Can Cats Fall in Love with Each Other or Humans? Vet-Reviewed Feline Feelings

In all honesty, we don't know how cats feel. We can't ask them if they're in love, and no scientific test can measure what a cat is feeling. Also, the definition of love is hard to agree upon! We do know that cats experience affection and may form bonds with other felines and their humans. However, cats don't mate for life and likely don't experience what humans would express as love. For them, mating is an instinctual behavior governed by hormones.

Of course, most cat owners would say their cats are fond of them. Some cats like some people more than others, so there must be a reason for their preference. Furthermore, cats also have preferences toward other cats. It's not uncommon for them to dislike some cats but like others.

While we can point out many reasons we may think cats can experience love, none are scientifically proven. You could just as easily argue that a cat prefers one person out of habit or an association with food, not necessarily because of love.

Do Cats Fall in Love With Each Other?

Cats don't mate for life, and despite forming close, affectionate bonds, they are unlikely to experience the love humans have for each other. Cats meet for mating as they’re driven by their hormones, and this desire is stopped when they are spayed or neutered.

However, that doesn't mean cats never bond with each other. Many cat owners will profess that their cats enjoy each other's company, groom one another, and seem to tolerate each other at the food bowl. Some cats bond with others, but there is no way for us to know if this is love or not, nor should it be anthropomorphised in such a way.

How Do You Know If Cats Love Each Other?

There is no way to know for sure if cats love each other. Cats cannot talk, so we can't be sure if they feel love towards each other or not. It simply isn't something we can determine through science. However, there are ways to tell whether cats like each other.

For instance, cats that groom each other and cuddle certainly like each other. One of the most basic behaviors that shows cats may like each other is tolerance. If two felines can walk down a hall together without getting upset, they at least like each other a little bit. Other than liking and social tolerance, this can also mean indifference, which is neutral behavior and a sign of coexistence.

In a natural setting, many of your cat's relationships would be at this level. Ignoring each other is how cats signal that they tolerate each other. Play fighting is also a way to tell if your cats like each other, especially if they are on the more energetic side of the spectrum. However, playing can turn into conflict in some cases and should be supervised.

Cats must trust each other to play since they must trust that the other won't get too rough. Kittens play with other kittens as a sign that they like each other.

Do Cats Get Attached to Other Cats?

Cats can get attached or bonded to other cats. Bonded cats are often siblings or cats that were raised together. If a pair of cats has been with each other since birth, they tend to be extremely close. However, that isn't always the case. Sometimes, siblings fight like siblings!

Furthermore, cats may be particularly upset if a feline they're bonded to dies. However, they are also very resilient and aren't biologically programmed to be with another cat for life. Therefore, they can bounce back if separated from their bonded companion.

Will Cats Cuddle with Each Other?

Bonded felines may cuddle or groom each other, but it isn't as common as many cat owners may think. While cats may groom each other, cuddling just to cuddle is pretty rare. Kittens tend to cuddle more than adult cats. It is likely because they are engineered to cuddle with their siblings to keep warm.

However, cuddling other cats tends to dissipate as the feline gets older. Of course, different personalities and temperaments play a role, and some cats cuddle each other throughout their lives.

Do Cats Kiss Each Other?

Cats do not really kiss each other. At least, not in the way humans do. Kissing is a reasonably unusual behavior in the animal kingdom. Therefore, it isn't all that surprising that cats don't do it. However, cats will groom each other if they are particularly close. Cats grooming each other is one way they bond. It also helps them mix their scent, which is how they recognize each other and form social structure.

This behavior is pretty common in cat colonies. It's how the colony keeps its identity since cats will recognize each other by their shared smell. However, in homes, it is somewhat less common (probably because there are fewer cats).

Final Thoughts

We truly don't know if cats fall in love with their person or other cats, but we know that cats seem to like certain people and other felines. They have preferences for who they hang out with. However, we cannot say whether it is love or not.

Love isn't something that can be measured scientifically. There is no way to rate it, especially regarding how cats express it. It's possible that love is a purely human emotion, but it's impossible to know for sure. Until we develop a way to talk to cats, we probably won't be able to answer this question.

See also:

• 12 Reasons to Love Cats: Interesting Facts You Need to Know

• Do Cats Like Humans? 12 Ways They Show Humans Love!

Featured Image Credit: Magui RF, Shutterstock