The 3 Signs Your Cat Thinks You Are Mom or Dad, According to a Veterinarian

File photo of a cat. Cats may be regarded as solitary animals, but they can be very attached to their owners.

A veterinarian has identified three potential indicators your cat has developed a bond with you similar to that of parent and child.

A recent survey of 2,000 pet owners conducted by OnePoll found that 61 percent considered their pet to be their child.

Given the amount of affection directed their way, it's perhaps unsurprising that many pet owners would hope to see these feelings reciprocated. But while dogs have largely been an open book in this respect, happy to show their human companions affection, cats are famously aloof and harder to read.

That's not to say there aren't indicators to suggest cats are capable of forming these loving bonds with their owners as Dr. Jo Myers, veterinarian at Vetster, a veterinary telemedicine platform told Newsweek.

"Felines have evolved to embrace human companionship differently than dogs, but they're still social animals who often enjoy interacting with people," she said. "Even though today's house cats are not adapted to form long term relationships with their feline parents, cats often form strong and lasting bonds to their human family members."

The Secure Base Effect

Further proof of this can be found in a 2019 study published in the journal Current Biology, which saw researchers conclude that the relationship between owner and cat is similar to that of parent and infant.

It followed a series of experiments involving 108 cats and their owners. Each cat was placed in a room with its owner for two minutes. Then their owner was asked to leave for two minutes before returning for another two minutes. During this time researchers observed the cats' behavior, with a particular focus on how they reacted upon their owner's return.

The results showed that 64 percent of the cats who took part in the study exhibited signs of secure attachment to their owner. This means they essentially felt more comfortable in a new scenario due to the presence of a parental figure.

In these instances, the cats surveyed greeted their owners when they returned before going back to what they were doing. In other instances where the cat felt insecure, they would lick their lips, twitch their tails or avoid their owner.

Dr. Myers said a good starting point for learning our cats' "love language" is to see how they use body language to communicate amongst themselves. In doing so, she said you could find three potential indicators that your cat sees you as something akin to a mother or father.

The 3 Signs Your Cat Thinks of You as Mom or Dad

First, Dr. Myers said it was important to look at the "greeting rituals" of your cats.

"Cats greet each other by getting close and touching when they reconnect" she said. "Your cat may show they are bonded to you by approaching and touching you. Whether it's a gentle touch with their little pink nose or lying on your lap while you work at your desk, a cat who wants to be in close proximity to you is definitely feeling the love."

Secondly, Dr. Myers identified "scent marking" as another important consideration. "Cats rub the scent glands on their flanks, heads, and around their ears on each other and objects in their territories," she said. "If your cat rubs against you this way, you can be assured you are accepted, familiar, and comfortable for them to be around."

Finally, Dr. Myers pointed to the importance of "blinking" in determining whether your cat feels closely bonded to you. "Cats tend to regard unfamiliar objects, people, and animals with an unblinking stare," she said. "Giving a long, slow blink while looking at you demonstrates their confidence and trust."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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