How does your cat show her/his love for you?

What a great topic.  Archie and Lucy couldn't be more different in personality and in the ways they show affection.  

Archie wakes me up each morning at 6am by kneading my back and rubbing his head on my face.  He runs to the door with his tail held high to greet me.  When I walk past him, while he's lounging on one of the cat trees, Archie reaches out with his paws, grabs my arm, pulls me close to him and licks my hand.  He likes to jump on my lap, roll over on his back and hang his head over my legs (rag doll style) so that I'm forced to cup his head in my hand - all the while making the most adorable, peaceful sighs.  And of course he baths and grooms me throughout the day.

Although not as demonstrative or overtly affectionate as Archie, Lucy shows her love in many ways.  Often during a petting session she raises her butt (elevator butt), wraps her tail firmly around my arm and purrs. She likes to pull one or more of my fingers into her mouth and gently lick and nibble.  She has the most amazing control; not once in almost 6 years has she come close to breaking the skin or causing pain.  My favorite Lucy love signal, though, is when she slowly moves her head toward mine and gently touches her nose to mine.  It's so sweet; it always melts my heart.  

Asha will go to sleep cuddling my hand :9:

Aya is definitely an expert head-butt-er. Sometimes she gives me the "stealth" or "drive-by" head butts. I find these very cute because its not "I want something" its just a "BTW I luv u" gesture.

She also has this "happy snort" she makes when I'm in the middle of petting her. Sort of an extra loud purr as she head butts your petting hand upwards. Normally her purr is barely audible.

I think I've mentioned this elsewhere on the forum many times but she is a crotch-cat who likes to sleep with me. She sort of forms a log in the "ditch" or drops her round butt down the hole behind my knees if I am on my side and hugs my kneecaps happy as a little clam.

Fuzzy always comes up to nose-kiss me when I'm crouching down to scoop his litter tray

Some of my observations, pasted from another tread I did participated in:

Yawing when you are nearing

Stretching

Both these are thus not the common interpretation of lazy cat, but its friendship signs.  From beginning possible - daring to place oneself in a pose unsuitable for quick defence  or possibility to flee at once.

Laying down sleepy, when you come in and they want to greet you anyways, they open and close their paw - its sort of mini version of threading... [@Sirentist   has a similiar observation, she uses the words curl uncurl ]

When we come home they run to their favorite scratching tree and begin vigorously scratch...  - Although I suppose this is our local custom.

Also, I think many of the signals develop in each home, a sort of dressage of each other.  You react on a weak signal, they notice it, the signal gots reinforced, etc...

So I think its with the yawning and stretching.   Im entirely sure that is so - loud and clear. but its not described in the litterature as far as I know.

Simply; I noticed it and reacted with own nice greetings and warm words,  etc...  And a vague, partly random signal become suddenly a very loud and clear signal...

Wanting to sleep in the same bed, aside of you or at you / on you, is a common find mentioned by several.

Ok, how to know they do it because they actively like you, or because its nice, warm and comfortable?    Nice warm and comfortable is not bad, because if they dont like you they wont lay together with you unless really freezing.  But you dont want tolerance, you want  proof of love.

OK, easy.  say they DO have a comfortable laying playce, warm, nice in every way, good observations point.  You lay down on the bed / sofa...  The cat looks at you, and after a while jumps down to you and lays at his usual place with you.   You KNOW its love, and not just somewhat comfortable... 

The cat seldom lays with you - it usually lays with your partner.  You get sick in something - may it be rheumatism, cold, whatever.  And you notice the cat NOW does lay with you, giving you warmth and comfort.  And the rheumatism lessening and even healing...

The story repeats every time you do have a stroke of rheumatism.

Did anybody mentioned careful love bites?  preferably combined with holding with the paws if you want to breake off the cuddling too early.

Speedy is such a sweet, patient cat and very mild-mannered.  When I am on the computer, it is quiet, then I look down and she is right by my chair looking up at me with so much patience.  How long has she been there?  How long would she wait for me without even interrupting me?   Of course then, I ask her how long has she been sitting there.

Another thing she does to tell me she is happy to be around me -  If she is at top of the stairs and I'm climbing up to her, she will wag her head back and forth at the same time rolling her head like she is about to do a somersault, but never goes into one.  She can also do this when I praise her loudly.  I think she has so much happiness to see me, this is how it comes out.  Does anyone else have a cat that rolls its head like this?

I don't know if this is the same thing, but Mingo sits in the foyer waiting for me to leave the computer and get his lunch. If I say, "Are you ready for lunch?" he dips his head quickly and brings it up saying for all the world, "Yeow-un!" 

DreamerRose said:

 
I don't know if this is the same thing, but Mingo sits in the foyer waiting for me to leave the computer and get his lunch. If I say, "Are you ready for lunch?" he dips his head quickly and brings it up saying for all the world, "Yeow-un!" 

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Yes, there is a quick head dip with Speedy too and she rolls her head also.  Almost like she cannot contain her excitement and is very happy.  That is how I interpret it.  How you describe it with Mingo is like he is so glad and excited with what you are saying.    I did forget until you mentioned the "Yeow-un", that is Speedy can also give me a very short, very definitive-sounding meow, like she is saying "Yes, most definitely"!

Yes, that's the only time he makes that particular sound, and for all the world it sounds like "Yeah!" He seems to understand what I am saying.

mr mew shows his love but climbing on us and licking our face

Hircine sits on us and quietly purrs for hours if you let him and hicine greets you at the door and warbles when we come in

My Tika is the biggest cuddle-bug. She :

Headbutts all the time

Hovers around wherever I happen to be

Comes if I call her name

Brings me her toys as "presents"

Sleeps next to me or on me

Kneads on my chest before laying down

Lets me carry her around

Lets me pet her belly and touch her paw pads 

Lilith shows me she loves me in a lot of ways. She loves to snuggle in the bed with me and if I get up while she is still sleeping, when she wakes up, she calls for me. She is by far my most vocal cat and among the many noises she makes, she can "talk". I will be in another part of the house and I hear her calling me from the bedroom, "Mama?" She sounds just like a toddler girl. It's adorable. I answer her and she comes running. She also loves to flop down at my feet and ask for belly rubs. She used to hate them now she demands them. I had a bad stomach bug about 6 months ago or so and was in bed for about 3 days. She was glued to my side and there were many times when I woke up to her stroking my arm with her paw. She's such a sweet, loving baby. 

Sophie shows me she loves me by snuggling in my lap or by laying on top of me while I am in bed. When I am reading, she will position herself on top of the Kindle so I have to pay attention to her. She waits in the kitchen window for me to come home from work every day and when she sees me pull into the driveway, she runs to the door to greet me. She also loves to snuggle in the bed with me and while I am gone during the day, she will make herself a little nest in between my pillows for some of her many daily naps. She is my feline soul mate. 

Henry shows me that he loves me by coming by for pets often and he gives me a lot of head butts. He also loves to snuggle in the bed (good thing it's a king sized). He will come snuggle when I am reading- he usually snuggles next to Lilith (when she allows it  ) and he can often be found laying on top of the pillow I am sleeping on. He's the sweetest boy and he has come so far. 

Sirentist said:

Our biggest love thing recently was she actually weathered a thunderstorm under my knees as I perched precariously on the edge of the couch. Usually she would go hide deep in a closet or some other place that after eleven years I STILL don't know about, but this time she meatloafed under my knees.

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I have to say that I love that usage, turning meatloaf into a verb. And as cat owners, we all know exactly what that means and visualize it in our heads haha. Great bit of writing.

Also, as someone whose cat likes to be affectionate on his own terms, good on you for being patient and respecting your cat's feelings.

Leo is super friendly but not much of a lap cat. He slow blinks, purrs, asks for pets, licks my nose, and so many love bites!! He is very sweet and affectionate. He also meows at me when I return from uni...it almost sounds like he's scolding me xD

My three cats show love in different ways since they all have different personalities 

Tyson - Is a cuddle bug and a major mama's boy he greets me at the door every day when I get home from work and meows till i pick him up and then he leans back so I hold him like a baby ( a lot of trust), he cuddles with me in bed, sleeps on my chest, he grooms me ( licking my hands, arms and sometimes my face ), when he cant find me he starts to cry till i call his name so he knows where I am and he will come running to me and jump in my lap. He also purrs very loudly when he is getting pet/ attention

Ellie - Ellie is very cuddly but hates to be held/picked up. She jumps on my bed and curls up on my chest, she rubs her head against me till I start petting her. She also sleeps in my bed with me. She is my most independent cat but she still loves to be pet by me and only me she runs away when others pet her. 

Oliver - Oliver is a mama's boy as well he greets me at the door most days, he sleeps with me in bed and loves to lay on my chest will i pet him, he follows me around the house everywhere. If I walk into the bathroom you see this orange flash as he comes running because he hates not being attached to me. He is the only one who will "fight" off the dog to come lay with me on the couch. Today someone was lighting fireworks outside and he got scared the first thing he did was pounce on my stomach and try to hide under my blanket with me. 

I do believe that my cats love me and they especially show me every day when I get home from work. 

animallover9 said:

 
My three cats show love in different ways since they all have different personalities 

Tyson - Is a cuddle bug and a major mama's boy he greets me at the door every day when I get home from work and meows till i pick him up and then he leans back so I hold him like a baby ( a lot of trust), he cuddles with me in bed, sleeps on my chest, he grooms me ( licking my hands, arms and sometimes my face ), when he cant find me he starts to cry till i call his name so he knows where I am and he will come running to me and jump in my lap. He also purrs very loudly when he is getting pet/ attention

Ellie - Ellie is very cuddly but hates to be held/picked up. She jumps on my bed and curls up on my chest, she rubs her head against me till I start petting her. She also sleeps in my bed with me. She is my most independent cat but she still loves to be pet by me and only me she runs away when others pet her. 

Oliver - Oliver is a mama's boy as well he greets me at the door most days, he sleeps with me in bed and loves to lay on my chest will i pet him, he follows me around the house everywhere. If I walk into the bathroom you see this orange flash as he comes running because he hates not being attached to me. He is the only one who will "fight" off the dog to come lay with me on the couch. Today someone was lighting fireworks outside and he got scared the first thing he did was pounce on my stomach and try to hide under my blanket with me. 

I do believe that my cats love me and they especially show me every day when I get home from work. 

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Yes, its interesting to notice they all showe their affection and love in different ways.

Likewise, if there are more people in the family, the same cat has a little different ways to each of the family members - loving them all, but loving them individually, not as interchangeable parts of a group.   Some family members are loved stronger, but there is affection for everyone if they  try to deserve it.

Aaru and I have only just become each other's person. She showed up at the house a couple months ago, so our relationship is super new. However, she shows her love in simple ways. 4 ways that come to mind at the moment:

1. She follows me around the house, even when she doesn't want something.

2. She rubs and weaves around my legs to show that I'm hers.

3. She comes home when I call her (usually). Even if she's not done playing outside, she often comes to check in when I call.

4. She doesn't hold it against me when I scold her or make her do something she doesn't want to do (like stay inside after dark).

StefanZ said:

 
Yes, its interesting to notice they all showe their affection and love in different ways.

Likewise, if there are more people in the family, the same cat has a little different ways to each of the family members - loving them all, but loving them individually, not as interchangeable parts of a group.   Some family members are loved stronger, but there is affection for everyone if they  try to deserve it.

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Exactly! You can very much tell they are my cats but they do show love to my boyfriend just differently. Ellie will sleep at his feet when he is asleep but avoids him when he is awake. Which is a big step for her since she is a little anti-social with new people/things. It has been almost a year since he moved in and she is just now starting to show her love for him. Tyson will lay on my boyfriends back and groom his hair since he hates when the cats get in his face. Oliver likes my boyfriend more than the other cats do and will try to lay on him like he lays on me he also will follow him every time he goes to the office to get on the computer and will lay on his desk watching him.

They are all different but you can still see the love they have for people. I might be the cats main person they like but there is still love for my boyfriend.