Valentine’s Day obliges, love is at the heart of concerns in February. But when you share your life with a cat, you always wonder if this love is reciprocal. So, do cats really love us? Can they also fall in love? Here are some ideas to try to answer it.
The cat, an animal that loves us … in its own way
Before being able to say if a cat can fall in love or not, we must already define what love is according to cats.
To show signs of affection, a cat will rub their cheeks or even their body against their dear and tender human. Unfortunately, this frequent display of affection near the meal is often interpreted as self-interested behavior. Yet, when a child looks sweet at you to get a candy, do you question the sincerity of their love? No ! So no reason to do it for a cat.
By rubbing against you or licking you, a cat will deposit its scent and thus show that you belong to the same group. It may lack romanticism, but for a cat it is a great mark of affection.
Another sign of unstoppable affection is the blinking of the eyes. Of studies showed that looking a cat in the eye was a threat to them, whereas by blinking softly, cats would see a very positive calming signal.
A cat who blinks in our presence is therefore a happy and relaxed cat. A beautiful proof of love, isn’t it?
Love between cats
The behavior cats have with each other is not that different from the behavior they have with humans.
Cats who get along will demonstrate that they belong to the same group by rubbing their cheeks as well as their bodies against each other. They will sleep nearby or even curl up against each other. Behavior that capsizes human hearts.
But the ultimate proof of love is mutual grooming, also known as allogrooming. This is a very strong sign of belonging that only the closest cats will practice among themselves.
All these behaviors are therefore the sign of a very strong social bond. A mark of love may be insufficient in the eyes of some, but which, from a cat’s point of view, is sincere.
As for love according to humans, know that cats do not breed for this reason. At the risk of disappointing some, the female has a long-term vision. She chooses her breeding male according to very specific criteria: his good health and his ability to transmit his genes.
Considerations far from those of humans in choosing their future companion!
So, is the cat visionary?
To read also: “A serious plan”: 3000 animals are waiting for you on the occasion of Valentine’s Day at the SPA
