Do Cats like Kisses?

Do cats like kisses

Everyone shows love and affection in different ways to cats. We love our cats, so of course, we want to shower them with affection. Many people show their cat love by kissing them, and people can’t resist kissing their cat, but what do cats think about it? Cats have different ways to show their affection. So you can ask yourself the question: Do cats like kisses?

There is not a right or wrong answer to this question. Some cats seem to tolerate a kiss from their owners and some cats like a kiss. The answer to do cats like to be kissed depends on your cat. Some cats appreciate it when they are kissed, and other cats feel uncomfortable when they are kissing. Every cat is an individual with a unique personality. So you can’t determine all preferences for cats, establish that this is the case with every cat, so also your cat.

In this post, I explain, do cats like kisses? You can also read more about do cats understand kisses. You can learn about the different ways of giving kisses to a cat. At the end of the post, you can read more about guidelines for kissing a cat, show your cat affection, and how do cats show affection?

Do Cats like Kisses?

Cats can be fickle about where, when, and what kind of affection they get. One moment your cat wants attention, and a moment later, your cat disappears, and it goes its way. While some cats enjoy receiving kisses from their owners, other cats don’t like it. As the owner of your cat, you often know best what your cat likes.

A cat’s aversion or preference for affection may change from day to day. A cat may like to get attention in the morning and be grumpy in the evening or ignore you if you want to give your cat the same affection as in the morning. Cats can be moody animals, but if you learn to understand their language, that is a long way, you will be better able to deal with the behavior.

There have been various investigations and observations into the behavior of domestic cats. In summary, you can say that most cats don’t like kissing. Cats also don’t respond well to hugs.

Embracing gives the cat a sense of containment. If cats experience this feeling and feel trapped, they will want to escape, despite your good intentions. Cats can scratch or bite to show/say they don’t like it.

Cats don’t have to use their lips to greet each other and express affection. If you give your cat an identical human kiss, your cat will close its eyes and try to pull its head back.

This discreet and simple way of kissing is not physical contact, but it says a lot about the bond between cats and the affection you want to communicate to your cat and the cat to you.

Cat is looking up

Do Cats Understand Kisses?

Another question could be, do cats understand kissing? Cats don’t understand this human expression, and most do not like being kissed or cuddled. Your arms around a cat, your face close to the cat’s face or other close contacts, usually is what they see as signals to play or fighting.

But even though most cats don’t like kissing and don’t understand this, you can teach some cats to adapt and to accept these expressions of love. You can see it as part of a positive bond that you build with your cat.

Kissing and hugs are not part of feline affection. When you try to hug or kissing your cat, you must also consider the character of your cat and respect the preferences.

Different Ways of Giving Kisses to a Cat

  • Kisses on te top of the head.

Some cats like it, or most, tolerate the kisses on the top of the head. If your cat rubs a part of the body against you, purrs, or leans with the body against you, then your cat probably likes the attention of giving kisses. If your cat pulls its ears back, growls, or slaps its tail, then your cat is not happy and doesn’t like the attention. It could also be that your cat gives a swat with his paw to tell you that the cat wants to be alone.

  • Kisses on the mouth

Many cats don’t like it to get kisses on the mouth. Cats don’t want to have human breath so close to their nose and mouth. Some cats see this way of kissing as a simple violation of their privacy. There may also be a risk of getting a zoonotic disease by kissing your cat on the mouth. Think of bacteria, cat scratch fever, ringworm, or parasites. Some people are more at risk than others with getting an infection. Think of people with compromised immune systems, young children, and pregnant women.

  • Kisses on the paw

As you can read in the post, most cats don’t like getting kisses on their mouths. You can then wonder if there might be another place where a cat likes to get a kiss. Sometimes I kiss my cats on a paw. When the cats are calm, ask attention, and come to lie with me, I know they like to get attention. That’s why I sometimes kiss them on their paws. With this, you make contact, but not in a way that immediately brings you very close. I will give the advice that you are kissing your cat on the paw only if you are sure that your cat is calm and relaxed. Of course, you don’t want the nails in your face and that your cat sees it as a game.

Guidelines for Kissing a Cat

Most cats are allowing a kiss on the head. Some cats don’t like it, and you must respect that. If your cat walks away when you want to give it a kiss, swats, or hisses at you, puts the ears back, it’s better not to give your cat kisses.

Here are a few guidelines to know about kissing a cat:

  • It is better to avoid kissing a cat on the mouth. This way of kissing can seem quite impressive and unpleasant to the cat. Cats can carry parasites and bacteria that are spreading to humans through saliva. This is especially the case with kittens, cats with dental problems, and cats that have not had all the vaccinations.
  • Don’t kiss a cat if you don’t know it well. Your cat may like to get kisses, but other cats may not like kissing at all. A cat who does not know you well may not like your presence/proximity. So be careful about the behavior of the other ‘unknown’ cat.
  • Don’t let children kissing cats. It is good to explain why a child should not kiss a cat. There may be exceptions, but you must make that clear as a person. Some cats have less tolerance for children. If the cat chooses to scratch or bite a child, the chances are that this will be focusing on the face. Never leave young children alone with a cat.

Show Your Cat Affection

Even if your cat likes kisses or not, there are a lot of other ways to share affection with your cat. Some people say that cats are independent of feeling love for their people, but research has assessed that this is not true. Cats can certainly feel affection for people. But the way of showing it is different then by people. You can learn in which ways how you show you cat affection, and so your cats understand you. There are enough great ways to show a cat that you care about it without getting too close.

  • Grooming

What cats love, and one way they offer to a companion is grooming. Cats take care of each other to build up a familiar scent. This familiar scent you can also get even if your cat gives you licks. If your cat likes to be combed/brushed, you can buy a good brush and occasionally care for your cat by combing/brushing your cat.

  • Cat stuff

Cats love things and especially things they can hide in, with which they can play or feel safe. Think of bedding, a tunnel, or a basket. Scratching posts for cracks and climbing. Toys are good for a cat because it fulfills the hunter’s desire and therefore, also stimulating activities are good for the mental and physical health of your cat.

  • Spending time together

Spending time together with your cat is probably the best way to build a bond, show love and affection. Some people saying that cats are cold and aloof, but cats are often happiest when we are in their presence. So paying attention to your cat for a few minutes a day is a way to promote your cat’s well-being.

Cats love it to get attention and spending time together. When I lie on the couch in the evening, it often doesn’t take long that the cats come and lie on the couch with me. They both prefer to lie on my legs.

Kitten is showing his belly

How Do Cats Show Affection?

Cats have many ways of showing love and affection to the human they love. Cats are rubbing their faces, cheeks, forehead, and body with people to show affection and trust. With cats, you can often see how they feel with the stand by the tail. A cat tail has many purposes. If you look at the position of your cat’s tail, it gives a good impression of how your cat feels.

A happy cat usually has the tail upright, with a slight curvature at the tip. Some cats show a small puff at the tip of their tail. If you see this, then a cat is excited. If you want to know more about What Does the Position and Movement of a Cat Tail Meaning? I wrote a post about it.

Another way that cats often show their affection is by blinking (blink slowly). Cats blink slowly to tell others how they feel about them. A cat means to say, ‘i love you.’ You can try to intimidate this behavior (slow blinking). Maybe your cat understands what you mean to say, and then it feels understood. By blinking back, you say to your cat; I love you too.

If a female has cat kittens, then she will vocalize to the kittens with trills, chirps, meows, purrs, and chirps. When the kittens are old enough, they will start to respond to her with their vocalizations. Cats reserve these noises for other cats or people what they love. If a cat meows, another cat can respond by meowing. When I get home, and I call the cats, they often respond by making a kind of chirp sound. Through this sound, I know that they recognize my voice and are happy that I am at home.

Other Ways of Showing Affection

  • Training

You can train cats very well. The mental stimulation that training gives is perfect for indoor cats. By training your cat, you can spend a lot of time together and get to know your cat better. Training your cat should be a reward basis. So every time your cat completes a task, you give a cat treat. Your cat is going to see you as a provider. This makes you feel more connected to each other.

  • Showing their belly

Some cats want to show that they trust you and that they feel comfortable with you. By being vulnerable in your presence, a cat can roll over and show its belly. This does not mean that a cat always likes it when you are stroking its belly. Some cats don’t like this attention; they can bite or scratch you. Look carefully at other signs of stress; when your cat is completely relaxed, you can try stroking the belly. Some cats love nothing more than having a belly rub from their favorite human.  

  • Falling asleep

Some cats are falling asleep while you are there. A cat shows that it trusts you, and it believes that you will protect the cat from any potential dangers. You can reciprocate this.

When I do a short power nap on the couch, the cats stay close to me. They feel that I trust them enough to protect me while I am sleeping. The cats feel more deeply attached to me. 

  • Cat body

You may recognize this behavior. Your cat rubs himself against you. Usually, the cat starts with the nose and ends with the tail. Your cat rubs the body against you to spread the scent. Let your cat doing this. You are telling your cat that you are open to this relationship between you and your cat. It will strengthen your bond with your cat.

One of my cats often shows this behavior when I give the cat food. The cat rubs with the body along my legs.

  • Head to head

Head to head is another way of showing affection. It shows the feeling of trust and scent marking. You can show your cat this form of affection by lowering your head and letting your cat rub against you. In summary, you go with your head against the head of the cat, and the cat goes with the head against your head. Be careful and look carefully at your cat’s behavior. Not every cat likes to do this.

By Marleen

Marleen is a truly madly deeply cat lover and founder of That Is for My Cat. She wants to share her knowledge about cats with other people who like to know more about cats.

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