12 Telltale Signs Your Cat Is Happy
Happy Holidaze #HappyHolidaze
Wondering if you’ve got a happy cat? If your kitty is exhibiting these purr-fectly content behaviors, the answer is yes!
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Figuring out your finicky feline
Sometimes, stereotypes exist for a reason. Case in point: cats. Even with the most affectionate cat breeds, it can be difficult to tell whether your cat loves you, likes you, or just kinda, sorta tolerates you—and even whether you’ve got a happy cat or not. But we have some good news: Most of them love you, and science proves it. According to a recent study from Oregon State University, most cats do, indeed, bond with their caretakers. Researchers looked at 70 kittens between three and eight months of age and found that the majority (64 percent) had secure attachments to their owners. So, how can you tell if your cat is happy—with you and with life, in general? We got the lowdown from pet experts on how to decode feline behavior. After, take a look at these tell-tale signs your dog is happy.
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They rub against you
Are cats marking their territory when they rub against you—or are they just happy to see you? It’s a little of both, actually. Cats that live together and have a strong social bond typically groom and rub on each other, according to Wailani Sung, DVM, PhD, a pet behaviorist with Chewy.com. “It has been theorized that they do this to promote a colony scent since this action leaves behind oils from the scent gland on their head, cheeks, and chin,” she explains. “When they rub on people, they leave behind oils to mark us, but it is also a sign that they like us and are happy to see us.” On the flip side, here’s how to tell if your cat is secretly mad at you.