Does your cat really love you? Take this quiz to find out

Seven out of 10believe their feline friends genuinely them, while others feel they are merely a source of food for them. The study of 2,000 cat owners revealed that 72% of cat owners think their pet would choose them over a stranger who was offering them treats, in a display of loyalty.

Eight in ten were confident their pet could identify them in a line-up and 64% believed their cat could sense when they were feeling down or unwell. However, a smaller percentage, 28%, felt their cat was incapable of feeling love and acted purely on instinct.

Half of the cat owners surveyed felt they were their favourite person in the household, but even if they weren't, three quarters suggested 'buying' your cat's affection through treats and gentle petting was an effective way to win them over.

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Aneisha Soobroyen, CEO & co-founder of Scrumbles, which commissioned the research as well as a quiz, posed the question: "Do cats love us - or just love being warm and well fed?"

"There's no set answer for this as a bit of both is probably true," she said, adding, "it also depends on the cat's own personality, as well as the breed and factors such as how long you've had them can also play a part in how they react to you.

"For example, have you cared for them since they were a kitten or were they a rescue? Are they a 'true' outside cat that likes to hunt, do they have feral breeding or are they an indoor 'home body' cat such as a Ragdoll?"

Over a third of those surveyed via OnePoll.com claimed that their cats seek to comfort them when they're upset. However, 8% said their cat would actually avoid them in such situations.

Opinions varied on how owners think their cats would react if they disappeared for a week as a third suggested the cat would miss them terribly and sulk and because they felt abandoned and betrayed a quarter reckoned their cat would hold a grudge when they returned.

Some thought their cat might notice their absence but would likely 'move on' quickly, whereas 18% believed their cat wouldn't care as long as they were fed.

“Whatever your type of cat, they do have feelings and some even get depressed if they do not receive enough attention – a bit like their owners," Aneisha said. "But cat owners may agree their moggie can be a bit fickle – so their affection can appear to be just cupboard love.”

According to the poll, the top display of cat affection is sleeping on or near their owner (70%), followed by being headbutted or purred at (67%). Moreover, 42% were confident that when their cat 'slow blinks' at them, it's a sign of love, and a third believe being gifted a dead mouse or bird from a cat means they adore you.

Aneisha added: “Cats, like humans, have real personalities and some are friendlier than others, with some wanting more attention than others."

TOP WAYS TO ‘BUY’ YOUR CAT’S LOVE AS VOTED BY CAT OWNERS:

Offering treats

Giving gentle petting

Giving plenty of attention

Playing with toys

Offering a variety of food

Spending quality time together

Providing a cosy bed

Creating a safe space

Providing scratching posts

Offering catnip