This Is What Your Cat Thinks You Are (It Might Creep You Out, Or Make You Feel Super Proud)

When I was younger, I wanted to be a cat when I grew up. That dream is still very much true. Cats are such fun little creatures, and often the most considerate roommates you could ask for. Even though the term “cat lady” might have been seen as a derogatory title a decade or two ago, it’s morphed into a goal for many millennials.

Thus, it makes sense that a lot of us would like to learn all we can about our furry companions. One of the biggest questions that often arises is, “does my cat like me?” Chances are,  the answer is yes. But they don’t see you as being their human. In fact, it’s just the opposite. According to National Geographic, cats likely see you as just another cat. A big cat that’s nowhere near as graceful, but still, a cat. So perhaps my childhood dream was fulfilled after all. If you’re a cat, then I’m a cat. 

National Geographic got the information after interviewing John Bradshaw about his book Cat Sense a few years back. Bradshaw is a cat behavior expert at the University of Bristol, which means he knows a thing or two about felines and feline behavior patterns. And in his studies, he’s found that cats are pretty interesting creatures.

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“We’ve yet to discover anything about cat behavior that suggests they have a separate box they put us in when they’re socializing with us,” he said to National Geographic. “They obviously know we’re bigger than them, but they don’t seem to have adapted their social behavior much. Putting their tails up in the air, rubbing around our legs, and sitting beside us and grooming us are exactly what cats do to each other.”

Now that he mentioned it, it’s pretty true. Cats often treat us the exact same way that they treat other cats.  Dogs, on the other hand, seem to acknowledge that humans are different.

“In the book [I say] that cats behave toward us in a way that’s indistinguishable from [how] they would act toward other cats,” Bradshaw continued. “They do think we’re clumsy: Not many cats trip over people, but we trip over cats. But I don’t think they think of us as being dumb and stupid, since cats don’t rub on another cat that’s inferior to them.”

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So, the next time your cat rubs up to you? Feel good in knowing they think you’re a pretty fabulous feline.