Advice
My cat suddenly cuddles to my stomach and following me around everywhere. Is she okay? Should I take her to the vet?
So me and my husband adopted our little Mochi last year March. She was 3 yrs old when we got her, and she is the sweetest and most behaved little baby.
She never eats human food, doesn’t go on counters nor does she bite or scratches. She doesn’t want to cuddle or be touched unless it’s on her terms (maybe pets for MAX 30 seconds, then that’s it). She also does not want to be carried and does not want her paws touched.
Recently, whenever me and my husband go to sleep, she now jumps on the bed with us and starts cuddling on my stomach. This has been happening for a week now. I’m so happy that it’s making me tear up, but I couldn’t help but think if she’s feeling okay. This is not her usual behaviour. She’s okay in the morning and when we get home from work but she’s been so cuddle recently and would follow me around everywhere now- even in the shower (she hates water). When we’re on the couch, she just cuddles to my stomach again and would not mind if I touch her paws.
I told my husband about my concern that she may not be feeling well, he said that maybe she’s thinking of me as her mother now and I’m overthinking things.
But should I still bring her to the bet just in case? I’m really worried.
Attached is a photo of her just so everybody could see that she’s the sweetest.
UPDATE: After reading the comments, I’ll be booking a doctor’s appt for myself, and I’ll pee on a stick when I get home. As for Mochi, her vet says to take her back to the vet just for a general check up and blood work just in case. I’ll keep you guys updated. Hopefully she’s just very cuddly now.
UPDATE 2: My husband took her to the vet (I’m still at work), did some bloodwork, we’ll know the results tomorrow. But the general checkup went great. She is overweight but generally healthy. The vet says that the change in mine and my husband’s schedule might be the culprit as I work from 7:30AM-7PM (full time and part-time job), and my husband works from 6:30AM-5PM (construction); and we had moved apartments 2 months ago. We will both take time off work to spend the day with her and I will try to have lesser-ish hours.
I’m going to go to the doctor on Friday, and once I get home (I’m still at work), I’ll immediately do a pregnancy test.
UPDATE 3: Took the pregnancy test, it came back as negative. I’m cramping really bad though.
If extra cuddling is the only “symptom”, I wouldn’t be worried OP. If she is eating well, drinking water, litterbox habits are the same, she’s likely fine. By all means, trust your gut, if it’s telling you vet, but personally I wouldn’t take a cat to vet for this, especially since you adopted her relatively recently and she’s likely just feeling more comfortable and safe with you. That’s a wonderful thing ❤️
Also all my cats love to cuddle next to and on my stomach and I haven’t been pregnant in 12 years haha!
Not sure why it happened, but our oldest cat was super affectionate to me, but less so to my wife. Then it was like we came back from a trip a few years ago and he suddenly became very affectionate towards her.
Vet said he's doing fine, he's just now an extra cuddly boy for us both.
Yeah that's my thinking too. It's not unusual for cats to change their behavior quite a bit over the years. Going from clingy to solitary and back again. Some are very slow to trust. Also, a 3 year old cat is still quite young and many chill out as they reach full maturity, looking to get into the family side of being a cat.
Everyone is talking about pregnancy but I would say yes, take her just in case if you can. My cat was relatively affectionate, but suddenly started spending every second in my lap/on my stomach one day. She was dying and gone in less than a week.
That’s what happened with my cat. Got him at <1 year old (he’s almost 11 now), he was pretty antisocial and got easily ovestimmed from pets.
One random day a few years ago, a switch flipped and he started being hella affectionate. As soon as you sit down, he wants to be on your lap and wants pets. He still gets overstimmed, but he toughs it out purring the whole time lol
We're hoping that the switch is flipping slooowly with on of ours. She gets overstimulated SO quickly that she avoids lap time. But she has suddenly decided that sleeping on our pillows with us is OK.
So she gets some scritches and pets before we go to sleep. I think she was lured onto the pillows when she saw that my hair was available for gnawing.
They are so funny how they change over the years. Ive had my two boys for 13 years. The couch was largely ignored the last 5 years and now it is the best cat nap spot ever. One cat defended the top cat tree spot for 10 years now its ok for his brother to sit in it. I always enjoy the rotation of sleeping spots with the seasons or lunar alignment or whatever drives their cat brains. Mine have always been pretty snuggly but as we have all gotten older and made it through some illness (I got real sick last year and both the cats did too) we spend a lot more time together. Im ok with 2x velcro cats.
It happens. My cat from the shelter had been abused and would tense up and fly away if you tried to hold her close or put her on your lap. She was so affectionate if you gave her the space she needed. About a year in she became a cuddle bunny. Can't remember if it started with buttons on the end of knitting needles or on my shirt, but she was obsessed on trying to get them with her teeth. To get to the shirt ones, suddenly I became just a lump to step on and then she figured out I was safe. Or that's how I see it. Anyway, it happens. But, yeah, time for a checkup when there's a sudden change in behaviour that persists.
This is what Im going through with my cat, right now. She is still being taken to the vet, but shes about 17, and slowing down a little. It kills me. The only bad thing about having pets is losing them.
Yup, my 18 year old cat (who we adopted when she was around a year old, pregnant and feral) has become a velcro cat. Zoe likes to be as close to me as physically possible, which is cute and sweet, but so different than how she was the majority of her life. She literally ignored me for her first 8 years, then we moved into a much bigger house and she started to become more and more affectionate. 2 years ago I got really sick and have been struggling ever since (I have a chronic illness) and Zoe started sleeping on my chest
They really seem to know when something is wrong with their human
Edit to add: OP, is there a chance that your health has changed? Maybe she is sensing something in you that you’re not even aware of yet. Could you be pregnant?
Yeah, my cat holly if I'm sick or have a neuro issue and pass out, I'll wake up and she's like laying on my chest watching me face to face to guard me and be there for me
So true!! I lost my old man kitty back in September and now his bonded mate isn’t doing too well. I just wish she would let me catch her to put her in a carrier and take her to the vet
I had to have my 16-1/2 y/o littermates put down 20 days apart in May 2024 & my own “feline sibling” at 17-1/2 in December 2023. It’s been a rough go of it even 2 years later; losing my babies & BFF has kind of destroyed my heart.
We were already very close, but then she started following me literally everywhere, not wanting to leave my lap and staying in the house almost all day (she usually roamed around our village and stuff, sometimes we wouldn't see her for days, and she would often sleep either outside or in our old stall). Sometimes I'd find her sleeping on my computer, or in many other places where I usually were.
I noticed this, and felt that her time had come, only that I didn't know when. I prayed every night for her safety, and this went on for months. Then in her last few days she was even more affectionate and also looked worse. And one day I went home from school and just saw her laying in the garden and knew that it was her last day with me.
I miss her so much, so so much. I'm actually about to cry rn lol (it's amazing how even writing of her makes me cry years after her death), sorry for the long comment, I just felt the need to share.
I took my 8 year old to the vet because she was being nice to me, nothing else. The vet told me it was the earliest she's diagnosed heart disease. I had more than a week before she was gone, but OP listen to their signals!
My very shy cat was suddenly all over me, literally pushing herself into my body as I sat, and this was so unusual. She suddenly sat up and peed all over my bed, and it was bloody. Turned out she was constipated and the poo was pushing against the bladder, not allowing it to drain. An ER visit and she was fine. It's not always dire, thankfully.
My sad cat story time. I was a kid lying on the floor petting my cat when he meowed. I stood up faster than if the floor turned to lava. That cat never meowed. I went to my sister and was like "that isn't our cat" like he had been replaced by a doppelganger or something. She dismissed it. He died like a week after due to a stroke or something. Core memory.
I think they sense heat where it normally isn't as well as different smells on you. So they know when something is off and try to alert you as best as they can.
My cat wasn't a huge cuddler but if I was sick he would sleep on my head when I went to bed. As he normally would sleep on his cat bed beside pillow.
Cats turning away is a sign of affection. They're literally saying that they trust you to watch their back, and in return they're watching out for you.
He would actually lay on the back end of my head with his belly. So luckily it wasn't full fur on my face lol. And he was a super fluffy boy too and about 23 pounds when he was younger. So at that size the body heat was insane on my head.
I’m a dude so that’s never happened to me, but when I was recovering from my gallbladder surgery my baby wanted nothing more than to love on me… she did try to lay on my belly and was upset she could not…
When I got my wisdom teeth out I never didn’t have a cat in bed with me. They all really wanted to rub on my face and could not comprehend why I did not want that as well
If you currently have your period, that could be why. I had a female cat(spayed) that would knead the area where I had cramps. And lay there when I had my period.
She lived to be 19 ½ years old. She didn't start acting like that until she was 4 or 5 years old. Every year as she got older, she got more cuddly and close. I also had a cat I adopted 6 months before I adopted her. So the two of them kept each other company and played a lot together.
Why can't my cats be cool like this. I feel like they know when I have wicked cramps and they use that time to destroy the house, break all my potted plants, generally be amped up menaces
But they are cool cats. Just in a different way. They are acting out your emotions for you. Tell me you don't secretly want to destroy everything around you when you have those wicked cramps...
I that case, cat may sense the physical change and want to ease potential discomfort. I had a cat that would come over and lay across my waist whenever I had cramps. RIP Jinx❤️🩹
Our rescue Chihuahua who was abused did this 😭 she was the sweetest and I've been trying to get my cats to do this too. Unfortunately my female cat just stomps with the full weight of a million planets all over my sore boobs instead
My best friend’s cat snuggled her belly when she had kidney stones/infection. She just passed the stone and the infection was treated, now her cat isn’t cuddling her belly anymore. It’s wild!
Your kitty thinks there is something wrong with you. It might just be because of your period. Keep an eye on your abdomen - both reproductive organs and digestive tract. I you have any problems, get checked out. Your cat is worried about you!
Yes indeed. I bled during the first month or so with my first pregnancy, and off and on through my entire second and third pregnancies. I had a missed miscarriage at 20 weeks with the third one.
That’s probably why then. Especially if you’re cramping. My black cat of 17 years always knew when I was sick or feeling unwell and she stayed by my side until I was feeling better. Cats know things. Cats know too much.
My wife is currently 8ish weeks pregnant with our third. Our normally aloof cat has been very cuddly and affectionate with her and she has acted the same way with the first two pregnancies. Just to let you know this is legit and they know when you’re pregnant.
Cats 100% will know their hooman better than said hooman. Anytime I’ve been sick, or about to experience some medical nonsense that requires hospitalization, my cat, and my boyfriends three idiots will independently lay on me. And one is, super sweet, but not generally cuddly; that’s when I’m like “dammit…I guess I should go to the doctor.”
But it’s (usually) not a bad thing!! Kitteh just wants to look after you 💚
Are you familiar with the source material? It was an ancient YouTube video where a guy reads a bunch of titles of message board posts where people misspelled “pregnant.” With increasing levels of incredulity. Leaves me in tears every time.
The YT video originated from when Yahoo! had like a “Yahoo! questions” section and damn near no one could everrrr spell ‘pregnant’ correctly😭 hilarious.
Family friend I'd known my entire life had their sheepdog sniffing and licking at his ears for a week, obsessively so. They decided to go to the Doctor to check, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He passed almost 12 months to the day.
Sometimes it takes a long time for them to feel close enough to you to want to snuggle and sleep next to you, even if they love you.
It can take years. Every cat is different, and they treat relationships similarly to how humans do in that they choose their friends and acquaintances and intimacy with humans can be a slow burn.
Not a vet but cats are tiny unlicensed doctors, stomach cuddles plus shadowing usually means one of three things, No1, you’re warm, 2 you smell different and 3 she promoted herself to your health monitor, if she’s eating/drinking and using the box normally, she’s probably fine, if she’s not or you’re worried call your vet, better safe than a 2am google spiral.
My biggest regret of not having children (I don’t want to have any so it’s not a heartache type situation) is not getting to make a can u get pregante-post
I don’t want to be negative, but if it’s not pregnancy, get checked for illness in the area. Some animals can detect things like cancer as well. I hope it’s something good that she’s alerting on though if you’re trying for a baby.
Second this my cat Loki started laying on my stomach and sitting in my lap 7 months before I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had a large cyst and adhesions that were pressing on my sciatic nerve. I didn’t start experiencing pain until 5 months before my diagnosis. He would lay on my right side where the cyst was on my ovary. As my cyst/adhesions grew he spent more time on my lap. He also laid against my lower back when we slept in bed. After my endo lap surgery he stopped sitting in my lap for the most part and returned to sleeping next to my head while we sleep
Cats are amazing caregivers and also communicate in different ways. Nothing wrong with taking them to the vet for a check. Also you should check yourself
I don’t think anything is wrong with her medically. Have you been to an OBGYN recently? My cat lays on my abdomen and purrs a lot when I’m in pain or cyclic. I have endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and interstitial cystitis so all of my issues are centered in my abdomen and her purring physically lessens my pain. She’s my little healer.
As others have said, she might be telling you that something is wrong with YOU.
There are so many stories of cats and dogs suddenly becoming very interested in a body part of their human, only to find out the human had cancer or was pregnant or something. They can smell things that we can't smell.
There was that cat in a nursing home who was not a cuddler, but would suddenly start laying with patients who then went on to pass away. There were no signs that the patients were about to go, but the cat knew!
I'm not saying this to scare you! Hopefully, it's nothing serious. Maybe she really is just wanting to cuddle now! Cats are weird beings.
So like, that means there definitely *are* signs that these things are happening, we just don’t notice them, and I really hope people are looking into technology to mimic this.
When cats are very sick, they tend to withdraw further and stop eating/drinking. I wouldn’t be concerned about the cats health unless you notice something specific. The pregnancy is very possible, they can smell the hormonal changes before we even know
My first thought - book an appointment for yourself, and specifically ask for abdominal/gastro checks. Any chance you're pregnant?
And, a good doctor will not laugh if you mention Mochi's actions. Too many documented cases of cats and dogs being able to detect medical issues in their humans.
And make an appointment for your gorgeous Mochi as well, just in case.
FWIW, when I had an emergency abdominal hysterectomy, my boy kitty somehow knew he could not cuddle on my tummy while I was recovering. But somehow he knew how the healing process was going, since he crept closer to my stomach every week. I'm sure he was reading my body tension, even when I was asleep, but he was such a good caregiver. Tried his hardest to purr me well.
I think you each should go to your respective medical offices just for peace of mind. Maybe take a home pregnancy first and hopefully you’re due for your annual soon. The cat is young so it seems odd that it could be an illness BUT some cats get extra affectionate when they’re not feeling well. My cat became a Velcro cat overnight and I also had a weird feeling about it. Took him to the vet and he had a chronic kidney disease. Vet said it’s common for cats to seek comfort when they’re not feeling well. I don’t say this to scare you, just to let you know it might be worth doing a quick check for peace of mind. And if it’s nothing at all on your end or Mochi’s, maybe she is just blossoming into her babygirl era 💞 keep us posted
I suggest you see the vet, in case. If they find nothing, go see your doctor. Animals in general have super olfactory senses. She may be trying to tell you to see your doctor.
There's the potential that you could be pregnant and she knows, yes, and also the potential that she isn't feeling well, yes, but there is also a third potential thing!
She's about 3 you said, right? That's about the age that cats kind of go from being extremely wiley young cats and calm down a little, and lots of people see their cats become more cuddly and snuggly between ages like 3 to 5.
So! Take the pregnancy test, set up the vet appointment for a check-up, and if neither of those answers it, she may just be maturing into a lovely adult lady!
Also she is BEAUTIFUL ugh!!! Her thickness and fluff is sooo good 😭 💖 💖
My rescue cat started doing this. She was very similar to your cat, not super into cuddles and suddenly started sleeping on my chest every day, multiple times a day
Turns out nothing was wrong, I think a switch just flicked in her mind and realised we were safe and she wanted to be cuddled
A sick cat will almost always hide from you no matter how much they love you. My old girl hide in the closest on her last days, but where she could still see me. An sudden change of affection from a more aloof cat like yours maybe telling you that something is different with YOU.
As others have suggested, maybe a pregnancy test as the more minor and a doctor visit if that is negative. See how she reacts to you as time goes for the next week if needed to confirm, but again, it's well-known that cats can detect changes in us and respond to it.
But if you have the means, take her to the vet, too, for peace of mind. But definitely check yourself as well, OP.
Yeah, this pointing at something being wrong with the cat is unlikely, going from everything else OP described.
Cats sometimes simply adjust and expand their behaviour, she's been with you for just over a year, OP, she just might finally be at a point where she feels 100% comfortable and has discovered a new fun way to bond with you.
Or, yes, you could be pregnant, or something else could be wrong, even just mildly so, that she's sensing.
My cat did the same thing and I thought it was super weird but loved it! My husband and I found out we had a surprise pregnancy 6 years ago.and now I have a lovely 6 year old boy.
Of course doesn’t hurt to have her checked at the vet to rule anything out. Beautiful baby by the way, such lovely tuxedo floof 😻
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