Is it true that cats do not love?

Question

because my mother says that cats cannot love.
and i do strongly believe that they can, i can feel it, my cat loves me, and is even concerned when i am sick.

....and my mom is a cat person too, but she does not believe that my cat loves me....even though the cat loves her too....very much

Answer 1

of course they can love. people think cats are cold hearted because they aer very independent but that doesn't mean that they aren't loving too. mine ae concerned when i'm ill or sad and they meet me at the gate everytime i come home. when i go away they make nests in my clothes and one invariably ends up at the vet becuase he pines! there's nothing like being loved by a cat becuase they only give love when they mean it! Dogs are agreeable and will love anyone, cats are selective, and if your cat loves you, its because you treat them well and love them loads in return. Only people who don't really appreciate kitties say they don't love. The rest of us know better!.

Answer 2

I think it depends on a person's definition of "Love"....

Your mother probably defines Love differently than you do.

Cats definitely can and do become very attached to their owners. They experience extreme grief when their owners die, and some even experience symptoms of grief when they have a change in lifestyle.

A friend of mine went through a very difficult problem with her husband's cat. He broke his leg and was off work for months, and spent a lot of time with his cat. When he went back to work, the cat went bonkers and wouldn't quit spraying and peeing all over the house, even though the cat had been neutered. They couldn't make the cat stay outside because 1)they lived in a city and 2)it was declawed and would not have survived. They kept it confined in one room for quite awhile, and tried several times to let it out again, but it continued that behavior. Their veterinarian finally suggested that they have the cat put down, because it was impossible to live with.

I've heard other stories of how cats experience severe reactions when separated from humans they "love." It isn't love such as we would experience as humans, where we know the person, love them no matter where they are, etc. But I agree with you, I would call it love... for a cat.

Answer 3

That is absolutely not true. Cats do love (every being on this earth will love-it's a natural instinct of all)...cats have very good memories too...cats know who their owner is and who they depend on...take my cat for example...she knows when I get home before I even walk into my apartment complex (she cries and cries until I walk in the door)..yet when my boyfriend gets home she doesn't say a word..cats learn to love the person who takes care of them...and cats are very much a one person type of animal (although they will be nice to other people too)

Answer 4

I believe that cats, (or dogs or humans) are each individuals. While my cat loves me, she might not care for someone else, just as I love my husband but can't stand the sight of his friend.

So while you can feel that your cat loves you, the cat may not care for your mom.
I guess you need to make sure you give your mom an extra hug every now and then so she feels that she is loved too.

Answer 5

Really it depends on what your definition of love is. Cats can not love in a relationship because to them, a member of the opposite sex is just a sperm or egg donor.

However, cats are incredibly territorial, and count their humans as their property. This is why they rub their head against you...they are marking you as theirs.

Now if you consider affection as love, then yes, cats can show that. They do get attached to people and like spending time with them. I wouldn't personally go as far as to call it love, but it is a HUGE amount of dedication and friendship. Cats can be very picky about who they spend their time with, but when they do, it is very much worth it.

Love, in it's purest form, is unattainable for a cat. Cats do not possess the reasoning that humans do for that emotion. But they do know friendship and dedication, which I feel are parts of love, but not the entire thing.

Answer 6

I agree with you, I too believe cats can love. Here is why.
About ten years ago, I adopted a little female tabby kitten. When she was 6 months old, I came down with pneumonia. I was so sick, I couldn't get out of bed for three days. Yoda would jump up on the bed and keep watch over me, washing my face with her sand paper tongue and looking at me like "what's wrong people cat?" On the third day, she started bringing me Meow Mix out of her food dish and putting it near my face. She knew she hadn't seen me in the kitchen cooking people food and was making sure I had something to eat. When I finally had the strength to get out of bed, that little cat was so happy. Yes, cats as well as other companion animals can love, especially when we give them love back.

Answer 7

I believe cats love you ,completely.Not the same way that we stupid humans love but instead with instinct.
My cat knows who I am and comes to me all the time for comfort so if they have those kind of feelings why can the not have others.
I am married but think my cat is my life partner! They are so much cooler than humans.

Answer 8

Yes cats do love my cat loves me very much

Answer 9

I love cats and they have given me tons of love back. I'll never be without a cat - I find them amazing, loving, adoring animals. Sorry but mom's wrong this time.

Answer 10

Cats love. And can experience grief and hurt feelings. And yes, I've known cats who would take care of sick people, help raise human babies (Old Bear taught my oldest nephew how to crawl, and later how to walk), and try to rescue their people from bathtubs of water!

Granted, a feline's viewpoint is going to be different from a human's. But that doesn't make it less valid.