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Pregnancy

Bit odd - but do cats go bonkers around pregnant woman?

25 replies

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 13:27

Ok - I'm sorry for such a daft thread but...

My cat keeps trying to eat me or suckle me or something! He even comes in the night and gets under the duvet to start that pawing thing they do on my bump!!

Can he smell the colostrum? Has he tuned into my hormones and thinks I'm his mum?

AM I THE ONLY ONE???????

If noone replies will have to change my name

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thenewme · 13/12/2008 13:29

When I was pregnant with my first baby my cat was very attentive. Sitting near me, etc. A few months ago she started doing it again and I was a bit I think it is her old age now though.

thenewme · 13/12/2008 13:29

When I was pregnant with my first baby my cat was very attentive. Sitting near me, etc. A few months ago she started doing it again and I was a bit I think it is her old age now though.

Lizzylou · 13/12/2008 13:29

No, my cat (since deceased) loved me when I was pg, both times I was the only one for her. She used to just snuggle into me at every given opportunity, made it hard when DS1 came and she couldn't be on my lap whenever she felt like it.
I think it is quite common, am sure I have read about it, no idea why though.

SleighGirl · 13/12/2008 13:30

yes they do act different, MILs previously stuck up cat that ignored everyone suddenly became my lap cat when I went around.

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 13:35

Oh thank God replies.

Thought I was going to be outed as some mad cat lady.

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thenewme · 13/12/2008 13:45

...

RaspberryBlower · 13/12/2008 13:47

I noticed this behaviour in my cat, but again, thought I was imagining it!

ComeOVeneer · 13/12/2008 13:48

Stragnely enough my cats were the complete opposite both times I was pregnant and went from being lap cats to avooiding me like the plague and only going to dh.

thenewme · 13/12/2008 14:21

Maybe they were jealous?

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 15:27

I think cats are very complicated hormonal little beings. Or maybe I just dont want to be the only complicated hormonal little being in our house and am reading too much into it!

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thenewme · 13/12/2008 15:30

RhinestoneReindeerHerder · 13/12/2008 15:31

Cat is loving snuggling next to my bump, was the same last time. Would add that DS (2.5 yrs) loves the cat with a passion now...

...cat is a little less keen

Lotster · 13/12/2008 15:39

Hi TreeDelivery

Not got advice on cats but animal behaviour in general...

My dog wet himself twice during my first PG, I was worried he had some kind of early onset bladder problem - but luckily I think it was more from confusion and being unsure of what was happening and what it would mean.

First time was when I was first preg and didn't know then, he just looked at me, whimpered and went on the carpet.

Second time when I was 8 months, I came back one evening to find he'd peed on my pillow!!

Each time it was definately about me.. maybe cats are a bit brighter and respond more positively. Or you have catnip in your boobyjuice??

Lotster · 13/12/2008 15:40

Actually being clever things, perhaps cats are assuring their place in your life, whereas my dog was worrying about it...

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 18:38

Aw Lotster. Your doggie sounds a sensitive soul.

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Miggsie · 13/12/2008 18:41

My MIL was convinced my cats would sleep on my baby in the pram/cot and suffocate her...they didn't, they avoided baby like the plague but were practically glued to my legs for about a year, I wondered if it was the novelty of me being home all day (I used to work full time) or just that they wanted reassurance.
All 3 of them, sitting on me all the time and following me round.

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 20:34

Yes think I spent a fortune on a cat net thing, only to have the cat ignore the baby and leave the room whenever baby entered it. Much too noisy for her!

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scifinerd · 13/12/2008 20:38

My cats were all over me during all three of my pregnancies. While I would love to say it was affection I suspect it has something to do with the extra heat your body generates. But cats definetely gravitate towards pregnant women. Noticed it time and time again.

MissisBoot · 13/12/2008 20:39

My cats went into overdrive when I went on maternity leave - I had to balance two of them on my bump - they also brought home sooooo many presents.

Beccabump · 13/12/2008 21:30

Cats can't really be bothered with me anymore, but my friends dog has gone insane over me and is wildly protective. Whenever I go round she hurls herself up next to me (no mean feat as she is about 100 years old!) and growls if anyone tries to come near me!! I think she knew I was pg before I did! (I am 9 weeks now!)

pamplemousse · 13/12/2008 21:34

My cat went mental when I was pregnant, I went to pick her off a chair she wasn't supposed to be on and she bit my hand and scratched my arm, really badly, the bite was SO painful!!! She was a strange character anyway not too cuddly, but amenable, not vicious like that.
The other 2 cats were the opposite, very attentive and cuddly.
I wonder why they do this?

treedelivery · 13/12/2008 21:39

They must know we're pregnant. They must, and they either like it or don't! Got a scratch on the bump from the mad pawing thing he was doing last night!

OOoo wonder how they know?

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chloemegjess · 13/12/2008 23:51

My Cat wees on the floor when I am pregnant

RaspberryBlower · 14/12/2008 08:40

I think in my case my hormones were making me more affectionate towards the cat as well. I'm usually affectionate towards her but when I was pregnant I just wanted to eat her up. I imagine it was because I was nesting. Poor thing doesn't get much of a look in now. The baby loves her, and the cat is very placid and patient although the baby isn't mobile yet!

treedelivery · 15/12/2008 01:15

Chloemegjess - has to lol at you cat, although I do see why your . No mean feat getting down to floor level, let alone to scrub cat pee!

But .

Cats are great - they do us sucha favour condecending [sp?] to live with us, we really earn them.

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