Why is my cat obsessed with me?

[theincomparable]

My cat is nearly 5 and we had him since he was a kitten. He was never a cuddly lap cat and was always out. We got another cat soon after him and they tolerate each other. The other cat has always been my shadow, wherever I am she would be in the same room sitting nearby and she will come and sit on me if I'm on the sofa. But the boy cat was always off doing his own thing.

Recently he has become obsessed with me. He never sits on my lap but he will sit so close he might as well be. The other night he was sat on my pillow just staring at me an inch away from my face. If I'm in the bathroom he will come in and demand fuss, or just sit an stare at me when I'm in the bath. Theres no lock on the door and the humans in this house know if the door is closed the bathroom is occupied but he just pushes his way in. He's always at my feet which can be dangerous if I'm carrying something down the stairs (although that is a good excuse to get DH to do it )

I'm tempted to take him to the vet for a check up, but what do I say "my cat won't leave me alone, is there something wrong with him?"

It's such a strange change in his personality but he seems ok in every other sense, he eats well, goes out if I'm working etc. He's not like this with DH or DS. Perhaps he just wants some company as he gets a bit older which is fine but I'd hate for him to be trying to tell me something and I'm just ignoring him.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience?

Are you pregnant op?

Are you pregnant or unwell?

20 people will now post, asking if you could be pregnant.

My mum's cat got very, very clingy when she developed a thyroid problem (the cat had the thyroid issue - not my mum!).

No, sorry I should have said. Not pregnant but we are TTC. Had a MC last year and this started just after I fell pregnant. Maybe he's not got the memo?

Cats are incredibly good at masking pain. This may be his tell that he’s in pain even if he doesn’t appear to be in discomfort. We had our cat at the vet last year and the poor things back teeth needed removed, they were bad to the nerve but honestly you’d never have known only for his stinky breath (which is why we took him to get them checked) vet said he must’ve been in a lot of pain but that cats mask pain extremely well and we should keep an eye out for any unusual behaviour as that might be the way it manifests

@RefuseTheLies

My mum's cat got very, very clingy when she developed a thyroid problem (the cat had the thyroid issue - not my mum!).

That's interesting to know. I thought 5 might be a bit young for that.

@Hexinthecity I was afraid someone would say that. Looks like a trip to the vets is in order!

@Hexinthecity

Cats are incredibly good at masking pain. This may be his tell that he’s in pain even if he doesn’t appear to be in discomfort. We had our cat at the vet last year and the poor things back teeth needed removed, they were bad to the nerve but honestly you’d never have known only for his stinky breath (which is why we took him to get them checked) vet said he must’ve been in a lot of pain but that cats mask pain extremely well and we should keep an eye out for any unusual behaviour as that might be the way it manifests

Take them to the vet. Mine was the same as above and has just had to have a load of dental work. She was trying to tell us she was in pain. Breaks my heart...

@BovrilonToast that's what I don't want. He's only like it with me. I try to encourage him to go to my husband for fuss but it's only me he wants.

Our boy cat barely tolerates me and is so independent unless I'm sick then he sits and sleeps with me. We call him Nurse boy cat then.

Do you think it could be an "ownership" thing for him?
A way of asserting dominance over the other cat by claiming you.

Or could I be overthinking this?

My dog is like this when he's ill, last time it was an allergic reaction to a bee sting!

@theincomparable, if you can I’d take him in, put your mind at rest.

@MorriseysGladioli

Do you think it could be an "ownership" thing for him? A way of asserting dominance over the other cat by claiming you.

Or could I be overthinking this?

I like your thinking but I doubt it. We have had the other cat for 4 years so if it was it's late onset he also wasn't bothered when DS came along.

[quote BovrilonToast]@theincomparable, if you can I’d take him in, put your mind at rest.[/quote]
I think I will, at least then I won't feel so bad if I have to shut him out of the room for 30 minutes peace! Thank you

Is he still keen to go out?
Just checking it's not a new mog in town.

@theincomparable hope he’s ok.

Take to the vet for a check up, just in case. Our, elderly, cat started doing this and it was anxiety from loss of sight. I think it's an anxiety behaviour in general and can be down to environmental or physical stress.

Might not be, but it's worth a wee check up.

My sister's cat became obsessed with her when she (sister) went through her coconut oil phase.
That cat really liked coconut oil!

I came to ask if you could be pregnant!

@MorriseysGladioli

Is he still keen to go out? Just checking it's not a new mog in town.

Yes, although not so much since it's cold here.

There are a couple of cats which visit the garden and one cat which comes in and eats our food but this has been long before the clingyness started

[quote BovrilonToast]@theincomparable hope he’s ok. [/quote]
Thank you, me too!

@TheSpottedZebra

My sister's cat became obsessed with her when she (sister) went through her coconut oil phase. That cat really liked coconut oil!

Haha! I've not got any new products I've been using so think we can rule that out.

@theMoJareajoke

I came to ask if you could be pregnant!

Not for the want of trying how clingy will he be if we actually conceive?? When I was pregnant with DS he was clingy but not to this extent.