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Learn how to forge a strong bond with your beloved cat
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The relationship between humans and their cats is complicated, to say the least! Felines are fickle creatures. They will purr and lavish you with licks one moment and bite your hand in the next. Believe it or not, those can all be signs that your cat has imprinted on you—meaning they’ve chosen you as one of their favorite people. We'll explain all the signs of imprinting, plus give advice on how to encourage imprinting and get a cat to trust and love you.
How to Tell if a Cat Has Imprinted on You
- They follow you, sleep with you, and sit near or on you.
- They meow at you, purr, and bring you gifts.
- They knead you, show you their belly, and rub up against you.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Signs Your Cat Imprinted on You
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They follow you everywhere you go. You’ll often catch them following you throughout the house, even into the bathroom! If you stay in one room for awhile, they’ll lay on nearby furniture or the floor—any surface will do, as long as they can rest knowing you’re around. [1] X Research source
- If your cat goes off alone to another room, this isn’t necessarily a sign that they don’t like you. Something may be attracting their attention, like a warm sunbeam on the floor, a soft bed where they can nap, or a favorite toy. They’ll also go into the kitchen by themselves to eat or drink when they’re hungry or thirsty.
- Remember, cats are still highly independent and may disappear for hours—not because they don’t like you, but because they have other activities they want to do.
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They lay in your lap and other of areas your body. They may rest on your lap, in between your legs, or on your stomach. Some cats even roost near your head. If your cat didn’t like you, they wouldn’t lay anywhere close to you, much less on top of you. So it’s safe to say you’ve been imprinted. [2] X Research source
- Cats also lay on humans because they enjoy our body heat, which is why you’ll often find them laying on you more on cold days.
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They knead you with their paws. This is a behavior they learned to do as kittens, when they pressed their paws into their mother’s belly while nursing. If your cat “makes biscuits” on an area of your body, it’s because they associate you with this warm, fuzzy memory of their kittenhood. [3] X Research source
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They sleep with you during naptime and at night. Cats are the most vulnerable when they’re asleep, so they only choose people they love and trust to bunk with. Plus, snoozing with you keeps them warm. [4] X Research source
- Another reason cats sleep with you at night is to protect you or to feel more protected. House cats don’t have any predators inside, but that doesn’t stop them from heeding their instincts to huddle during the nighttime hours.
- Cats also sleep in shorter stints than humans and may find it strange that you’re sleeping for so long. As such, they may feel responsible for defending you from things that go thump in the night.
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They rub against your legs, hands, and head. Cats have scent glands on their head, cheeks, chin, and tail that produce pheromones. When they sidle up to you and butt their head or body up against you, they’re putting their pheromones on you to identify you as part of their colony. [5] X Research source
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They groom you with their tongues. As a kitten, your cat probably spent a lot of time practicing grooming their littermates and mother. So when they start licking your skin or hair unprompted, it means they think of you as a member of their cat family. [6] X Research source
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They show you their belly. Cats’ internal organs are most accessible through that area of their body. If they flop on the floor and expose their belly, this means they feel safe and relaxed in your presence, so pat yourself on the back for being such a great cat parent! [7] X Research source
- Showing you their belly isn’t always an invitation to pet it, however! The abdomen is a sensitive area for cats, so don’t be offended if they bite or scratch you when you try to rub it.
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They bring you gifts to share or get attention. A toy in your bed may be a bid for play, whereas a mouse on your doorstep may be a wry comment on your lack of hunting skills. [8] X Research source
- Mother cats hunt and bring dead animals back to their kittens to eat until they’re old enough to hunt for themselves. Sometimes they even bring back live animals to teach their young how to hunt and kill in a safe environment.
- Humans don’t hunt for food anymore, so their cats may decide to take on that important role by bringing dead mice and birds to their doorstep.
- Meanwhile, cats who live exclusively inside the house and bring you gifts (like toys, household objects, or trash) usually want you to do something for them, like play with them or feed them.
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They protect you from perceived dangers. For example, if you’re soaking in the bathtub, your cat may think you’re drowning and try to grab your hand with their paws or teeth to pull you out. Your cat may also be hostile toward people whom they haven’t imprinted on and monitor them for threats. [9] X Research source
- While the sentiment behind their desire to protect you is endearing, some cats take it to an aggressive level and hiss, bite, or claw at anyone they don’t know.
- Discourage your cat’s unwanted behavior by distracting them with something, like food or a toy. If they’re not actively attacking or hurting anyone, you can also try ignoring their aggression.
- Never praise or punish cats for aggression, as both types of responses could worsen their bad behavior.
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They avoid and are shy of unimprinted people. Your feline may avoid approaching strangers and not seek affection, food, or anything else from them. They may also disappear when company comes. Around you, their favorite human, their personality comes out and they’re no longer shy. [10] X Research source
- Cats often struggle to socialize with new people because they haven’t been exposed to strangers often enough. Help your adult cat feel more comfortable around people who visit your home by having visitors play with them or give them treats. With a bribe, your cat may come around.
- Another reason for cats’ shyness of strangers is an aversion to loud noises. Consider asking your guests to keep their voices low if they want to see your antisocial kitty.
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They greet you when you come home. As soon as you walk in the front door or into a room after being gone, your cat communicates their delight by head bunting at your legs, chirping, and sticking their tail straight up in the air. [11] X Research source
- Cats typically only greet the humans they love with chirping or trilling sounds. So if you hear these upon seeing your cat after some hours or days have passed, you know they’re happy to see you in particular.
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They purr when you’re around or when you pet them. Purring is a cat’s way of expressing happiness and contentment. If they do it when you’re interacting with them, great news: they associate those positive feelings with you! [12] X Research source
- Purring can also indicate that your cat feels anxious or sick. If your cat is showing other abnormal behaviors like not eating or drinking, sleeping more than usual, vomiting, or having trouble using the litter box, make an appointment with their veterinarian.
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They slow-blink at you from across the room. Slow-blinking is the cat version of smiling. If they gaze at you from afar and lazily blink their eyes at you, that’s them telling you, “I love you” or “I don’t mind you that much” in their own magical cat way. [13] X Research source
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They let you trim their claws. They may not like it, but if they’re not hissing, growling, or scratching at you, you know that if they had to get their claws trimmed by someone, they’d rather it be you. [14] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
- If your cat fights you when you try to trim their nails , don’t take it personally! It doesn’t mean they haven’t imprinted on you, it just means they don’t like getting their claws clipped.
- Training them from an early age to relax and accept the nail clipper will do wonders, but for older, less cooperative cats, try gently restraining them by wrapping them in a blanket or a towel.
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They seek you out to play with you. Each cat has different ideas of what “playing” means, but they’re all experts at showing you what they like. Play with them often, as this is one of the best ways to strengthen your relationship.
- Try different toys to see what excites them the most. For example, your cat may bring you a mouse toy and want you to throw it down a long hallway for a game of fetch (yes, cats play that game, too). Alternatively, they may enjoy chasing a string, a feather that you dangle from a stick, or a laser pointer.
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They howl for you when they’re lonely. This is also their way of calling to you to ensure you’re nearby. They wouldn’t do this with a stranger or someone they didn’t truly want attention from. Be sure to respond to them as soon as you can with loving reassurances! [15] X Research source
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References
- ↑ https://spca.bc.ca/news/how-do-you-know-if-your-cat-loves-you/
- ↑ https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/what-is-cat-imprinting/
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- ↑ https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/what-is-cat-imprinting/
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- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/shy-fearful-cats
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-tell-if-your-cat-loves-you-according-to-science/
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/why-do-cats-purr
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-tell-if-your-cat-loves-you-according-to-science/
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/trimming-cats-claws
- ↑ https://www.maddiesfund.org/meowing-when-left-alone.htm
- ↑ https://houstonspca.org/easy-ways-to-strengthen-the-bond-with-your-pet/
- ↑ https://www.foundanimals.org/how-to-bond-with-your-cat/
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- ↑ https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/what-is-cat-imprinting/
- ↑ https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/what-is-cat-imprinting/
- ↑ https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/what-is-cat-imprinting/
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