The Love Languages of Cats
I am blessed to say that my life is full of love. I share my home with a wonderful husband and 9 lovable fur babies. It doesn’t get any better than that, in my opinion. My 6 cats are a huge source of love in my life. I’ve developed a strong bond with each of them because I’ve learned to understand and speak their individual love languages. Love languages don’t just apply to romantic relationships – they apply to parent/child relationships, friendly relationships, and even pet relationships. I always marvel at how anyone could think that cats aren’t loving, but I’ve grown to realize that these people just don’t understand how cats show their love. They haven’t learned to speak a cat’s Love Language yet!
In the hopes of shedding some light on how cats may show love, I am going to be doing a “Love Language” series this month in honor of Valentine’s Day. In each post, I am going to share about how each one of my cats expresses their love – their individual love language. There are so many Cat Love Languages out there, probably as many as there are cats; some of them more obvious and some of them more subtle. And just like with humans, if you learn to speak a cat’s love language, you will be amazed at how your relationship with them explodes!
First up is Sophie!
Sophie’s Love Language
Sophie’s Love Language is one that just about everyone speaks. When she is being lovey (which is most of the time), you won’t miss it! She’s never met a person she didn’t win over – even self-proclaimed “not-cat people.” So how does Sophie speak “love?”
- She snuggles. Big time. All the time. If you are sitting or lying down, she wants to be right there with you, snuggled up as close as she can get. Neck snuggles, arm pit snuggles, under-the-covers snuggles – you name it, she loves it. Her favorite spot at bed time is between my husband and I, right up by our heads.
- She purrs. Loudly, and almost always. Just simply touching her will start up that purr machine of hers. Which usually leads to her wanting to snuggle. It’s a never ending cycle.
- She demands to be picked up and held. If you aren’t giving her the attention she wants, she will follow you around, meowing and chirping at you until you pick her up. Which leads to purrs, which leads to snuggles. See, I told you… never ending cycle.
- Sophie’s purrs and snuggles sometimes lead into what we like to call her “Signature Lovey Move” – the Chin Bite. This may not sound like a loving thing, but for Sophie it is one of the most loving things she does. When she is in full-on snuggle mode, at purr level 10, she will reach up and bite your chin. She usually bites pretty hard too (and has even drawn blood before). Though I don’t understand why Sophie does this, I have learned what it means. It means she loves me. Hey, love hurts sometimes, doesn’t it? 😉
As you can tell, it is easy to understand Sophie’s Love Languages (for the most part). For many cats though, this isn’t the case. As I share about my other cats’ love languages, you will see what I mean!
What about your cats? Do they have a Love Language similar to Sophie’s?
Lone Star Cats says
I’m a real loud purrer and will get very demanding for head scritches. One of my favorite things to do is “make biskits” (kneading) on a fleecey blanket right by my momma – she knows I’m very happy when I do dat.
Summer says
My human’s soul cat was a calico (Sophie, I see, is a dilute calico), and she also was a chin biter, and she only did it when she was happiest! And yes, she was not gentle either.
Random Felines says
what a great idea for posts…..every cat is so different in how they communicate. Sophie is certainly pretty sweet. Though mom says she is glad none of us are love biters. 🙂
da tabbies o trout towne says
sophie….ewe look gorgeouz in yur dress….we N joyed reedin yur post two day…we all sew
look for werd ta reedin de rest oh de crewz storeez…none oh uz R big on bein held; but we will tern on de purr werkz ! ☺☺☺♥♥♥
Annabelle says
Sophie is so beautiful and LOVING!
Each of my cats has been so different in how they express their love. Annabelle my littlest baby loves to groom me and I know that is in cat speak a way she is keeping me a part of her tribe. She also has a good purr motor on her, it’s not loud but it turns on when I touch her. She is also one who will roll over onto to her tummy when she sees me coming and the purrs start and that is my invitation to give her belly rubs!
Tamago says
Sophie is looking super pretty in her pink dress! She has lots of sweet love languages and she is such a loving girl 🙂 I love talking with Goro with slow blinks. When he does, his looks so happy. Niko does love bites (not chin but hand/finger) and that always melts me 🙂
Sam says
First of all Sophie looks gorgeous in her dress…..ready to celebrate the day of love. I’ve had a lot of cats in my many days and each has had a unique way of showing affection and that – to me – just proves that they are special creatures indeed. Sam had some sweet ways of showing his love – when in my lap he would sometimes curl his tail around my wrist/arm like a bracelet….holding on to me. He would ask me with hand on my knee to pick him up and hold him or just walk around the house with him looking out the windows…..that was “exciting” to him in his last year or so. We were regular “slow blinkers” across the room too – and often after the exchange of blinks he’d run over to me and pop up on my lap. Anyway, I love the way cats LOVE. All animals who KNOW love will SHOW love but cats – well – it’s just something special.
Hugs, Pam
Timmy says
I get my purr motor going as soon as Dad gives me the slightest touch. Then I like to rub rub rub on him. Of course I sleep right next to him purring the night away.
Rumpy Bump gives Dad love bites like Sofie. He gives them on Dads elbows why we have no idea MOL
Purrs
Timmy
Brian Frum says
You are such a sweetie love bug dear Sophie!
Sarah says
Hehehe. us cats can be curious in how we express love. Keep showing love precious Sophie.
LP says
You look incredibly adorable in that little dress! 😀 And we know exactly how loving you are on account our Mama told us so!
Kisses and love to you sweet girl XO
the critters in the cottage xo
P.S. Malou also gives little love bites when she is happy and our Mama loves her for it!
Kitties Blue says
Astrid cannot wait for you to write about Sampy. She’s sending him all her love and kisses for every star in the galaxy. Sophie is precious in her dress. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy
The Island Cats says
Aw, Sophie is just the cutest. And the chin bite…we’ve tried that one on occasion.
Melissa & Mudpie says
What a fun idea for a series! It’s easy to see what a little lovebug Sophie is. Mudpie shows her love primarily through snuggling. She’s not a chin biter and her purr is extremely quiet. (Strange since she has a very loud tortie voice!)
Caren Gittleman says
Cody is a real “cuddle-bug” (that is what the Vet calls him) so he is much like Sophie!
Annie says
I loved reading about Sophie and her love language. She looks so pretty. These are gorgeous pictures.
Annie usually purrs like a champ whenever petted and loves tummy rubs. She’s not a lap kitty but does come in my lap quite often in the winter. Even if she sits next to me, that makes me very happy.
Ellen Pilch says
Sophie is a sweetie. My Sammy likes to make biscuits in my hair to show his love for me, Joanie likes to always be on my lap, I could go on and on with 13 cats 🙂
The Swiss Cats says
What a sweet girl ! Pixie snuggles beside Claire or Momo or under the cover and purrs, but doesn’t like to be picked up or held. I snuggle, purr, and love to be picked up and held. Purrs, Zorro
Lola The Rescued Cat says
First of all, Sophie, you look adorable. And second, we are so much alike! Like really! Except I don’t bite Mommy’s chin, I just lick her. I do bite her boyfriend’s chin, though! We’re looking forward to the next post.
meowmeowmans says
Aww, Sophie, you are a lover, for sure! Zoe and Gracie have their own distinct love signals — Zoe is like Sophie, in that she will talk and follow us around to let us know that it’s time for some attention. Gracie is more of a mush — she will seek out whoever is available for snuggles. 🙂
Fur Everywhere says
Wow, Sophie is the exact opposite of how Angel Jewel was, LOL!!! Jewel had her own way of loving people. I will be interested to see if any of your cats are the way she was. 😉
Three Chatty Cats says
Love this series idea and Sophie is too utterly adorable! I love that she demands to be picked up. None of my cats demand that, but I wish they did!
Pipo/Minko/MrJackFreckles says
Pipo is a ‘please rub my belly’ kitty and a demanding one at that. He will hug your hand/arn=m to make sure it stays there to rub that belly and never stop, MOL!
Minko comes to me and uses my shoes (Usually sandals over socks or bare feet), as a scratching post. He buts right into the bathroom and does this when I am on the toilet…won’t wait for my privacy time to finish…in fact that is the spot he does that the most often! MOL! I know when he isn’t feeling well because then he hides and does not come to scratch on my shoes. Thankfully of late the comes all the time.
Stephanie says
I just love hearing about Sophie, she’s just beautiful and such a sweetie! One of mine is similar to Sophie, she purrs a lot and always wants to be next to (or on) me. She doesn’t ask to be picked up though. She’s my little love bug.