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?

Ok.
Some animals can sense illness, it seems?
I am just saying.

Have your family routines changed a lot because of lockdown?

Cats behaviour does sometimes change a bit as they get older, with other neighbourhood cats coming into his territory he may have become a bit more home orientated. With colder weather he might have worked out you’re the warmest person to snuggle up to. Are you the person who usually feeds him? Cats are very mercenary!
But do get him checked out at the vets if you are at all concerned.

@SilverBirchWithout

Have your family routines changed a lot because of lockdown?

Cats behaviour does sometimes change a bit as they get older, with other neighbourhood cats coming into his territory he may have become a bit more home orientated. With colder weather he might have worked out you’re the warmest person to snuggle up to. Are you the person who usually feeds him? Cats are very mercenary!
But do get him checked out at the vets if you are at all concerned.

Not really. I WFH before lockdown and now DH is home too. DS is still at nursery so we are quite unaffected. We only moved here about 1.5/2 years ago but it's only really been since Oct/Nov that he's been clingy, and it's getting worse.

Feeding is easily split so it's not that. I will take him to the vet just to be safe. Thanks for your message

Have you been upset or feeling low? Sounds silly but my boy comes running if I'm upset and won't leave me alone, always has done no matter where he is in the house. He just knows. He's 12 and I love him to bits.

@indemMUND no I've not, if anything both DH and I are very happy and stress free at the moment. Perhaps he's confused because we are both in a good place for a change 🤣

@RefuseTheLies

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

This happened to my mum's cat too! It was like she'd had a personality transplant. She used to be really aggressive and unsociable in her youth (don't think she was socialised well as a kitten) then became the total opposite, a massive smoochbag who wouldn't leave you alone.

Our cat was obsessed with me, I am allergic to cats so tried to limit my contact with her, she had 4 other people to get cuddles and strokes from in the house but, no apparently if possible they had to be from me.

The kids rescued her as an abandoned kitten and we had her for 14 years. She was the most laid back animal I have ever come across being happily carried around by any one of of the kids. Sleeping at night with whichever one of their beds took her fancy.

But if she could, she wanted to lie on my lap, I think she saw my aloofness and me trying not not catch her eye as a challenge. She did once ignore us all for over a week because we dared to go on holiday without her. Literally would not look at us, turned her back and would sit facing away. We all miss her though.

DCat has become obsessed with us since lockdown. She will now miaow relentlessly when one of us leaves the house. Could it be that?

@Spandang I don't think it's lockdown because I worked from home before and our coming and goings haven't really been impacted much due to lockdown, plus it's only the last couple of months. I'll see what the vet says but hopefully he's just become a massive softie rather than unwell.