Just because they'll eat you if you die doesn't mean they don't love you. It just means that cats do not believe the body and the soul are the same thing. Once the vessel is empty, it can be consumed to further strengthen those remaining. It is a thing of honor to nourish those you leave behind. The cats know this.
This works well with dogs, too. My little Monster (Monty is his Christian name, but he responds to Monty, Monster, Grumbles, and Little Boy) loves being sung to. He smashed his floppy, floppy ear against your face so you have to sing directly into it, and he howls when you get to a certain part of the song
You say that, but I just tried this with my 21 year old cat, Murphy, and he straight up scratched my face and now it won't stop bleeding. I have a job interview in 2 days and will probably look like I've been slashed.