Do you ever give your cat a big kiss and wonder 'does he actually like it?' Find out more about whether you cat appreciates your kisses.
Many of us show our felines love and affection in many different ways. Then, some people can’t resist giving their fur baby a quick kiss on the head or face — and, in some cases, on the lips! But what do our cats think about that? Do they really like to be kissed?
There is no simple answer to this question because all cats are different, and it depends on the temperament of the individual cat. Some have a tolerance for being handled and smothered with affection, while others might find this uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Cats generally prefer to show their affection from a distance, which means that some cats just may not enjoy such physical contact. Where feline affection is concerned, it’s always advisable to let the cat make the first move, and bond with you at their own pace.
To test the water, you could always try to kiss your feline friend in their language — kitty kisses are very different from the kind we give as humans! Cats use body language to show their humans affection. A slow blink from your cat can be the equivalent of a human kiss, but it’s often done at a distance, without any physical contact. The next time your cat stares at you, welcome their gaze with a slow ‘I love you’ blink — if they reciprocate with a slow blink back, this is the equivalent of a kitty kiss.
A word of caution for those who do plant a big kiss of their fur baby’s lips. Several zoonotic diseases can be passed on from cats to humans; these include common bacteria, such as staphylococcus, E-coli, and salmonella; and ringworm, a common fungal infection that is highly contagious and can spread from cats to humans.
