Cat owners who have developed a relationship with their feline friend may have observed that their feline companion follows them about the home at times, in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and, well, anywhere they go.
If you’ve ever had domestic cats follow you around the house, you’ve probably thought, “why does my cat follow me everywhere?”
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My Cat Follow Me Everywhere – Here are the Reasons
Cat owners can confirm that, contrary to popular belief, cats can exhibit much love and devotion, especially to their humans, whom they consider family. Even if some cats dislike physical contact, they may exhibit other symptoms of preferring to be near us.
This is frequently more noticeable in indoor cats who, to be honest, don’t have much to do. Some cats like to jump into our laps as soon as we sit down, while others like to sit by our side or simply be in the same room as us.
While love is a common reason why cats follow us, there are also additional possibilities.
Here are some reasons why my cat follows me everywhere.
1. Routine
Cats’ morning routines may include washing and brushing their teeth, eating breakfast in the kitchen, and reading on the sofa, much like people. It’s conceivable that following you has become a habit for them! Regularity and rituals are essential to cats because habits provide them with a sense of security.
If they started joining you to the bathroom as a kitten and got accustomed to cuddling in your clothes as you sat on the toilet, they may expect this to continue every day – even as adults.
2. Finding a partner to play with
Many cats love playing, mainly if it includes pursuing and capturing prey. Most feral cats may hunt numerous prey every day, not just for food but also for entertainment. Their hunting instinct is solely responsible for this.
Of course, if you have a cat who does not have access to the outside, the scenario changes. Even when all of their other requirements are met, cats still demand excitement. As a result, a cat is likely to seek out additional stimuli to help it release energy, such as cats who pursue birds approaching windows.
Your cat may even follow you around the house, stalking you from a corner, ready to “attack” your legs. This is a form of pretend play that my cat loves. When you’re on the run, you behave more like prey, so your cat thinks it’s a good time to play. They’re not just following their instincts, but they’re also having a good time with you.
3. Showing their affection
You might have wondered “why my kitten follows me everywhere?” Another reason your clingy cats follow you around the home is to express their love and affection for you. While kittens have a reputation for being aloof or “evil,” pet owners may rapidly dispel this notion.
Cats may still show love and devotion for the humans they consider family in their own way. They may, for example, rub themselves against your leg while meowing, sleep comfortably on top of you, or follow you around the home. Isn’t it quite a compliment to know that your pet wants to be near you?
Similarly, you may have observed that once you get home from work or other obligations, your cats follow you around everywhere. It’s as though they want you to pet them, play with them, and spend time with them.
4. Curiosity
Cats are naturally curious creatures. They’re incredibly charming when it comes to their curiosity since they may be hesitant and embarrassed about it at times and then bold and fearless at other times. We can’t help but admire their lack of inhibition when it comes to exploration and learning.
Suppose the saying “curiosity killed the cat” demonstrates anything. In that case, it’s that humans who have spent enough time watching cats understand that they’re incredibly curious, even if we don’t know much about them or haven’t spent much time with them.
In general, cats can be interested in your daily life activities, even if you’re only making the bed or brushing your teeth.
5. Considering you a source of amusement
If your cat is bored, following you might be a source of amusement, similar to how humans are entertained by watching people, cats, and other animals on TV or YouTube videos.
Although watching television or seeing videos on YouTube is not as enjoyable as getting out and doing stuff, even cats may be lethargic, too tired to play but not too lazy to entertain themselves by watching you.
Your cat might also want you to play with him/her. In that case, try giving your companion some toys.
6. Hungry
Many owners will notice that their cats are following them around as feeding time approaches. In this circumstance, it’s apparent that your cat is looking forward to its food bowl. Kittens typically do this, and your every move is scrutinized. If you think your cat is becoming too attached, make a feeding schedule and adhere to it.
While following owners during meals is perfectly normal, if your cat does it more frequently than usual, it might indicate an underlying condition such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes that makes your cat hungrier. If your cat’s behavior changes suddenly, it’s advisable to take them to a veterinarian for an examination.
7. Needing attention
When your cat needs attention, this is another element that contributes to a clingy cat. That is what happens when your cat follows you around while meowing. If you don’t want to reward this behavior, you may divert this tendency by engaging kittens in play or giving them things like an interactive puzzle or a mouse toy.
You’ll find that your cat is more connected to you and follows you around when you get home from work or other responsibilities outside the house. While you’re gone, it’s conceivable that they’re experiencing separation anxiety.
8. Feeling safer
Some cats might feel worried when they don’t see you. This can happen when you’ve recently adopted a stray cat who sees you as its family member. In other words, your presence makes the cat feel secure.
Additionally, your new kitty may follow you because it needs a stable figure to rest on when separated from its mother and siblings. Cats understand that as long as they are with their caretakers, they will be safe and address their needs.
As they grow out of their adolescence, most cats frequently stop following you around. However, because the amount of time a cat spends with its mother is so essential, cats that are separated from their mother too soon may experience difficulties.
They haven’t been allowed to go through the normal weaning process, in which the mother begins to teach them independence. Kittens require a lot of socialization. Therefore, those separated from their mother and siblings when they were young may become too reliant on their human substitute.
If your cat is following you to your bedroom or where you sleep, she may be partially motivated by a desire to feel safe. When the outdoor cat naps in the wild, they are vulnerable. Therefore, lying close to you signals that they are safe.
9. Guarding their territory
Pacing around their territory is one regular activity of wild cats in nature. This both releases their fragrance and disperses it to deter potential invaders or other cats & cat breeds. If you find your cat rubbing against the furniture and you all the time, it’s a sign that the cat is trying to establish its territory.
A feline cannot follow its natural territorial instincts in a confined house or apartment as it would in the wild, but your activity around the house may imply to your cat that you are marking the area. As a result, your cat may opt to join you in this safety concern.
Kittens are routine creatures, so if they’ve been accustomed to this behavior, it makes sense that they’ll continue to follow you from room to room.
How to Get Your Clingy Cat to Stop Following You Around
If you wonder “why my cat keeps following me?”, it’s essential to find out the obvious reason and deal with it. Please keep in mind that all our cats have their unique preferences.
- Consider giving your cat more toys if you suspect they are bored and looking for something to do. Give them a variety of toys to play with when you’re not around.
- If you think your cat is more curious than bored, put up cat shelves and cat trees. Instead of following you about and interfering with your business, your cat may prefer to perch atop a cat tree and watch what you’re doing.
- Having a good vantage point from which to watch everything can make your cat feel more secure and confident, decreasing the need for them to follow you.
- Set aside time each day to show your cat attention. There are two examples: brushing them before feeding in the morning or scratching their favorite spot while your pet’s on the cat tree right before bedtime.
- When you come home from work, spend some time cuddling and playing with your cat. They won’t be as needy afterwards when you’re trying to make dinner or look at your phone.
- Set a consistent feeding time for your cat, such as every morning at 9 a.m. Ascertain that your pet receives their meals at the same time each day. You could even split their daily dose in half and give half to them in the morning and a half to them in the evening
- At all other times of the day, you must ignore your cat’s demands for food. Remember that they aren’t hungry! And, maybe most importantly, never offer cats human food, no matter how many times they gaze at you or meow for it. Your cat will figure it out eventually.
- Make a new schedule for your cat so that he has something to look forward to. It will also be less surprising if you change your cat’s activity patterns in the future.
- Try stroking cats outside the door, in the corridor, or a separate room if they want to follow you to the bathroom. Let the kitten play with you for a while. After that, go to the restroom & have some alone time. Never give in and allow your cat to enter by opening the door.
Final thought
Why does my cat follow me everywhere? In most cases, your cat following you around isn’t a cause for alarm. Cats following their humans about the house is, for the most part, a healthy and even beneficial behavior.
That said, before assuming that everything is OK, as a responsible cat owner, try to figure out why “my cat following me around all of a sudden” and see whether you should be offering extra attention, affection, play, or even food.
I am Amy Sawy, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) graduate from the University of Kansas. y husband, Dr. Plummer, and I own a veterinary clinic in Phillipsburg, Kansas. In addition to my professional background, I am a devoted pet owner myself, with a household that includes dogs, rodents, and most notably, cats – a total of five felines in my home.
In 2020, I joined an organization as a professional writer, leveraging my experience and collaborating with my team to deliver the most valuable information for your cat’s care.
