it's a mothering instinct that comes out in both male and female cats when one of "their own" is ill or injured. That includes humans. I had a cat who, whenever I would stumble and hurt myself, or break a toe, or anything like that, would immediately rush over to me mewing to make sure I was okay, and then proceed to give me a bath. She did it all the time (I'm extremely clumsy, always hurting myself. I once broke the same toe three times in a two-week period).
