You are a cat owner that cannot do anything in peace because your cat is clingy and your second shadow. When you’re in the bathroom, they scratch at the door or meow to enter. If that sounds like a feline you know, you may want to know why your cat is so clingy.
Cats can be clingy because of separation anxiety, depression, fear, stress, or a change in their environment. Some cats are clingy in an affectionate, natural, and positive way. A clingy cat can also signal an underlying ailment and should be checked by a vet if in doubt.
While some reasons are cause for concern and need to be addressed, in many cases, it will only be a problem if your cat’s clinginess manifests into obsessive and extreme behaviors.
Why Is My Cat So Clingy?
Some cats love showing affection and being close to their owners. They will show affection differently, such as rubbing, licking, cuddling, curling up on your lap, or rubbing against you. Some cats will even stay in the same room as their favorite humans to be close to them.
You should not be anxious if your cat wants a lot of attention now and then. Though if you find your cat constantly looking for your attention, that can be a sign that your cat has become overly dependent.
Cats are well known for being sovereign and taking good care of themselves. However, they can also be very loving and affectionate, although their being affectionate can be a bit much sometimes.
Some cat breeds, such as Siamese and Abyssinian cats, are known for their affectionate, clingy nature. Some cats are more likely to develop compulsive behavior with their owners.
Not all affectionate cats are clingy. It would be best if you differentiated loving cats from clingy cats. Then, you’ll know how to deal with your cat in the best way.
Here are several noted reasons why your cat may be clingy:
1. Changes In Your Home
Cats don’t like change and can be pretty sensitive to change, and if you move into a new home for your cat, this is an extreme change. Even changing the location of their litter box or bed can still affect your cat since it changes their environment.
Changes in your schedule can also give your cat stress and make your cat more clingy. Say you got a new job and you have to work more than you usually did, or you are a student and have to be at class a lot more and now cant spend as much time with your cat.
Using different cat litter or food brands can also make them unhappy and cause high stress.
2. Your Cat Was Orphaned or Abandonded
If your kitten was taken away from its litter too early, it could develop clinginess due to a lack of nurture.
This fear can cause cats to depend on their owner, seeing its owner as the guardian they didn’t have.
Mothers are the first to teach the kittens social skills, and when kittens are taken away from their mother too soon, it’s now up to the owner to teach social skills. Kittens need to know their boundaries.
3. Your Cat is Bored
The most common reason cats cling is that they are bored and need physical and mental encouragement. It can lead to destructive or clingy behavior if they don’t get what they want or need.
Younger cats get bored faster and need more stimulation than adult cats would. Suppose a cat doesn’t have access to toys or windows all or most of the time to keep them busy and stimulated.
In that case, they will just wait for you to come home and expect you to entertain them and keep them engaged.
Being clingy due to boredom will manifest in your cat being around, provoking, touching, or trying to play with you. This could happen, especially if you have left your cat home alone for a prolonged period.
4. Not Enough Cat Toys
If your cat is very clingy and you’ve been wondering if you may be the reason your cat is behaving this way. Letting your cat be at home all day with no toys to play with won’t allow them to stimulate them mentally.
Toys also help the need to express their hunting nature which is a crucial part of their lives. However, toys alone won’t be able to fix your cat’s clinginess.
If your cat spends all day alone, it will tend to be more attached to you and find comfort in being around you.
5. Separation anxiety
When cats have gone through trauma and stress, abandoned or orphaned, it can cause a cat to have separation anxiety and can result in the cat being protective, clingy, or even aggressive.
Cats hate being alone and sometimes even cry when their owner is around. They will want to be as close as possible.
How To Tell If A Cat Is Clingy
Your cat may want to be very close to you constantly, and it feels like they are stuck to you like glue then you have a clingy cat on your hands. It may or may not be a good thing, and to tell if it is or isn’t depends on a few things, including how you view it and the reason behind your cat being clingy.
When your cat starts giving off more dog-like behaviors like running to greet you, being very affectionate, or following you around, it’s a sign of clinginess. Most cats are reserved and independent. Sometimes cats tend to be clingy to an unnatural degree.
Here are some signs of a clingy cat:
- Constantly wanting to be lying on you when you’re sitting or lying down
- Always following you everywhere you go
- Meowing at you to get your attention
- Not eating at all when you’re not around
- Peeing everywhere but the litter box and showing destructive behavior
How To Make My Cat Less Clingy
While cats being clingy may be cute, it can become a lot sometimes. Especially for your cat, it can make them depressed and unhappy. Your cat becomes so dependent on you for happiness and comfort that it won’t want to do anything independently.
If your cat is too clingy and you’d like to help them not be so clingy, you’ll want to build up your cat’s confidence in their abilities, such as how they feel in the house, giving them toys to keep them busy.
Encouraging your cat to be more independent such as jumping up on your beds or sofas, and letting your cat do more things on their own might become less dependent on you.
Helping your cat with similarities will also help. Setting a waking up routine, feeding routine, and sleeping at around the same time every night will leave your cat less nervous about daily activities.
Get your cat a friend so they won’t be lonely and can have a friend to play around with when you’re not home or busy. Cats bonding with cats is sometimes necessary for your cat to come out of its shell.
If your pet exhibits odd behavior, it can be worrisome and difficult to know if the behavior is normal or a reason for concern.
Not sure why your cat is exhibiting a specific behavior?
- Some behaviors can seem very odd but may be completely normal.
- Others could signal illness or injury.
- Due to the lack of ability for a cat to communicate with us verbally, it is imperative to pay close attention to what the cat is telling us through their behavioral changes.
The most important takeaway is that if you are ever concerned about a behavior that your cat is displaying, your best resource for information is your veterinarian.
In general, a new behavior that is not typical for your cat should be investigated. Examples would be:
- Not eating
- Suddenly sleeping more than usual
- Becoming aggressive or grumpy when interacting with other people or pets
These behavior changes most commonly indicate that something is wrong, and your pet needs to see their veterinarian as soon as possible. It is much easier and more likely to be successful, to treat an illness early in its course as opposed to waiting until the cat is very sick.
Other odd behaviors include:
- Eating feces or vomit
- Chasing their tail
- Sudden bursts of activity
These may be completely normal. However, if you notice a drastic change in your cat, for example, they never exhibited one of these behaviors, and now they suddenly are, it is prudent to have them examined by their veterinarian as soon as possible.
Even if the behavior is normal, it may lead to unintended issues.
For example, young cats consuming their feces or the feces of other cats can be a normal behavior but can lead to gastrointestinal upset as well as intestinal parasitism.
Parasites from your cat can cause serious health complications, not only for your cat, but also for you and your family, as many are transmissible to humans.
Licking of the feet or scratching may seem like normal cat behavior but typically indicates a health issue such as allergies, fleas, or skin infection.
Left untreated, these issues will worsen and cause additional discomfort for your cat.
Remember that your best source of reliable health information for your cat is your veterinarian. Because cats cannot verbally communicate with us, it is essential to be proactive with any possible health concerns.
Working with a trusted veterinarian as your partner will ensure many happy and healthy years for both you and your cat.
Final Verdict
Always investigate and pay close attention to your cat if there is a sudden behavior change. If following tips and eliminating specific stressors make no difference, it’s time for a vet visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your cat follows you around constantly and won’t leave you alone, it may be too attached. Other signs that your cat is too attached include meowing excessively, being overly clingy, and always wanting to be near you. If your cat is exhibiting any of these behaviors, it’s important to provide some extra attention and affection so that it doesn’t become overly attached.
There could be several reasons why your cat is being clingy to you. It could be because it’s feeling insecure or anxious, it could be seeking attention, or it could simply enjoy your company. If your cat is being clingy, try to provide some extra attention and affection to help it feel more secure.
Yes, your cat can be too attached to you. If your cat is following you around constantly and won’t leave you alone, it may be too attached. Other signs that your cat is too attached include meowing excessively, being overly clingy, and always wanting to be near you. If your cat is exhibiting any of these behaviors, it’s important to provide some extra attention and affection so that it doesn’t become overly attached.
There isn’t necessarily one “most clingy” cat breed, as all cats can become clingy if they don’t feel secure or if they’re seeking attention. However, some breeds that are known for being particularly affectionate and attached to their owners include Siamese cats, Ragdoll cats, and Maine Coon cats. If you’re looking for a cat that will be clingy, choose one of these breeds.
There could be several reasons why your cat is not leaving you alone. It could be because it’s feeling insecure or anxious, it could be seeking attention, or it could simply enjoy your company. If your cat is constantly following you around and won’t leave you alone, try to provide some extra attention and affection to help it feel more secure.
There could be several reasons why your cat is suddenly obsessed with you. It could be because it’s feeling insecure or anxious, it could be seeking attention, or it could simply enjoy your company. If your cat is exhibiting any of these behaviors, it’s important to provide some extra attention and affection so that it doesn’t become overly attached.
There could be several reasons why your cat is constantly laying on you. It could be because it’s feeling insecure or anxious, it could be seeking attention, or it could simply enjoy your company. If your cat is constantly following you around and won’t leave you alone, try to provide some extra attention and affection to help it feel more secure.
Additional Sources & Resources
-How to deal with a clingy cat:https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-to-deal-with-a-clingy-cat-553829
-Clinginess in cats:https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/clinginess-in-cats
-‘My Cat Is So Clingy!’:https://www.felinecrf.org/my_cat_is_so_clingy.htm
-“Why Do Some Cats Become So Clingy?”:https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/08/20/why-do-some-cats-become-so-clingy.aspx
-Clingy Cats:https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/clingy-cats-what-to-do
-“7 Reasons Why Your Cat is So Clingy”:https://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/7-reasons-why-your-cat-is-so-clingy
Pet News Daily writers are experts in pet care, health and behavior. We are members of Society for Professional Journalists and practice ethical journalism.
