"With humans, you can clearly see if someone is happy or sad through a simple smile—although it might not be quite as obvious with our feline friends, there are some tell-tale signs of happiness they will show you," PDSA Vet Claire told Bored Panda what to can an eye out for.

"One of the more obvious physical signs is to look out for their tail. The position of a cat’s tail will usually give away a lot about their mood. If they approach you with their tail up in the air and a slight curve at the tip, this shows that they are happy to see you. Similarly, if a cat lies on their back to show you their tummy it means they trust you, as their stomach is a very vulnerable area. Don’t be tempted to give them a tickle or a rub there though—most cats will not appreciate it and may scratch or bite!" she warned.

Meanwhile, when a cat rubs its head or cheek on you, it leaves its scent on your skin. That way, it can recognize that you're friendly. "This is another sign they are happy to see you! Finally, if your cat blinks slowly at you then they trust you—you can even try a slow blink back to return the message—just avoid staring directly into their eyes as this can be intimidating for them."

Though we like to think of cats as solitary creatures, they can also enjoy human company, too. Claire, from the PDSA, told Bored Panda about some of the things to look out for when trying to spot signs of loneliness or stress in your cat: "Over-grooming themselves, crying or meowing more than usual, increased clinginess, peeing outside of their litterbox or being generally destructive around the house are all things that could be a sign your cat is lonely, or otherwise stressed."

"There are many things that owners can do to help if their cat is stressed, so always keep an eye on your cat’s behavior and seek expert advice from your vet if you’re worried. Be aware that getting another cat might not be a good solution though as not all cats will get along."

We were also interested in how pet owners might reward their cats for good behavior. Aside from spending quality time with your floofs, you can also get them some toys that help them stalk and pounce. Fishing rod-style toys, for instance, are a great idea.

"Cats enjoy variety, so put toys away and bring out different ones each day for playtime," PDSA Vet Claire said. "Or why not make some yourself? Cats generally will only want to play in short bursts, around 10 minutes at a time—but they’ll also appreciate time relaxing curled up on the sofa with you."

According to the vet, cats enjoy the occasional treat (just like we do!). "If you’re training your cat, you will need to use food or treats to reward the behaviors you want, as unlike dogs, cats may not find toys enough of an incentive. However, as long as you’re feeding a complete diet that is appropriate to their life stage, your cat doesn’t actually need treats to meet their nutritional needs—treats are classed as a ‘complementary’ food, which means they are fed in addition to your cat’s normal diet. Any treats you give will take up part of their calorie allowance without providing your cat with the correct balance of nutrition," she explained to Bored Panda.

The PDSA representative stressed the fact that cats process their food and calories differently than we do! "They are also much smaller, so something that seems like a small treat for us is often a lot of calories for our cats! For training, you can either use some of their normal ration of food for the day, or use a few treats and reduce their normal food accordingly—no more than 10% of their daily calorie ration should be made up of treats."

We love looking at cat pics a lot because they're funny, cute, and relatable. They're an easy way to make someone smile (and we could all use some extra positivity in these times), but they also make you realize that not every cat has a place to call home.

Even though life is great with a pet (or two, or three) around the house, taking care of animals isn’t all fun and games. Sure, you’ve got a companion for life, someone who snuggles up to you, loves to play, and amuses you with their antics. But they're a huge responsibility as well: you’re taking care of another living, breathing, thinking being. 

So before you rush off to adopt all the cats you can find in your local area, sit down and think about what you can realistically provide. Be realistic. Do you have enough space for the animal? Will you be able to spend enough time with your pet? Do you know how to provide them with a healthy diet and ensure that they get enough movement? What kind of pet will best suit your lifestyle and character? There are a bunch of questions that you need to find the answers to!

“It should be expected that you’ll experience lifestyle changes over the course of the pet’s life, such as moving, having children, or getting a new job, so it's important to consider how you will care for your pet during those changes before you add that pet to your family; many shelters offer various forms of support to answer questions you might have before you adopt, or afterward,” a representative of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals explained to Bored Panda during an earlier interview.

“While each shelter is different, pets are generally assessed and then introduced to potential adopters based on the likelihood of compatibility. Every animal is an individual—even those within a specific species or breed—and shelter staff are experts at making matches that work. If you ultimately determine that now is not the best time to adopt, fostering can allow you to change an animal's life for the better and is a rewarding experience for those who choose to become caregivers,” the ASPCA said.

“We always encourage adopters to keep an open mind and heart when visiting a shelter or rescue; as you may walk out with a pet you'd never considered before, like a senior animal or an animal who looks nothing like what you originally had in mind. Adopting an animal from a shelter or local rescue organization saves more than one life by freeing up space and resources for another animal in need.”

Meanwhile, the Arizona Humane Society previously explained to Bored Panda that each and every animal is an individual. That’s something that you should keep in mind when considering adoption or becoming a foster parent to a pet.

“Although we may be ready to welcome our pets with open arms and lots of cuddles, our pets may not be on that level yet so it is important to give them time and space to acclimate to their new surroundings, becoming comfortable in the home and have time to decompress and de-stress if needed,” a representative from AHS said.

“Make sure your pet has a comfortable, safe, and quiet space they know they can go if they need time away or time to themselves. If there are young children in the house, it also is important to ensure that they understand the do’s and don’ts of interacting with pets (i.e. letting pets come up to you for pets/cuddles, don’t get too close to their face, don’t interfere with feeding times, etc.),” they explained to us.

Some of the things that you can do to make your new pet comfortable at home is to have fresh food, water, and proper shelter available to them. These are things that you can prepare in advance. Also, consider getting them some toys and treats, as well as giving them a safe space for them to acclimate to their forever home.