Ways You May Not Realize Your Cat Is Saying 'I Miss You'

Cats don't typically greet their humans at the front door with a rapidly wagging tail or undeniable excitement at their return, but that doesn't mean your kitty didn't miss you while you were away. Unlike their canine counterparts, felines express their feelings in a more subtle way, including the "I miss you" emotions. Cats can form deep bonds with their owners, especially if there are no other animals or humans in the home. Your cat might be letting you know it misses you and wants you around in ways you don't realize, either physically or behaviorally.

Some cats even experience separation anxiety during their time apart from their owners. It's not uncommon for cats to meow and whine near the front door moments after watching their owners leave the house, as if to say, "How dare you leave me alone. When are you coming back?" Depending on the length of the absence, some cats respond with resentment when they see their humans again while others respond in a more positive, heartwarming way. If you pay close attention to what your cat's body language is telling you, you may be pleasantly surprised.

You don't have to be a cat whisperer to know that when a cat rubs its tail against your leg or headbutts your hand with its eyes closed, it's a good thing. At the very least, it means the cat likes you, but what many people don't realize is that this behavior is a territorial, transactional gesture. Cats rub their tails or faces on certain surfaces to mark them with their scent, and in exchange, the surface becomes their property — in their eyes. Cats have scent glands in several parts of their body, including their cheeks, head, and tails.

When your cat rubs against or headbutts you after a time of separation, it's letting you know that it deems you worthy of its scent. It sees you as a beloved companion and wants to connect. The marking and headbutting, also known as head bunting, is an emotional experience for a cat and an expression of affection. Think of it as the same reaction that a human would have after not seeing their best friend or closest relative for a few months. Most people would embrace and be filled with joy after such a reunion. Of course, your cat can't hug you the way a person can, but it can mark you.

Some cats have no problem with being front and center to make physical contact with their humans to let them know how much they love and miss them. Others prefer a more discrete, behind-the-scenes approach, and some exhibit both behaviors, depending on the day. As a way of saying, "I missed you" without making it too obvious, your cat might follow you around the house in stealth mode.

If you're lying down in your room, you might notice your feline friend sneak under your bed or jump on top of it and lie down a few feet away from you. If you're relaxing in the living room, your cat might cozy up near your feet or on the other side of the sofa. When cats do this, it's their way of letting their owners know they want to be near them, perhaps for companionship or to temper their loneliness.

During the first two months after birth, kittens gently press their mother's belly with alternating front paws to stimulate milk flow. It's a natural, instinctive behavior known as kneading, or "making biscuits," as some people call it. Some cats grow out of it as they get older, but many retain it, even after being adopted and permanently separated from their mother. The only difference, though, is that cats tend to knead a random soft surface, but not with the expectation of milk. Instead, they do it to express comfort and show affection.

Cats don't make biscuits on a surface unless they're comfortable with it, so if that surface happens to be your lap, your feline friend is basically saying, "I feel safe with you and at peace." You might notice this behavior within minutes after sitting down on the sofa after a long day at work. It may not be enough for your cat to simply rub against you or sit on the same sofa as you. Your kitty may need to make physical contact with you to truly express how it feels.

There are more ways for a cat to show physical affection than with kneading, rubbing, and headbutting. Your cat might want to make its emotions and feelings about you very clear by attempting to cuddle with you. This could equate to jumping up on your lap or pressing its body against your leg while lying beside you, while also headbutting you. If you're lying down on your back, it might lie down on your chest or stomach, and if you're on your stomach, it might find a cozy spot on your back.

Of course, there's always the possibility that your cat will knead you, rub against you, headbutt you, and lie on you or right beside you. Many cats show affection in multiple ways at the same time. For these felines, it's not enough to just be in the same room as their owners. They want to be certain that their humans know exactly how they feel, probably with hopes that their affection will make them reconsider leaving them alone again.

It's easier for you to determine that your cat misses you when you're both interacting under the same roof, but what about when you're under a different roof, away from home? What does your feline friend do then? Of course, you won't know for sure unless you set up a camera or maybe take a peek in a back window without being seen.

Some cats wait by the front door, either moments after their owners leave or moments before they return home. Others just hang out near the front door for most of their time alone as they long to see their humans again. If you have a bay window, low window, or window with sills facing your driveway, your cat might perch in one of those areas so it can peer outside. Second-story windows that face your driveway are included in the perching options, too. You might even catch it staring through the glass before it jumps down to greet you at the door.

Whether your cat waits for you at a door or window, follows you around, or physically shows you affection, consider it a compliment. It means your kitty enjoys your company and misses you when you're away from home. Be sure to return its fondness for you by giving it some head scratches, petting it, and allowing it to snuggle with you. After all, interacting with a loving cat in this way doesn't just benefit the animal; it can lift your spirits and improve your mood, too.