5 common strange behaviors of cat lovers are actually ways to express their love for cats

Ever since I got a cat, I feel like a “chikan/woman”

Not only am I crazy about cats, I also enjoy touching them.
I used to be a reserved lady/man.
Why did my personality change so drastically after getting a cat? Is this normal?

Actually, it’s not your fault. These seemingly perverse behaviors are ingrained in our DNA. An uncontrollable “biological liking” for cats.

1.I love smelling cats.
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For example, I love smelling a cat’s forehead. I love burying my head in a cat’s belly and sniffing. I even can’t stop sniffing a cat’s feet…

It’s all because we love them so much!

Smelling is a human instinct. We use scent to identify ideal partners and protectors. When you’re “physically attracted” to someone, you’ll also particularly enjoy their scent. It’s an instinctual drive embedded in our DNA. This also applies to cats.

And cats actually smell wonderful. According to many cat owners, some cats smell like sweet popcorn, others like freshly baked bread, and still others like sunshine…

Smells can also trigger positive associations in our brains. For example, the smell of popcorn brings back fond childhood memories. The smell of sunshine reminds us of a leisurely, sunny afternoon.

So, it’s no wonder we’re addicted to cats!

2.Like to do things with cats
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For example, rubbing a cat’s belly
Playing with a cat’s balls (if they’re still around)
Cuddle and kiss them like crazy…

This is because our brains have an area responsible for sensory rewards, called the orbitofrontal cortex. This cortex activates when we see something we like or find cute.

For example, when you get home from get off work and a cute, cuddly kitten flops down in front of you, the orbitofrontal cortex activates, prompting our brain to say, “You’ve been a jerk at work all day! Give me a reward! Pet it!”

You’ll be tempted to touch your cat, and this process will also make you feel relaxed and happy.

3.Unconsciously Imitating Cats
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Have you noticed that after getting a cat, you’ve also become more meow-loving. Every time the cat meows, you meow back. Sometimes, you even imitate your cat’s yawning, sleeping, and so on…

These gradual “cat-like” behaviors often occur unconsciously.

We imitate cats because we deeply love them.

Research has found that people unconsciously imitate the behaviors, hobbies, and mannerisms of those they admire to strengthen their connection or to better empathize and understand them. We imitate cats for the same reason.

When we imitate a cat’s meow, yawn, etc., we often do so to observe the cat’s reaction and to engage in playful interactions with it.

Imitating a cat’s sleeping position. Perhaps wondering, “Is sleeping like this really comfortable? I want to try it myself.”

Interestingly, research has found that we imitate our cats out of affection, and imitation, in turn, increases our affection for them. This is a love cycle.

4.I’m not obsessed with cats.
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Before getting a cat, I thought cats shed hair and were bacteria-laden. Their feet would just tread on the floor, collecting dust. They wouldn’t wipe their butts after pooping…

But after getting a cat, I let it sleep on my bed, drink from my own water cup, and even wipe its butt myself.

No more mysophobia about cats.

This is because when we interact with and pet cats, we produce oxytocin (the love hormone), which can make us “blind.”

Just like a mother wouldn’t find her baby’s poop disgusting, a couple wouldn’t find each other’s saliva offensive.

Our “physiological” love for cats allows us to continually lower our threshold for cleanliness and tolerate some of their dirty areas.

5.Sleeping better with a cat.
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Out of love, we tolerate cats sleeping on our bed. On the one hand, we want to pamper them, but on the other hand, we genuinely enjoy having a cat by our bedside.

Sleeping with a cat can help us fall asleep faster and have more sweet dreams. Holding a cat’s soft, furry body is like holding a stuffed animal as a child, making us feel relaxed and grounded.