affection for humans and develop strong bonds with them. A study that focused on the bond between humans and cats discovered that kittens are capable of forming attachment bonds to their human caregivers that are similar to human parents and babies. If you’re caring for a young kitten, especially if they’ve been separated from their feline mother, they can start to see you as their parent.
Signs Your Cat Loves You
No matter a cat’s age, they can form a positive relationship with their human companions and show love to them. Of course, they’ll express love in their own feline ways that are different from common human expressions of love. For example, cats can show affection to one another by headbutting each other. They do this because they have glands on their face that contain pheromones. When they headbutt, they’re marking each other with their own personal scents. Therefore, if your cat headbutts you, you can take it as a sign that they’re acknowledging you as one of their own.
Cats also show that they feel comfortable and safe when they’re squinting or blinking slowly. You can try giving your cat a slow blink and see if they return the gesture. Receiving a slow blink from a cat is one of the highest compliments you can receive from them because it shows that they feel happy and relaxed around you.
Other unique ways that cats show affection include kneading or “making biscuits” on you. They may try to groom you or expose their belly, or purr when you pet them. Some cats may start to follow their owners around from room to room inside your house and wait by the door to greet them when they return home.
Conclusion
The way that cats show care and affection to humans is similar to how they show them to other cats. So, it’s likely that cats see humans as their big cat friends. Cats don’t need to view humans as cute in order for them to feel love and affection for them. They’ll show that they like us in their own cat ways, and we can continue to adore our cats whenever we see them being cute.
Featured Image Credit: VH studio, Shutterstock
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