Cat love: how cats and cats show it

Purring creatures have long become an integral part of the family for many people. Cute suckers can quickly win your heart. Sometimes, of course, it seems that the animal is acting in its own selfish interests because it is hungry or smells the smell of delicious food.

A cat can pity anyone. Various techniques are used. The pet will try until it achieves what it wants. And yet, many owners of purrs are convinced that they sincerely love them. This statement is not unfounded, because each animal has its own character and behavior that is different from others.

One cat may sleep in the closet after a meal, another will climb into a person’s arms to be petted. Many owners already know how their cats express their love. This is especially noticeable when several pets live in one house.

Is it possible to hug cats and cats in principle?

The answer is simple - of course, you can, because many cats are thrilled by tactile sensations. You may get the feeling that these cute creatures can rub against their owner for hours. These pets always climb onto a person’s lap when a person sits down, they can even hug him in a fit of feline devotion and love.

For such cats, hugs from their owners are one of the most pleasant moments, along with scratching behind the ear and stroking the head or back. Such a pet will not think about whether it is possible to hug cats, but will rather take on this mission.

Almost every person has at least once met such a cute animal, sometimes even too annoying in terms of begging for affection. There are quite a lot of cats like this and this pattern of behavior most often persists with them throughout their lives. Owners of such affectionate pets get used to this peculiarity of the animal and believe that it cannot be any other way.

Cuddling kittens

One of the images I came across while searching for cuddling kittens shows two felines, one standing upright with his front paws wide open and looking at the other kitten across from him, who appears to be sitting nonchalantly.

You might think that a kitten standing upright really wants to hug its furry friend. In fact, a kitten standing on its hind legs is using the other as hunting practice, while a sitting kitten is preparing to defend itself.

While this obviously seems like a joke, it perfectly illustrates the very human perception of cat behavior.

How to learn to hug cats

1. Understand your pet's nature. Not every animal is happy when they grab it and start hugging it. It’s good if the animal you come across is calm, well-mannered and will simply tolerate unpleasant displays of attention. But a cat is a beast, even though it is small and can easily claw or scratch a careless offender. If you have purchased a kitten and love hugs, carry it in your arms more often. So the animal will little by little get used to you and, perhaps, will love the closeness of a person. Now you know why you can’t hug cats before preliminary acquaintance, and it’s time to move on to the second point.
2. Find the right time for hugs. This is as important a factor as in humans. For example, you start cuddling the kitten, and at this time he wants to eat or, even worse, to go to the toilet. It is clear that in this case you will not get the expected effect. The best time to hug a cat is when you are relaxed, calm and well-fed.
3. Decide right away how you will hug the cat: quickly or gradually, after stroking. The choice should be made taking into account several factors: temperament, location, mood. You can feel a particularly exciting moment if you curl up around the fluffy and hug him as lightly, tenderly and comfortably as possible.
4. Hug your cat, but don't forget two important points. Firstly, this is a small animal and in any case it is much weaker and more fragile than you. Secondly, he can compensate for his weaknesses with sharp claws and teeth, and this hurts. And even if the pet submits to your pressure and does not bite into your hands, this does not mean that in the future it will not attack you for revenge. So when hugging cats and cats, you need more tenderness, accuracy and care. This way you let the animal know that you value him as a loved one.

Signs of love

Often cats express their love for their owners in quite a unique way. But it seems so only at first glance to those who are not familiar with the psychology and instincts of furry household members.

• Newborn kittens knead their mother's belly with their paws to stimulate milk flow. If a cat tramples his owner, it means he feels safe next to him and loves him like his own mother.
• Cats are natural predators. If a pet brings mice, moles or birds to a person, it means he cares for him as a member of his family, and feeds the one he considers a less skilled hunter. The same applies to offerings in the form of toys and various small items. The animal shares the caught prey with its loved one.
• Cats, just like people, care about those they love. If a pet carefully licks its owner’s face or hands, it means she is caring for him as if he were a member of the family. In addition, this is how a cat leaves its scent on a person, telling other animals that this person is already occupied. By the way, cats that come into the bathroom and meow loudly, looking at a person lying in the water, express their concern about his safety and urge him to leave the bath as soon as possible so as not to drown.
• Friction with the head and sides is a sure sign that the cat considers the person very close and trusts him. Thus, the animal leaves a special secretion on the owner’s skin or clothing, secreted by glands located on the head and body. If your cat butts you slightly, he is showing that he feels calm and safe with you.
• Meowing is a sure sign that cats love their owners. After all, in this way cats communicate only with people; they use growls or howls among themselves. Meowing, the pet asks for help, offers to play or tells how it spent its day.
• The cat begins to purr loudly as soon as it sits on your lap or while playing - this means that it is comfortable and pleasant for him to spend time with you.
• An animal running towards a person with its tail held high is clearly happy to meet you. And if the tip of the tail trembles slightly, then this is a clear manifestation of sincere love.

Highest degree of trust

• Typically, cats do not allow touching vulnerable parts of their body. So, if the cat in front of you rolls from side to side, sleeps on its back, raises its paws, opening its belly, and allows you to stroke it - all this signals the highest degree of trust and love.
• The tail is the most protected part of the body for any cat. If a pet turns its back to its owner, while its tail stands erect, this is a sign of complete trust. By allowing the cat to touch and stroke its tail, the cat equates the owner with a native creature.
• Biting is another undeniable sign of the cat's reverent attitude towards you. After all, this is how cats show love for their own kind. It is very easy to distinguish friendly behavior from aggressive behavior. Expressing warm feelings, cats bite the skin lightly, holding the person with their paws, but without releasing their claws.
• The habit of being near a person more often shows the warm attitude of the cat. The pet can sleep next to you or sit directly on the owner. He comes and lies next to you while you watch TV or work. At the first opportunity, he climbs onto your lap or arranges himself so that he can feel the warmth of your body. All this speaks of attachment.
• Many animals do not like prolonged visual contact. This fully applies to all felines. So, if a cat stares at a person for a long time, this is a sign of absolute trust. And if the gaze is occasionally interrupted by a leisurely blink, this is undoubtedly love.

If a cat asks for communication, you should not refuse him. It is better to take a break from pressing matters and devote some time to your pet. He will be pleased, and your relationship will only benefit from this.

Hugging Tips

You have already figured out whether it is possible to hug cats and kittens, you have found out how to do it correctly, but your pet rejects all possible intimacy. So the first piece of advice is to respect the choice. Pussy can adore you, not get off your lap and wait for hours for stroking, but cannot stand being hugged. So this is not her profile, love her for who she is.

Cats and cats can be taught to hug you if you first give them soft toys, they remind them of their brothers, and they love to cuddle with each other. Ideally, get a second pet.

Cats hugging each other

Cats look like they are hugging when they curl up together. Yes, cats can find themselves in very strange positions to get as close to each other as possible. But in reality, cats huddle together to stay warm and stay warm, even if it's hot in your home.

So, what may look like a cat hug is a random position they've fallen into to keep warm.

It's clear that we humans are very social, we can enjoy physical contact (especially hugging furry, cute animals).

We love our cats and want them to love us and show it in ways we are used to seeing, but we may unintentionally attribute human behavior to them. Of course cats are clearly capable of showing a lot of physical affection, it's just that our interpretation of a hug may be different from theirs, and that's something to keep in mind!

Why and when you can’t hug cats and kittens

Here we come to the serious part of our story, which reveals what harm can be done if you hug a cat. Many people believe that hugging pets is a bad and dangerous activity. And they can be understood, because if you hug a sick animal, you can catch a dangerous disease from it.

Do cats like to cuddle?

Cats do not have complex social relationships. This is due to the fact that their ancestors, African wild cats, were solitary predators.

This will make our social interactions seem strange to cats, since most people use touch all the time, whether it's a handshake, a light touch on the arm, or trying to walk together holding hands. For cats, even if they look like they're cuddling, it looks and means a little different.

Petting a cat has all sorts of benefits for human health, reducing stress and improving our mood.

Many countries even have a national cat day!

But is it as good for them as it is for us? Some cats love contact with us, others that can accept affection and hugs from a person or not, and others avoid physical contact with the owner, but this does not mean that the cat does not love him.

This is because cats love to maintain a sense of control, which includes being able to escape from any situation.

When we hug cats, we are actually containing them in our embrace and limiting their movement.

Dangerous diseases of cats and cats

Worms or helminthiases. The larvae of these harmful worms can be found on the animal’s fur and, if a person does not follow the rules of hygiene (washing hands), they can become infected.

Fleas and ticks. The danger of these parasites is not even in their bites, but in the diseases they carry. It could be:

• ehrlichiosis;
• encephalitis;
• Lyme disease.

Bartonellosis. You can become infected from a sick cat through a scratch or bite. Once in the body, the infection causes inflammation around the damaged skin. Then a blister forms there. After some time, a feverish feeling and headache appear.

Lichen. It is most often transmitted to children and people with weak immune systems.

Staphylococcus is a kind of dermatitis. The animal begins to itch and its hair falls out. Most often, children become infected when hugging a sick cat; the second risk group includes older people. If a disease is detected, the animal must be taken to the clinic, and everything at home should be cleaned using detergent.

Toxoplasmosis. You can get infected from just one hug, if you touch the fur that the cat licked after visiting the litter box.

Chlamydia is also transmitted from animals, cats being one of them.

Now, I think, everyone already understands why you can’t hug cats and cats, especially those about whom nothing is known (neighbors, strays). And the most annoying thing is that the main carriers of infection are cute kittens. After all, their body does not yet have immunity capable of fighting various diseases. And the only chance to completely avoid any risk is to protect yourself from contact with cute creatures. But we all understand how difficult it is sometimes, and this is what our final paragraph is dedicated to.

Cats hugging people

Cats are not born knowing how to interact with people, they need to learn how to be pets.

So, why do cats stand on their hind legs while their front paws reach out to their owners as if wanting to hug them?

Supposedly this is an instinctive behavior, something that some cats have learned to do because they know it will lead to pleasant consequences, such as affection or a tasty gift.

Moreover, they are probably doing this in response to a signal we have given them, either consciously or unconsciously!

Some scientists have even suggested that cats deliberately spread their scent to their owners through secretions secreted from the skin glands around their cheeks and ears, and this may be the reason why some cats also wrap their paws around their owners' necks.

Rules for safe hugs

Don't avoid cats completely. They are able to bring warmth and joy to the home. The main thing is to adhere to the rules:

1. It is better not to approach street cats. If you decide to adopt a “stray”, then the first step is to wash the new pet and then show it to the veterinarian.
2. Get dewormed and take other tests. If necessary, treat the animal
3. If you avoid biting and scratching, it is better not to disturb your cat while eating and sleeping.
4. Don't forget to change the filler. After cleaning the tray, disinfect your hands, or better yet use gloves.
5. Eliminate raw foods from your pet's diet, such as fish, eggs, meat.
6. When you get home, shine your shoes and tidy up the hallway. After all, you can bring helminths or microbes home with dirt.
7. After you cuddle with a cat, wash your hands.
8. Don't forget about general cleaning.
9. Forbid the animal from touching your face and do not give it food from your utensils.
10. If possible, do not let your pet outside, and if this happens, it is better to wash the pussy with shampoo with antibacterial properties.

As you can see, we have successfully and positively dealt with the question – is it possible to hug cats? Remember to be patient with your pet, study him, and take care of his health. Only then will you be able to hug your cat without the risk of getting infected, scratched or rejected.

Cats hugging toys

Other images that, for example, show cats hugging a toy can also be misinterpreted.

Typically what they do is grab a toy with their front paws and scoop it up with their back legs in a "bunny" style, something that cats instinctively do either when playing or when they are involved in a fight with another cat.

They do this to cause as much damage as possible to their opponent, which you will know if the cat mistakes your hand for their opponent!

Why does a cat bite? Read here!!!