Does your cat love you?

As a lifelong cat lover, I've had my fair share of learning the quirks of feline behavior over the years. While cats have a bit of a stereotype for being aloof or moody creatures, with time and patience you can develop a real bond with your furry friend. That said, it's natural to sometimes wonder - does my cat actually like me or is it just tolerating me because I feed it?

There are definitely some subtle signs to look out for that may indicate your kitty is less than thrilled with you. So here are a few common tells that your cat is not your biggest fan:

Avoiding Eye Contact: We've all seen those memes about cats staring into your soul, but the truth is cats tend to establish dominance by making direct eye contact. Breaking eye contact is a sign of anxiety or low status in cat social hierarchies. So if Fluffy is constantly looking anywhere but at you, it's expressing discomfort.

Excessive Grooming: When pets groom themselves, it's often a sign of stress or nervousness. Watch for frequent self-grooming around you - a cat licking itself raw may be telling you it's overwhelmed by your presence. To calm their nerves, try giving them space when they begin cleaning themselves.

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Ears Back or Tail Down: Cats communicate much of their mood through posture. Ears pulled back and a tail low to the ground are signs of fear or defensiveness. A cat who always seems scared or guarded around you may be overly stressed in your company. Give them a quiet space they can retreat to.

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Hissing or Spitting: Obviously, if your cat is vocalizing anger directly at you with hissing, growling or spitting, that's a big red flag. That level of aggression means your feline needs more time to adjust to human interaction. Consult a vet to rule out any medical causes too.

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Those are some of the most common body language cues. Of course, your kitty's habits can vary a lot from one to the next too. With patience and understanding their needs, you can turn almost any cat into a friend with time.