Is your cat using you for resources or is it love?
First this is clearly not a serious post so for the people who love their cats please do not be insulted. This post is more to think about how the cat might think about us.
We know that cats are social animals. Cats really appreciate attention and like being given attention.
But what does a domesticated animal such as a cat gain from interacting with humans?
In the best case the cat does not just gain attention in the form of being given affection but the cat also gains shelter and food.
When most people think about their pets they position themselves as "owners" and in my opinion this is outdated and wrong.
These animals are our friends, our companions, and if that is the case then no one should own them.
Legal responsibility is another matter because a cat cannot go to court or understand human legal practices.
Conclusion - Does it really matter?
It might be true that cats are using us for food and shelter if we want to look at it that way. It can also be true that cats love us if we would like to look at it another way. This is a matter of which angle we want to look at things.
If cats are our friends and we love them then owning an animal is as ridiculous as owning a family member. They become not just like family but actual members of our family.
And people gain from providing the food and shelter to their cats. The person gains a friend, an animal to cuddle with, to connect emotionally with, to spend their love on.
In the end it might but be an "either or" question but both your cat loves you and is using you for resources.