Have you noticed your cat following you around the house? It’s common for your cat to trail you to the bathroom or into the cupboard. Although cats have a reputation for being independent or even aloof, this isn’t always true – they develop very strong bonds with their owners.
While having your cat follow you everywhere can be very cute, it can also get bothersome after a while. There are a number of different reasons why your cat might want to follow you throughout the house. Here’s what you need to know about your cat following you everywhere.
Your cat loves you
The stereotype that cats don’t love their owners couldn’t be further from the truth. Many cats follow their owners just because they love them and want to spend more time with them. They will be most likely to follow you when you get home from work or come home from a trip, as they will have missed you!
Your cat feels safer with you
If you adopt your furry friend as a kitten, they will likely think of you as their mother. Because of your caregiving behavior, your cat will feel more comfortable with you around and will follow you for safety. However, most cats grow out of this as they get older. If your cat continues this behavior into adulthood, you may want to talk to your vet about strategies to help your cat be more independent.
Your cat needs or wants something
If your cat is vocal while they are following you around, they might be trying to get your attention. They could be dealing with a health issue, so check for signs of illness or injury. They could also be hungry, want to play, or need their litter box cleaned. Some cats are greedy, and they’ll follow you to ask for food – even when they aren’t hungry!
Your cat is bored
Spending all day inside can get boring for your cat, particularly if they don’t have access to windows or enough toys to keep them occupied. Because of this, they might follow you around just to make their day a little bit more interesting.
You can curb this behavior by adding more stimulation to your cat’s routine. Puzzle feeders are a great way to stimulate your cat mentally. Swapping out toys so that there’s always something new works well too.
Your cat wants to mark their territory
When you move from room to room, your cat may interpret this as you marking your territory and want to join in. Cats routinely mark their territory by rubbing against walls, furniture, and even people. This releasespheromones into the air so other cats are aware of these territorial boundaries.
While it’s very sweet for your cat to follow you everywhere, it can also signal codependency. If your cat is following you because they are anxious or needy, making small changes to your space can really reduce their stress and help them be more independent. Make sure they have plenty of toys as well as cozy spaces where they can snuggle up alone.