>>54189
>what i mean is does my cat understand that, say, petting and hugging are signs of friendship?
Yes, those are normally seen as a sign for bonding and socializing with other cats. So that's what the kitty feels when you do it.

That's how cats normally communicate with each other. Like scratching and biting each other.

U can just tell the kitty to not do it a few times and they'll get it eventually. Same thing I did with my cat and she stopped eventually.