Signs of Affection in Kittens

A newly adopted young kitten will show signs of affection for you in its own ways. Although kittens cannot talk and let you know how much they care for you, they convey affection through body language, vocalization and behavior. Observe your kitten for the subtle signs of love it shows you every day.

  1. Kneading

    • Cats knead with a back-and-forth motion of their front paws, extending and retracting their claws during this motion. To nurse, young kittens knead their mother's stomach to stimulate the production of milk. This provides a pleasant, comforting experience for your kitten. When your kitten comes up to you and kneads on your arm or lap, it is showing you how happy and content it is with you. Young cats who trust you completely will perform this behavior on other surfaces or while being held, looking at you and purring, also a sign of affection. When your kitten relaxes and kneads, stroke it gently to bond with it.

    Marking

    • Young kittens will mark territory by rubbing their cheeks against objects in your home and by scratching surfaces with their paws. A cat has scent glands in its cheeks, forehead, chin, feet and tail that contain calming pheromones. When a kitten rubs these pheromones on a surface, it is "marking" it as safe and claiming it as its own. You kitten might head-butt you to mark you as its own, another sign of love and affection. It will also rub along your legs with its body and tail to mark you with its scent. This type of marking--unlike urine-marking, which is destructive--demonstrates your kitten's regard for you.

    Body Language and Grooming

    • Kittens demonstrate feelings of fondness with subtle signs that you can look for. When a cat trusts you completely, it will blink slowly when it looks at you. If your cat appears relaxed and does a slow blink, return the gesture to bond with your little kitten. A young cat who trusts you enough to let its guard down considers you part of its family. Your cat will also expose its stomach to you as a sign of affection and trust, and it might allow you to give it a tummy rub. If you stroke a kitten who demonstrates calm, content body language, it might groom you in return with its tongue as it does itself. This behavior indicates that the kitten considers you part of its family, very much a sign of acceptance and love.

    Bringing Gifts

    • Cats and kittens naturally have a hunting instinct, and many like to retrieve cat toys to satisfy this instinct. A cat will express its love for you by bringing you its most beloved cat toys as gifts or offerings, which expresses affection and love for you. The kitten might bring these items to you or leave them for you in an area you frequent, such as on your bed or in your office. The kitten also might bring the toy to you as a sign it wants to play with you to express its feelings of happiness.