Here are 6 signs that your cat is already attached to you!

Groundbreaking research from Oregon State University, published in Current Biology, reveals that 65% of domestic cats form a “secure attachment” to their owners – a rate close to that of human infants (65%) and higher than that of dogs (58%).

For example, when in unfamiliar surroundings, they will view you as a “safe haven” just like a kitten relies on its mother. When separated from their owner and then reunited, up to 83% of cats will rub their heads against their owner to show their affection…

So, in everyday life, what hidden signals do cats use to express their attachment to you? Are you aware of them?

01
They blink slowly when they meet your gaze.

A controlled experiment at the University of Sussex in the UK showed that when humans slowly blinked at cats, cats responded with a similarly slow blink, and the likelihood of cats actively approaching humans increased by 45%. In another controlled experiment at Azabu University in Japan, cats’ heart rate variability (HRV) decreased, suggesting that they experienced a significant reduction in stress during this process.

This means cats can recognize and use this “cross-species social signal”: slow blinking ≈ affection.

When a cat makes eye contact and blinks slowly, it’s actually saying, “Seeing you, my worries are gone, my stress is gone, it’s great to have you around.” It’s expressing trust and affection.

02
Always Loves to Lie on Your Clothes

When you’re away, if your cat loves to lie on your clothes, bed, sofa blankets—anywhere that smells like you—it suggests they’re scent-dependent.

Cats are highly scent-dependent. One study showed they can identify the familiar scent of their owner or home from a distance of 1.5 to 4 miles. Therefore, some behavioral scientists speculate that when cats love to lie on your clothes, they’re trying to smell your scent. Their brains equate the scent with you, making them feel more comfortable and relaxed.

However, another study published in the 2021 journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found that when a cat is away from its owner, clothing with their scent may actually increase its stress level. This may be because cats are so smart that they can distinguish between you and your clothing, so seeing your clothes reminds them of you and causes them to feel more anxious.

Regardless of the cat’s type, being more sensitive to your scent is a sign of attachment.

03
They’ll bring you food or toys.

In 2020, multiple studies from Azabu University and Tokyo University of Agriculture found that cats view interactions (such as play and feeding) as an extension of their hunting success, bringing toys or prey to their owners, mimicking the way mother cats teach their kittens. This “directed prey sharing” is similar to the maternal behavior of wild cats.

In other words, whether it is food, insects or toys, they are all “prey” in the eyes of cats. When they are willing to share these foods with you separately, bring them to your legs or put them on the bed, it shows their affirmation and affection for you!

04
Crawling Around You

A 2019 study published in Current Biology titled “Secure Base Test” by Oregon State University found that 68% of adult cats retain childhood behaviors (such as crawling), positively correlated with secure attachment.

EEG monitoring showed increased activity in cats’ prefrontal cortex when crawling, and the endorphins released by this behavior can reduce anxiety.

In other words, if an adult cat kneads your milk next to you, it means that it is very relaxed, happy, and trusts and is attached to you.

05
Rubbing against you with their head or body

An experiment published in the journal Scientific Reports indicates that cats deposit pheromones by rubbing against objects or people, marking them as “safe environments” and “group members.” This behavior is directly related to a sense of belonging to a group.

The pheromones secreted by cats’ facial glands (temporal and buccal glands) are precisely those that function as identity recognition pheromones.

In other words, when a cat rubs against you, it’s marking you as a member of the group. This is naturally a recognition of your identity.

06
Approaching You with Tail Erect

Analyzing cat tail postures using motion capture technology revealed that “tail erect” and “tail erect with a hooked tip” are unique greetings used by cats to greet certain individuals (including their owners).

This behavior, similar to a human smile, is typically observed only between mothers and their kittens in wild cat populations.

Although this experiment lacks exclusive research on domestic cats, if a cat walks towards you with its tail erect as soon as it sees you, it is enough to show that the cat particularly recognizes your relationship and has special affirmation of you.

Cats with different personalities express their affection and attachment through different ways and behaviors.

So, if your cat doesn’t exhibit any of the six typical behaviors listed above, don’t be discouraged. Previous studies have shown that cats waiting for you to get off work, meowing at you, and even rolling their bellies towards you are all expressions of affection.

Do you think your cat is attached to you?

How does he or she express this through behavior and in what ways? Share your thoughts with us!