The question that continues to elude the curious: what is love? Is it an emotion, a choice, a steady drip of neurochemicals, an evolutionary adaptation for childrearing, a biological imperative shared by other animals?
Maybe, says new research which argues that kitties express love and affection for you. And you for them. In fact, one expert on the matter - Jonathan Balcombe, author of the best-selling book “Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good”- goes as far to compare it to the parent-child bond, saying: “That is the sort of love that likely exists between you and your cat. The relationship probably isn’t one-sided, either. “Love, warmth and caring seem to be expressed by cats,” Dr. Balcombe says. Your most loyal love could then very well be your feline friend”.
Maybe this explains why my preferred pet name for Mr. Abraxas is kitten?