Our feline friends are mysterious creatures, and one might wonder if they are genuinely happy.
It can be challenging for us cat owners to recognize our cat’s signs and body language, but I will give you nine telltale signs to look out for – so you can comfortably understand your cat’s happy emotions.
What are The Signs of a Happy Cat?
- The Cats Vocalization
- The Cat has Its Daily Routines in Order
- Cat Giving You a Massage (Kneading)
- Playful Behavior
- Social Sleeping: With Owners and Other Cats
- The Tail Let You Know
- Rubbing their Head or Body
- The Cat is Drooling From the Mouth
- The Cat is Cleaning Itself
The Cats Vocalization
A cat is happy when it purrs. Vocalization is one of the cats’ most apparent signs of happiness and comfortableness.
Sometimes it curls up next to you and starts purring. You will usually notice your cat purring while you pet your cute friend. Purring signifies your cat’s emotional intimacy and satisfaction with you.
When you pet your cat, they will sense your love for them. An automatic ‘purr-response’ occurs to express their happiness.
The Cat has Its Daily Routines in Order
As part of our daily routines, we talk about sleeping, eating, and grooming. All these daily routines ensure your cat is healthy and feels optimal throughout the day.
- Sleeping. Cats can sleep up to 15 hours a day. A relaxed and happy cat sleeps comfortably and can sleep even more hours. So don’t worry if your cat often sleeps by itself.
- Eating. You will know they are happy if they have a good appetite, enjoy their meals, and eat appropriate portions. A healthy appetite indicates happiness in life.
- Grooming. Grooming is a part of a happy cat’s daily routine. However, if something is bothering the cat, it’s not easy to focus on its own personal hygiene.
Cat Giving You a Massage (Kneading)
If your cat is kneading you with its front paws, it is an excellent sign if the cat is happy or not.
Massaging is a spontaneous gesture that kittens adapt very soon after birth. While kittens feed from their mother, this movement provides more milk flow to the breasts.
However, this movement, which continues into adulthood, is a habit that develops towards soft surfaces that remind cats of their mother. Such a habit underlies the massage of its owner, a fluffy sweater, or a soft tummy.
Who can say your cat is not happy in a relaxed, trans-like moment like this?
Of course, it is a significant sign that your cat is comfortable, but cats giving a massage can also have other meanings.
Playful Behavior
Playing games or with toys is quite enjoyable for cats. It stimulates their brain and makes them feel good in general. Cats usually only turn to play when their food and general health priorities are satisfied. Even older cats can catch a sparkle in their eyes when they see their favorite toys.
Social Sleeping: With Owners and Other Cats
The cat sleeps many hours during the day, but It is common for a depressed kitty to sleep even more often and usually alone.
Social sleeping is a good sign that your cat is happy and pleased with you, other feline friends, and the environment in the house.
The Tail Let You Know
One of the signs of cat love is the tails. Our feline friends tell us a lot about their emotions using the tail. For example, their rear end looks different when they’re nervous, sad, happy, and relaxed.
The truth about their happiness is hidden in their tails. They are pleased to see you if their tails are raised comfortably upright, especially when they come to you when you return home after a long day at work.
Rubbing their Head or Body
If your cat is rubbing its head or body on you, it means that it feels excellent contentment and happiness whenever it comes into physical contact with you. Moreover, this is not only a sign of joy but also an indicator of a very intense bond with you.
On the other hand, thanks to the glands that secrete pheromones on their faces, they indicate that you belong to their domain. Therefore, if your cat comes to lie on your neck, rests its head, or touches your face with its paws, that indicates your cat is in a good relationship with you.
The Cat is Drooling From the Mouth
This one might be a little surprising, but cats drool when they are happy. Of course, the drooling might be less appealing to see if your cat is joyful, but it can signify happiness while petting and cuddling.
Keep in mind excessive drooling is usually only sometimes a happy expression. It might be a sign of health issues if the cat keeps drooling without stimulation. I have an article describing excessive drooling in cats and why it might be related to a health issue in case you suspect this.
The Cat is Cleaning Itself
A clean cat is a happy cat. If the cat is cleaning itself, you can be sure as a cat parent that your friend is happy – because it is one of the surest displays in the curious world of cat emotions.
Our cat gives up on cleaning habits when things go wrong. The cleaning act also makes them happy because the cat’s brain signals endorphins (happiness hormone) during cleaning.
Conclusion
Nothing is more comforting than knowing your cat is happy and comfy. Having this ball of fur gently rubbing itself up against you or laying on your stomach while you sit back and watch some TV is such a good feeling.
These nine behavioral signs you have learned by now indicate their happy emotions, and you can try to look for them to be sure the kitty is happy and content.
