Cats may think of you as their baby if they show these three behaviors

Researchers, including biologist Dr. John Bradshaw, report that several common cat actions reflect parental instincts rooted in wild-cat biology; typical examples include delivering prey, grooming and head-butting, and sleeping close while kneading.

Cats often show behaviors that look like caregiving toward their owners. Scientists such as Dr. John Bradshaw argue these actions can come from ancestral, parental instincts rather than being purely learned responses. Unlike dogs, cats were not selectively bred for specific tasks and have remained closer to wild ancestors. That context helps explain why cats sometimes treat people as if they were kittens. Behaviors researchers highlight: - Bringing prey or household items: Researchers note cats may carry prey to a safe place and that similar actions in the wild are part of teaching young cats to hunt. - Grooming and head butts: Licking and rubbing transfer scent and help bond kittens to their mothers, and scientists say owners can receive the same treatment. - Sleeping close and positioning: Adults in the wild place themselves near or above young to watch and protect them; some cats sleep on or beside owners in similar ways. - Kneading ("making biscuits"): This is a kitten behavior linked to stimulating nursing and is often seen toward human laps or bodies. Summary: These observations suggest many familiar cat behaviors may be rooted in caretaking and bonding instincts that evolved in wild and maternal contexts. Undetermined at this time.