Cats Have Complex Emotions
Cats have a wide range of emotions and feelings. According to studies, cats experience happiness, sadness, fear, anxiety, and many other complex emotions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7401521/). Cats bond closely with their owners and feel safe and content when receiving affection from them. They also can feel stressed, angry, or frightened in certain situations. Cats are sensitive and observant, so they pick up on human emotional cues. Research shows that cats recognize human facial expressions and vocal tones associated with specific moods and emotions (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-38167-w). Overall, cats have a rich inner emotional world, even if they don’t express it in ways that are immediately obvious to humans.
Cats Bond with Their Owners
Research shows that cats form attachment bonds with their owners in ways similar to dogs and human children. A 2019 study from Oregon State University found that cats display secure, anxious, or avoidant attachment styles with their caregivers https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/cats-children-and-dogs-develop-attachments-their-caregivers-study-shows. Like babies and puppies, cats see their owners as a source of safety, security, and comfort. When stressed, cats often seek proximity to their human caregivers for soothing, showing their attachment bond.
According to the OSU study, secure cats feel relaxed exploring when their owner is present and are comforted by them when stressed. Anxious cats are clingy towards their owner, while avoidant cats show indifference. These attachment styles parallel those seen in human and dog-owner bonds. Overall, evidence indicates cats form meaningful social connections with their owners. Understanding feline attachment patterns can help strengthen the human-cat relationship.
Forehead Kissing is Affectionate
Kissing a cat’s forehead is a common sign of affection. It mimics natural cat behaviors like head bunting. Cats have scent glands on their heads, so when they rub or bump heads with other cats or their owners, they are marking them with their scent. A forehead kiss has a similar effect of sharing scent and indicating affection. According to Pam Johnson-Bennett, a cat behavior expert, when cats bump foreheads, it has the meaning of “You belong to me.” A forehead kiss from a human has a comparable meaning of showing the cat they belong with their human.
Additionally, because the forehead is a sensitive area, a kiss shows trust and care. The cat allows the human to get close to this vulnerable region. A forehead kiss demonstrates the bond between cat and human. It is a sign of affection similar to giving a hug or a pat on the back for humans. The gesture shows the cat they are safe and loved. While some cats may enjoy forehead kisses more than others, most interpret it as a positive interaction that strengthens the relationship with their owner.
Cats Interpret Forehead Kisses Positively
When a cat is kissed on the forehead by their owner, they likely interpret this as a positive sign of affection and attention. Cats form strong bonds with their human companions, and physical touch like kisses can reinforce this connection. According to many cat owners, their felines seem to enjoy and even seek out forehead kisses as a special part of their daily routine and interaction.
Cats use physical cues like stroking, petting, and cuddling to show affection in their relationships with other cats. Research indicates cats see their owners as a source of security and comfort, similar to their relationships with other cats (Source). When an owner kisses a cat’s forehead, the cat interprets this as a soothing, loving gesture from their trusted companion. The kiss signals care, bonding, and trust.
Many owners report that their cats purr, rub their head, or push closer when kissed on the forehead, clear signs they welcome the attention. Some cats even appear to initiate forehead kisses by moving their head toward the owner’s face. While cats do not show affection identically to humans, their own unique responses indicate they perceive forehead kisses as an overwhelmingly positive experience sharing intimacy and care.
Forehead Kisses Release Oxytocin
One reason cats may enjoy forehead kisses is that this type of affectionate touch causes the release of oxytocin in cats, similar to the “love hormone” oxytocin in humans. When a cat receives positive, gentle interaction like a forehead kiss, their oxytocin levels increase, bringing feelings of comfort, contentment, and bonding (https://petsreporter.com/does-my-cat-know-that-kisses-on-the-forehead-are-a-sign-of-affection/).
Oxytocin is well known to promote social bonding and affiliation in many species, including humans and cats. Research shows that when owners interact affectionately with their cats, by petting, cuddling, or kissing them, it increases oxytocin levels in both the human and the cat (https://blog.catbandit.com/do-cats-understand-kisses-an-exploration-of-feline-affection/). This helps strengthen the bond between cat and human.
So when you give your cat a sweet kiss on the forehead, it likely produces a little rush of oxytocin for them, making them feel relaxed, loved, and connected with you. The oxytocin release from forehead kisses is a key reason why cats seem to enjoy this display of affection.
Cats Appreciate Positive Interactions
Cats form close bonds with their human caregivers and appreciate positive interactions like playtime, petting, treats, and affection (Turner, 2021). While cats are sometimes portrayed as aloof, research shows they actually crave social interaction and form attachments to their owners.
A study by Finka et al. (2022) found that cats enjoyed being petted and played with, and were strongly motivated by food rewards from their owners. Another study showed cats can interpret human facial expressions and respond differently to positive and negative emotions. This suggests cats prefer interacting with humans when it’s a positive experience.
Cats view forehead kisses from trusted owners as a positive gesture and part of this affectionate bond. The kisses stimulate oxytocin release which makes cats feel calm and content. Cats often respond by purring, leaning into the kiss, or nuzzling their owner. So forehead kisses reinforce the loving relationship between cat and human.
Forehead Kisses Can Soothe Cats
Forehead kisses can have a calming effect on cats by lowering stress and anxiety levels. When a cat receives affection like a forehead kiss, it triggers the release of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin induces feelings of contentment, relaxation, and bonding. According to this Quora post, cats recognize forehead kisses as a loving gesture from their human companion. The oxytocin released when kissed on the forehead helps cats feel more relaxed and less anxious. Gentle kisses can be especially soothing for cats in stressful situations like visits to the vet or introductions to new people or animals. A comforting forehead kiss helps reassure cats that everything is okay. While cats may not purposely solicit forehead kisses, they often appreciate this affectionate display from their trusted human.
Cats May Seek Out Forehead Kisses
Some cats learn to initiate forehead kiss interactions by nudging their head into an owner’s face. Cats are intelligent creatures that can make associations and learn behaviors that get them desired rewards. If a cat enjoys the affection and attention it receives from forehead kisses, it may purposely head butt its owner as a request for more kisses. According to one Reddit user, “It’s called ‘head bunting’. Cats do it to spread their scent on people they consider family. It’s a bonding expression, but could also be interpreted as a request for attention and affection.”1 When a cat nudges its head against its owner in this way, it is offering consent and actively seeking out kisses. The cat has learned this behavior elicits a positive response.
Some cats even go so far as to climb into their owners’ laps and cuddle up close, directing their foreheads toward the owner’s face. This shows they desire physical intimacy and affection. By nudging, pressing, and positioning themselves, cats communicate they want those soothing forehead kisses from their beloved human companions. It’s a mutual exchange of love and bonding between pet and owner.
Kisses Show the Human-Cat Bond
Forehead kisses demonstrate the strong social bond between cats and their human caregivers. Research shows that cats form secure attachments to their owners, similar to the bonds dogs form 1. When a human kisses a cat’s forehead, it represents an affectionate moment of connection in the relationship.
Cats recognize their owners and respond positively to caring physical touch like kisses. A 2021 study found that cats show more affection, vocalization, and attention-seeking behaviors with their owners compared to strangers 2. Forehead kisses reinforce the unique human-feline bond by providing a gentle yet meaningful display of love.
Kisses trigger the release of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” in both cats and humans. This hormonal response fuels feelings of trust and bonding. When a cat receives forehead kisses, it likely feels trusted, cared for, and bonded with its loving owner.
Cats’ Responses Vary by Personality
Cats have diverse personalities, so their responses to forehead kisses vary (1). Shy cats tend to dislike overt shows of affection and may pull away or become agitated when kissed. On the other hand, outgoing and affectionate cats often initiate contact and affection. They frequently rub against their owners asking for attention, and may purr or headbutt during forehead kisses.
A study on feline personality traits identified the dimensions of fearfulness and sociability toward humans (2). Fearful cats are more easily startled and avoid human interaction. Sociable cats actively seek human contact. These traits likely influence individual cats’ reactions to forehead kisses.
Ultimately a cat’s unique personality shapes whether they enjoy and ask for forehead kisses from their owner or dislike this type of affection. Knowing a cat’s personality provides insight into their perspective on being kissed.
