I’m wondering if cats think of us kind of like how a person thinks of a friendly bull: aware that they could easily kill us, but not necessarily afraid of them; or more like a large Dalmatian: they could fuck us up, but most of us don’t really think about that unless they’re being aggressive.
I grew up with dogs and feel like I understand them a lot better than I do cats as a whole. I adopted my cat almost four years ago and I feel like I get her pretty well, but I don’t really have an idea of what she thinks about me. I also don’t really know any other cats, though I’ve gotten along with strays and friends’ cats a lot better since I got mine.
Cat tax:
My cat is my best friend and I get the feeling she sees me as what she is going to become one day - a full grown cat that can walk and talk and drive a car. I don't think she sees me as something to she could or would kill, but as a sibling that one day, she will grow up to be like.
She does imitate some things I do, like sitting up to watch TV with me on the couch or squatting over her litter box like she was sitting on a toilet.
Cats are pretty smart and also quite capable of being very close and loving. They just have to express it on their own terms.