4 Signs that your cat is a flirt
Is your cat a flirt? Do they try to get your attention any way they can? Cats are flirtatious felines! Cat affection, though, is often on their terms! Here are the signs that your cat is a flirt…
If your cat does any of the following, you may like to think of them as being a cat flirt. They are engaging with you with these cat flirting behaviours:
- Rub up against you
- Roll over in front of you
- Talk to you with little ‘chirrupy’ meows
- Gaze into your eyes
Understand cat flirting behaviours
1. The Cat Rub
When cats rub against you they are transferring their scent on to you. Cats have scent glands around their head, at the base of their tail and on their paws. They use these scent glands to mark their territory and you just happen to be an extension of that territory. Having their scent around them makes them feel more comfortable in their world.
Cats often choose to rub against you when they want attention. In many households, this will be when the cat wants fed and your feline friend will rub against your legs, sometimes tripping you up, as their meal is being prepared.
Other cats enjoy the head butt, sometimes called a bunt! This involves rubbing the scent glands on their heads up against the owner’s head. Friendly cats may rub against one another. Truly a sensory experience!
And when the rub becomes annoying…
When a cat rubs or sharpens its claws on their scratching post, or your furniture, they are actually depositing scent on the objects. More about scratching.
2. The Cat Roll
If your cat falls to the floor and writhes around in front of you, it is difficult to ignore. If you haven’t tripped over your cat, then you have very likely bent down to interact and give your cat a pat or a belly tub. Cat affection demands human attention!
Some cats, like dogs, may enjoy a tummy rub. This is a sign of trust in their owner, as rolling over exposes their vulnerable underside. Most cats tolerate a little patting but then quickly let their owners know, with their sharp teeth and claws, when enough is enough.
Rolling behaviour may have its origins in sexual behaviour, as when a female is ready for mating, she will let her suitor know by rolling around the ground. While our desexed cats no longer have the instinct to mate, they still retain this instinctive behaviour. Truly a cat flirt!
When you wish your cat would roll away!…
If your cat is liable to attack you when you stroke them, half the number of pats, then gradually increase them on a daily basis. Some cats are stressed by patting.
3. The Cat Chatterbox
Some cats are more vocal than others, with Siamese and Oriental breeds particularly prone to loving the sound of their own voices. If your cat talks a lot, you may love this interaction (unless it happens at night!)
There is one unique sound that cats make when they are attempting to get your attention, perhaps to feed them or for a pat. This is known as the solicitation purr or meow and it is a combination of a meow and purr, with a chirruping sound. Cats learn to use this vocalisation when they want your attention.
When you’d like a quieter pussycat…
Try rewarding quiet behaviour and ignoring the noise.
4. The lingering gaze
Does your cat gaze into your eyes? Friendly cats enjoy a soulful look (or is that a look into our souls?!) at us. Try gazing back and every so often give a slow blink or wink. This is the way you can flirt back with your cat.
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