Do Cats Understand Kisses – Affection & Communication Tips

Felines are a mysterious bunch. That’s why it’s not surprising when cat parents take to the internet to decode their kitty’s behavior. One of the more popular online queries among the cat community is – do cats understand kisses. 

Cats likely don’t understand the exact emotion humans try to convey through kisses, but they can pick up on human forms of attachment through observation. So, while your cat won’t be able to differentiate between a kiss that reflects happiness or fondness, it will eventually come to treat the action as a form of affection if done regularly enough. 

If you’ve taken to the internet today to understand how your kitty perceives and conveys affection, we can help you out. This article will cover feline intelligence and if your cat can use it to understand what your kisses say.

How Smart Are Cats?

While you won’t run into much research aimed at gauging cat intelligence, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest felines are pretty smart. To begin with, kitties have a complex brain structure with around 250 million neurons. Human and cat brains are pretty similar. 

This isn’t concrete evidence for intelligence, but animal behaviorists state that a high number of neutrons does suggest a high intellect because they’re the information messengers of the brain. 

Cats also have excellent short-term memory and can remember where objects are placed even when they go out of sight. That’s why felines will remember where their favorite treats or toys are, even when hidden inside cupboards or drawers. 

And finally, kitties are super-adept at reading human moods and cues. They’re able to measure when their owners are feeling calm or angry, which is why your cat always picks the perfect time to snuggle. 

Do Cats Know When You Kiss Them With Affection?

If you’re wondering if your cat understands what you feel when you kiss it, the answer is it depends on how regularly you kiss your feline. Over time, your fur baby can pick up cues to your moods and even understand how you express affection. 

If you’ve just brought your kitty home or if it’s still in its kittenhood, it may take your pet some time to understand what a kiss means. That’s because felines are pretty adept at picking up the little details about their humans and can use the information to measure your feelings. 

For example, cats understand they’ve done something wrong when they hear aggression or irritation in your tone. Similarly, kitties also know when you’re feeling relaxed or happy when you’re getting comfy in bed. 

The more your kiss or cuddle your kitty, along with sure-shot affectionate signs like stroking, the likelier it is your cat will relate kisses to love and affection. Remember, cats have great short-term memories. 

How To Get Your Cat To Like Your Kisses?

Felines aren’t at all lacking in the personality department, which means no two kitties are alike in terms of behavior. Some cats are naturally affectionate and prefer following or staying around their family, while others prefer a more solitary existence. 

Other factors can also contribute to how well your kitty tolerates your kisses. For example, cats with a history of abuse or ill-treatment won’t be too comfortable if you’re in their personal space too often. Similarly, it takes time for a newly-adopted cat to settle into its new surroundings before it can start trusting its owners enough for physical shows of affection. 

If your kitty is opposed to your kisses and takes no time unsheathing its claws when you come too close, it’s best to let your cat set the pace. Felines communicate what they’re feeling through body language, so if you see your cat laying its ears flat or bushing up its tail, it’s time to take a step back. 

Once your kitten is comfortable around you, it’ll approach you to convey its trust. You can then slowly get it used to receiving physical affection by stroking it gently from its ears to its tail, and even maintaining eye contact (with slow blinks) is an excellent way to convey your love. 

The best way to get your kitty to like your kisses is by picking the right time to introduce it to your kisses. Give your feline a gentle peck when it’s purring or after feeding its favorite treat to help associate the kiss with positive feelings. 

Do Cats Have A Favorite Person?

Cat parents everywhere will be super-happy to learn that felines can have favorites among family members. If you want to be your kitty’s favorite human, all you need to do is put in the most effort in its caretaking. That’s because cats choose their preferred human based on who looks after them the most. Pretty clever, right?

Kitties are fantastic at observing humans and filing away relevant bits of information for future use. So, if your pet notices you’re the one who spends the most time and effort in feeding and grooming it, it will grow closer to you naturally. In other words, they understand care and consideration and return it in full to their favorite person. 

Things To Consider

Are you on the lookout for helpful tips to make your kitty understand how much you love and care for it? If yes, then you’re going to want to pay attention here. We’ve gathered several valuable suggestions to help you cuddle your way into your kitty’s heart. 

• One of the easiest ways to gain your cat’s affection is to look after its diet and keep plenty of yummy and healthy treats. Your feline will appreciate you looking after its well-being and consider you essential to its survival. 
• Instead of trying to force your fur baby to accept your company or touch, allow your feline to make the first move. You’ll know your pet is getting used to your presence once you notice your cat seeking out your company by sitting close to you. 
• Allow your pet to get accustomed to your touch in increments. Instead of long strokes along the back, start with rubs on the head or under the chin. Once you hear your pet purring its approval, you’ll know you’re on the right track. 
• Try bonding with your feline by taking out time to play with it. You can use interactive toys or feather teasers, whichever your kitty prefers.

Conclusion

Winning a cat’s affection may seem impossible, but it depends on how much care and love you lavish on your fur baby. Felines are capable judges of character and will understand the effort you put into looking after them after a while. Once that happens, you can expect your kitty to be easy in your company and pretty accommodating about your kisses too!