It always feels good to be wanted and loved by someone. It gives us that warm fuzzy feeling that glows from our toes all the way up to our ears.
In this instance, we are talking about our cat’s affection for us. I like knowing that my cat needs and want me in his life. But what if this affection starts to feel more like an obsession over time where it feels like you have a stalker at home instead of a feline companion?
Why is my cat so obsessed with me?
A cat’s obsessive behavior can be caused by a medical condition or personality issues. A sick cat might tend to demand more attention from its owner. How your cat was brought up in his early years can also trigger its obsession behavior. There are a few things that you need to understand before trying to get diagnose your cat’s behavior.
It might seem like a novel idea to be the main protagonist of your cat’s obsession. But you should know a cat obsessing over you is not healthy at all.
In this article, we will be discussing the possible reasons that can cause such behavior. More importantly, cat owners need to know how to handle their cat’s obsession.
How Do You Tell If Your Cat Is Obsessed With You?
The first step that we need to do is to be on the same page about what constitutes a cat’s obsession.
What we are more concerned about here is when your cat’s obsession starts to raise health concerns.
Your cat following you around the house isn’t too much of an issue and is something cat owners find adorable.
Here are some signs that your cat’s obsession isn’t healthy:
- Doesn’t want to eat when you are not around
- Doesn’t want to drink when you are not around
- You can’t leave home for more than 10 minutes without your cat freaking out
- When your cat’s obsession happens out of the blue
Not all cats suffer from unhealthy obsessive behavior but if yours do, seeking veterinary advice is the next best step.
Reasons Why Your Cat Is Obsessed With You
You might be scratching your head and wondering if your cat has even been obsessed with you. It can be hard to notice such behavior if you don’t really take notice.
Sometimes, it is a fine line between obsession and normal affection.
Here are some reasons that can make your cat obsessed with you.
1. Your Cat Is Feeling Insecure And Anxious
Your cat loves things as they are. Cats are creatures of habit and routine and don’t really take too well to change.
That doesn’t mean that our cats are not adaptable but they do take more time to settle in a new environment.
If you have recently moved to a new home or have a new family member or other pets at home, it can throw your cat off its daily routine.
You see, cats are led but their noses and have done a good job marking their own scent at home.
If your cat has always been the only cat at home and all of a sudden it starts smelling other cats or a dog close by, it can trigger some level of insecurity and anxiousness.
Your cat might start to become extremely clingy with you as it is unsure about what’s happening at home.
What You Can Do To Help Your Cat
One way to help your cat settle in a new environment is to give it some time. Try to confine your cat in a room or area in the house for a few days until it seems more settled. Letting your cat fully explore the new house can overload its senses.
For new family members and pets, a proper socialization process is necessary. Cats aren’t like dogs who warm up to strangers quickly. They need time to acclimatize to the scents and presence of the ‘intruder’.
2. Your Cat Has Separation Anxiety
Some cat owners might scoff at the idea of their cats having separation anxiety. Cats are supposed to be aloof and independent and only dogs can suffer from separation anxiety.
Not true.
Cats can suffer from separation anxiety and in some cases, it can be rather severe.
What Causes Separation Anxiety In Cats?
A big change in your cat’s routine can cause this issue. If you have recently adopted a cat from the local shelter or from another owner, the cat might be feeling like a fish out of water.
It is understandable to have our cats miss us when we are away for a couple of hours. Truth be told, most cats won’t even know that you are gone given how much they sleep during the day.
Here are some signs that your cat has separation anxiety:
- Excessive meowing when you are not around
- Not eating or drinking
- Excessive grooming
- Destructive behavior (scratching and biting stuff at home)
- Improper usage of the litter box
As you can see from the above, a cat that has such anxiety isn’t a happy camper. They feel neglected and can start to act up.
Issues like not eating and drinking can cause health problems in the long run. You don’t want to come home and find your couch all torn up and pee in your laundry basket.
What You Can Do To Help Your Cat
For many of us, we have to work or run errands during the day. You don’t want to be seen as the crazy cat lady or man that brings the cat everywhere.
Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to help your cat adjust better to your absence.
- Don’t make a scene when you leave or come back
- Leave toys around the house for your cat to play with
- Two cats are better than one (just make sure the new cat doesn’t have separation anxiety too)
- Leave the radio or TV on while you are gone
- Slowly increase the length of your absence
It is possible to train your cat to be more independent when your cat feels alone but it does take time and effort. If your cat’s anxiety level is through the roof, please consult your vet.
3. Your Cat Was An Orphan
There are many of us that adopted our cats without knowing much about their childhood years.
Unfortunately, many kittens were abandoned by their mothers or made an orphan when their mothers met with an unfortunate accident.
Sad but true.
A kitten that is weaned or separated too early from its mother or litter mates tends to develop aggression and anxiety issues later in life.
These kittens did not have the opportunity to learn how to behave like a proper cat. The mother cat can seem rough towards its kittens at times to teach them respect.
Kittens in the same litter will also spend a lot of time playing with each other.
A detailed study has shown that the best time to wean a cat is after 14 weeks. Any time before that and risk of behavioral issues goes higher.
If your cat was adopted before it was properly weaned, it can get extremely clingy and obsessed with you.
After all, you are its mama cat since its real mother is no longer around. The trouble is, we don’t make a good substitute as a mama cat since we can’t nurture a kitten as effectively as its biological mother.
What You Can Do To Help Your Cat
It depends on how old your cat is at the moment. If your cat is a kitten, you need to provide a lot of mental and physical stimulation for your cat. Make sure to be firm yet gentle with the kitten to teach it social boundaries.
For adult cats, their current behavior has been ingrained and can be harder to correct as compared to a kitten. They need more time and effort to get them less obsessed and clingy with their owner’s absence.
Make it a point to make your cat feel secure.
4. Your Cat Isn’t Feeling Too Well
If you notice that your cat’s current obsession with you is happening out of the blue, it could be caused by an underlying health problem.
Most cats tend to be more subdued and anti-social when they are sick. It is easy to tell from the body language.
Other symptoms will include:
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Hiding in dark corners
However, not all cats behave this way.
There are stray cats that won’t leave a human alone because they need help. And this is what your cat could be doing.
Your cat might be in pain or discomfort and this trying to get help by being clingy with you.
Listen to how your cat is meowing.
Does it sound like a cry for help with its long and low-pitched meows?
What You Can Do To Help Your Cat
The best course of action here is to take your cat to the vet ASAP. It isn’t possible to diagnose what is wrong with your cat without proper medical attention. Some illnesses can be serious and won’t take long to become fatal.
5. Your Cat Has PTSD
Humans who have experienced a very traumatic episode in their lives can suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
Cats too can suffer from PTSD if they have experienced the following:
- Abuse
- Being abandoned
- Near-death accident (Car or lawnmower)
- Attacked by a predator
Signs of PTSD do not necessarily show up right after the accident. It can take weeks or months for the cat to get triggered again.
Symptoms of PTSD in cats include:
- Aggressiveness
- Easily startled
- Lack of appetite
- Hiding
- Less social
- Extreme clinginess
- Fear of being alone
- Not being able to sleep well
- Shivering
It can be difficult to diagnose PTSD in cats as they are not able to speak. Cats with PTSD usually get triggered when they are reminded of the source of their trauma. It could be a stick, the sound of a car or loud noises.
What You Can Do To Help Your Cat
PTSD isn’t something that you want to leave untreated. A cat that is always feeling stressed out or anxious can develop health problems.
Not only is your cat’s physical health important but so is their mental health too.
PTSD in cats can be much better managed with behavior therapy, medication and lots of tenderness towards your cat’s conditions.
There are many pet behaviorists that can help treat your cat’s PTSD. It might take a couple of sessions but it can be done.
6. Your Cat Is An Affectionate Breed
Not all cat breeds are made equal. There are some breeds that tend to be more clingy and require more attention from their owners.
These cat breeds love spending time with their hoomans and do not fare well if they are left alone for hours every day.
Here are some cat breeds that require more cuddles:
- Oriental cat breeds (Siamese, Tonkinese, Burmese, etc)
- Ragdolls
- Maine coons
- Sphynx
- Ragamuffin
- Scottish fold
- Persian
There isn’t anything behavioral wrong with these cat breeds per se, it’s just the way they are personality-wise.
If you have one of the above cat breeds and wonder why your cat follows you around the house more than your dog, it’s genetic.
Some cat owners even feel that male cats are more affectionate than female cats.
7. Your Cat Loves You
Last but not least, your cat is obsessed with you because it loves you. It is hard to imagine a cat being even more loving with their owners as compared to dogs.
My cat isn’t a stalker at home but he loves being close to me while I work or sleep.
Your cat can form a social and emotional bond with you over time.
Dr Kristyn Vitale, PhD, of Oregon State University states that cats use humans as a source of comfort and security.
Don’t be fooled by your cat’s cool and cold exterior.
Why Does My Cat Want To Be On Me All The Time?
There’s no reason if your cat wants to be on you all the time. You are a source of comfort and security for your cat and it makes your cat feel more secure. Your body heat also makes you feel like a warm and cozy human blanket to your cat.
Why Is My Cat Obsessed With My Feet?
Your cat might be obsessed with your feet because of the way it smells. I’m not implying that your feet stinks, maybe it does, but we have close to 250,000 sweat glands in our feet which excites your cat’s nose.
Why Is My Cat Obsessed With Plastic?
There is an eating disorder in cats called Pica which causes them to chew and ingest non-edible material like plastic. The exact cause of Pica isn’t known but doctors believe that it could be genetic or from malnutrition. Pica is cats can’t be cured but only managed. Some cats are so obsessed with plastic that they will even pee on plastic bags.
Conclusion
If your cat is occasionally obsessed with you, that is a good problem to have. You should feel honored that you are the only person your cat loves so much.
What you need to be on the lookout for is when the obsession starts affecting your cat’s health and quality of life. This is when you need to consult the vet about your cat’s obsessive behavior.