In this article
View 2 More +Many people have a few cats that tend to hang up around their houses. Maybe they gather under your front porch or show up because they know they can get a good meal at your house.
While some feral or stray cats are shy and avoid human contact as much as possible, others will follow you around, especially if you’re an animal lover who will feed them.
Sometimes, a stray cat will take a liking to you and want to be around you. How do you tell when a stray cat likes you? There are several signs that the local stray cat likes you and would like to be your friend, and we’ll discuss 10 of them below.
The 10 Signs a Stray Cat Likes You
1. Head Butts
Cats sometimes mark their territory with the scent glands on their cheeks and head. So, if you’re sitting on the porch, and the stray cat that’s been hanging around comes up and head butts your leg with their head, it means they’re marking you and like you. The cat, in essence, is marking you as one of their allies, and that’s a great compliment coming from a cat.
2. Eye Contact
Cats often see direct eye contact as a threat, especially cats who live in the wild or aren’t used to being around humans. One way to test whether the cat likes you or not is by catching their eye and looking directly at them. If the cat blinks slowly or looks directly into your eyes, they probably like you. If the cat darts away and refuses to meet your eyes, you may still have a way to win the cat’s affection.
3. Grooming
When a cat sees someone as a family member, they tend to want to groom them. If the stray cat climbs into your lap and starts grooming you, you can take it as a sign that you’ve won the cat’s affection.
4. Meowing
A cat’s meow can mean any number of things. If the cat is well-fed, warm, happy, and still meowing at you, it could mean they’re looking for affection. This can be a sign that the cat has decided you’re one of its friends.
5. Playing
If you’ve ever noticed kittens playing, you’ve seen them wrestle with each other. If the cat jumps up into your lap and playfully wrestles with you or bites you, it’s a sign that the cat is comfortable enough to want to play with you. It’s essential, however, not to reinforce this behavior, as cats can definitely play rough and draw blood with their claws and teeth. A stray cat may also harbor pathogens dangerous for humans.
If a stray cat bites or scratches you to the point where they draw blood, you should thoroughly wash the wound for at least 10-15 minutes under warm water with a disinfectant and seek the advice of a medical doctor.
6. Kneading
Every cat lover knows that a cat kneading your leg, lap, or any other part of your body means that they trust you and likely want to be friends. Kneading is often viewed as something like a child sucking on their thumb as a comfort habit. When cats do this to a human, it means they’re comfortable with their presence.
7. Purring
If a stray cat frequently begins purring while in your presence, it likely means they’re content and don’t mind your presence.
8. Bringing Gifts
If a stray cat brings you gifts, such as rodents or birds, it might demonstrate some extent of comfort with you. Cats bring prey to their kittens, and domestic cats bring gifts to their pet parents. A stray might be bringing you a kill as a possible gift.
9. Raising Their Tail
You can tell a lot about a stray cat by noticing their tail. Many cats communicate with their favorite humans by displaying an upright, slightly twitching tail that may slightly bend towards you at the tip. If you see the stray cat approaching you in this manner, they may be telling you that you are their favorite human.
10. Sleeping on Your Lap
Of course, the biggest and most obvious sign that a stray cat likes you is if the cat climbs up into your lap and goes to sleep. Being asleep is a dangerous and vulnerable state for a stray cat, so sleeping on your lap means the cat is starting to trust you completely.
The 4 Signs That a Stray Cat Doesn’t Like You Yet
There are also a few signs that your stray cat doesn’t like you quite yet.
- The cat is antisocial and won’t come near you
- The cat strikes a defensive stance when you come near it
- The cat hides if you approach it
- The cat hisses if you try to touch it
It’s important not to rush a stray cat to like you. If you see any of these signs, it’s best to stay away from the cat until it is ready, or you could end up injured.
About Feeding Strays
Though many people feed strays in an attempt to befriend them, it’s important to note that this might not be allowed in some jurisdictions. Feeding a stray may also be viewed as controversial and unethical, as strays that are fed will continue to stay and breed in the area, leading to even more homeless cats. A well-fed cat might also have an advantage over other animals in the area and may be more destructive towards local fauna.
Generally speaking, if a stray is being fed with eventual intentions of being adopted, it’s considered acceptable. However, feeding strays with no intentions of a long-term adoption program is considered counterproductive to animal welfare.
Conclusion
If you see a stray cat around your property, it’s best to leave the cat alone until it’s ready to trust you. You can put out food for the cat and even try to coax it to come to you from afar but never try to pick the cat up or force them to be near you. Please be mindful of the ethics and laws regarding feeding strays in your area before choosing to do so.
A scared stray cat can attack you, and cat scratches can become infected easily and make you sick. Therefore, it’s best to not force a relationship with a stray cat if they’re not ready to reciprocate the attention you provide them.
Featured Image Credit: dimitrisvetsikas1969, Pixabay
6 Responses
Over five years ago, I started feeding and sheltering "Tommy & Joey", two gold outdoor ferrel cats (brothers). They were definitely TNVR cats as I had a cat rescue staff member come look at them (clipped ears..). "Tommy" walked into the house last year, and hasn't slept outside since! He is, bar none, the most affectionate cat I've ever had. I have two other indoor cats who go out occasionally and the 4 of them get along as they spend time in the yard during the summer. "Joey", Tommy's brother is a different story. He's definitely more "feral" than his now-domesticated brother. "Joey" will role upside down outdoors when he sees and sniff my finger when he is eating, That is it. I can't get him inside!! Three weeks ago, he disappeared for 18 days during our last freezing snow storm and I was so upset. Then, there he appeared and acts like he never left! As I write this, we now are expecting another blizzard and two feet of snow tonight! I FINALLY was able to trap him in the garage yesterday (which is where he eats). I threaded a rope through a bathroom window and attached to the back garage door which I pulled shut! I AM SO HAPPY! I also brought in his outdoor DIY storage tote into the garage. I am a little worried as I have not seen him since and he is NOT eating. He may be under the car or in the car engine?? I read a cat this frightened may hide and not eat for 3 days. I'm just happy he's inside before the freezing snow storm. With a little luck, he'll also be inside and very spoiled within a few months! It has been five years of being (and staying) patient but they are SO worth it.
Hi Sue. We are so incredibly relieved and happy for you that you managed such a clever "Mission Impossible" move to get Joey safe before the blizzard! It is completely normal for a truly feral cat to hide and refuse food for the first 24 to 72 hours after being confined; his survival instinct tells him to stay still and silent until he feels the "predator" (the change in his environment) has passed. Please be very careful before starting your car, as he likely is tucked up inside the engine or under the chassis for warmth and security; we recommend giving the hood a loud knock and checking the wheel wells before you ever turn the key. As long as he has access to fresh water and you leave some very "stinky" wet food (like sardines or tuna) out overnight when it is quiet, he will eventually eat once he feels no one is watching him.
Please also let your readers know that many communities have TNVR (trap/neuter/vaccinate/release) programs. I have four ferals in my yard that I feed and they are too old to be socialized, but I was able to humanely trap them and get them vet care for very low cost so that they will not fight, breed, or spread disease.
Hi Theresa Marie, first of all, thank you very much for humanly trapping four feral cats and getting them neutered, controlling the feral cats populations requires the effort of society members, public services, and private humane organizations. We do have several posts that discuss the TNVR programs here are a few of them:
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/are-tnr-programs-for-feral-cats-ethical/
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-trap-a-feral-cat-for-tnr/
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/catnip-nation-seeks-to-help-everyone-understand-tnr/
good article about stray cats
Thanks, Pollyanne. Glad you enjoyed it :)