Do Cats Love Us? How to Tell What Your Cat Is Really Thinking
- Author: Monica Jackson
- Posted: 2024-07-21
Have you ever looked at your cat and wondered what's happening inside their weird, little head? Cats tend to get a reputation for being mysterious, aloof, and just a little quirky. It turns out that a lot of their confusing behavior (like begging you for a pet and then swatting your hand away) is just due to their unique psychology. Unlike dogs, cats never evolved to be perfectly in-tune with humans. Instead, their behavior can be a bit alien. Learning a little about the way cats really think can improve your relationship with your fluffy friend.
Cats Don't Need Us, But They Do Love Us
A surprisingly large amount of studies have been done to figure out what cats think of humans. What has this research found out? First of all, cats don't feel an emotional need for human connection. Unlike a dog or a human child, a cat doesn't get stressed by itself or actively seek human company when it's scared or threatened.
Why do cats stick around then? It turns out that cats enjoy our company. Though they aren't naturally pack animals, cats still develop strong social bonds when they're in a relaxed environment with plenty of food. In the wild, cats develop best friends and even co-parent with each other. This means your cat thinks of you as a buddy or a sibling that they choose to stay with just for fun.
Are Cats Really Vindictive?
A common myth about cats is that they're vindictive. It can certainly feel like your cat is trying to get revenge when it pees on your sweater right after you withhold a treat. However, careful scanning of cat brainwaves show this isn't really happening. Cats don't have much of a frontal lobe, so they fail to plan for the future.
Your cat might look sneaky, but it's not actually planning a revenge plot. Instead, a lot of supposedly "vindictive" behavior is just general signs of distress. Cats tend to pee or scratch items when they're upset, because they're trying to reassure themselves by marking their territory.
Cats Are Motivated by Positive Emotion Not Negative Emotion
To train a cat, you need to know how it thinks and what motivates it. Cat behaviorists report that cats almost entirely ignore negative consequences and don't understand a punishment. And since cats aren't quite as emotionally dependent as dogs, just knowing you're disappointed won't be enough to discourage your cat.
Instead, training works better when you give positive reinforcement. The right reinforcement depends on your cat. Some will do anything for a treat, while others might want a soothing pet or play time with a fun toy. To train your cat, try to notice when it's doing a positive behavior, like not scratching your computer monitor, and reward it with positive attention.
Even Indoor Cats Crave Stimulation
Much like a dog needs to go for a walk each day, cats need play time. These animals crave a lot of mental stimulation, or they get bored and frustrated. Often, when people think their cat is misbehaving, the cat is just bored.
Taking time to address your pet's needs for mental stimulation can keep them from turning over your potted plants or caterwauling at 3 a.m. For most cats, just wiggling around a toy for them to chase for 15 minutes can help satisfy their hunting instincts. Some cats may also enjoy watching bird videos or solving puzzles for treets.
Cats Show Love Differently
Since cats think differently than humans, they don't have the same intuition a dog does. Long moments of eye contact, intense snuggles, and lots of hugs don't signal affection for a cat. Instead, these can feel like aggressive acts that make a cat think you don't like it.
To strengthen your bond with your cat, you need to understand how they show affection. First of all, if your cat's sitting across the room for you, it means they care enough to make sure you're both in the same room. Second, look at their tail. An upright tail with a curl at the end means your cat is feeling happy and affectionate. Finally, pay attention to eye contact. Brief eye contact followed by a slow blink is a cat's main way of saying, "I love you." And when you want your pet to know you care, you can do it right back to them!
