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Popularly, there is the belief that cats are completely independent animals and that they do not feel the same unconditional love that we feel for them. This fact no doubt makes cat owners quite uncomfortable, as they are sure their cats love them and show it with the slightest gesture.
But is this true? If you're wondering if the cats love their owners, you're in the right place, because in this PeritoAnimal article, we want to explain how cats love and that information is just a rumor.
Do cats have feelings?
The statement that cats feel love has several nuances to take into account, because although we do not doubt the immense affection that our pets have for us, we must know how to distinguish our way of perceiving the world from the way our pets do. pets get it. What is clear is that cats breed there.very strong attachment steels.
However, what is attachment? This concept was first defined by psychologist John Bowlby, and is understood as a emotional bond of great intensity and in a lasting (but variable over time) way, which develops through the reciprocal interaction between two individuals and in which one contributes with security, comfort and sustenance.
Emotionally speaking, attachment arises when the individual realizes they have a protective figure, who will be there unconditionally, as a mother to her child, be it a human, canine or feline relationship, among many other species. For this reason, it is not strange that your cat seeks refuge in you when you are sad, scared, or finally, looking for yours. emotional support.
For more information, see this other PeritoAnimal article: do cats have feelings?
Do cats love their owners?
Recently, a study was carried out at the University of Oregon to see if this phenomenon is true or if, on the contrary, it is just an "idealization" of those who love their kittens very much. However, it has been empirically proven that domestic cats form bonds with their owners and are similar to those raised by a child with his parents.
It's not strange that this connection between cats and owners exists because, if we look coldly at it, the attachment is actually a survival mechanism that we have different species to hold on emotionally to what is conducive to our survival. In other words, if a cat didn't care about her kittens and they didn't feel insecure if their mother disappeared (and therefore didn't call her), they could hardly live without the food, protection and learning she gives them unconditionally. .
However, while in nature there is a detachment process (when the kittens are ready to a maturity level, the mother starts to move away from them and forces them to become independent) when you adopt a cat this doesn `t happen. The guardian becomes that protective figure he couldn't survive without, and that's part of why cats miss their owners. In these circumstances, as your cat has the guardian associated with something good, every time he sees you, this generates a large feeling of confidence and tranquility in him. On the contrary, and as experience has proven, if you disappear from the side and leave it in a completely unfamiliar space, it will feel terribly insecure and stressed, as it will have lost its secure base.
Furthermore, behind this behavior there is a hormone that is responsible for the affection of both cats and humans. We are talking about nothing more and nothing less than oxytocin, a substance secreted by the pituitary gland responsible for creating and maintaining friendship and attachment relationships.
This "love hormone" is, in many mammals, responsible for make us feel good when we are in company and interacting with others of our same species or of different species. In this way, it is a key element for affiliation with others, as it stimulates and reinforces social behaviors, such as mutual grooming, games, etc.
For more information, you can read this other PeritoAnimal article: How to tell if my cat trusts me
How to know if my cat loves me
You probably love your cat, but you may have asked more than once if this love is reciprocal, because cats don't express their affection the same way we do, and they all have their own character, which can make it difficult to understand. There is no doubt that if you are the one who provides your cat with food and safety, he must love you, a lot! Let's see what the main ones are signs that your cat loves you:
- It purrs when you approach and pets it.
- She stretches out and shows you her belly, which is his most vulnerable area.
- She rubs against you, hits her head, walks between your legs...
- He offers you the prey he hunts as a gift.
- He wants to play with you.
- He sleeps near (or on) you.
- He looks at you.
- He licks you and takes a few bites.
- It lifts its tail when it sees you.
- He meows at you so that you pay attention to him.
- He follows you everywhere.
If you want to read more articles similar to Do cats love their owners?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.