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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Clingy pets

42 replies

Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:26

Does anyone have this problem? I have a 3yo female cat
It wants to be with me every waking and asleep moment. If I am asleep it will do everything humanely (or feline) possibly to be near me, touch me and make me touch it.
Which is sweet but this also involves shower/bath/toilet and it will not be shut out of a room, it becomes anxious and scratches and howls.
I love her but her need for contact is driving me insane. It's just me, not the kids she does it to. And I have another cat and she is just jealous of that one.

I'm living a real life crazy cat lady life here Confused

OP posts:
AliceInUnderpants · 23/10/2016 22:30

What's her background?

My 11 month old puppy is very clingy, and follows me around. Even if I stand up to pull out a wedgie, she's up too haha. She's a rescue pup though, so expected.

Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:32

Got her as a kitten at 9 weeks. Doesn't like going outside unless it involves trying to kill herself jumping out of upstairs windows!

OP posts:
Homebird90 · 23/10/2016 22:38

Do you think she's anxious? Have you tried Feliway?

Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:40

I've tried all of that
I think she's just demanding but I end up not wanting to give any affection because she has no stop button. If I give a little it makes it ramp up even more and there is no end to it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:42

Ive actually thought about rehoming her because it is that annoying BlushConfused

OP posts:
Homebird90 · 23/10/2016 22:42

9 weeks is a little early to leave her mother, maybe that explains her attachment

FrancisCrawford · 23/10/2016 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:47

Its sweet apart from the lack of sleep!

OP posts:
SabineUndine · 23/10/2016 22:50

My cat has been like that since his brother died, 3 years ago. Haven't got any solutions other than shutting the cat in another room to get a bit of peace!

ClaudiaWankleman · 23/10/2016 22:53

Please don't rehome - I imagine that this level of attachment would be devastating for the cat if you were separated!

I don't have any advice but can definitely appreciate your feelings.

Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 23/10/2016 22:57

I just feel like I am always pushing her away and it's mean. When she starts if I am asleep (scratching the door) I have to let her in then she just spends all night walking around me trying to wake me up!

OP posts:
hollinhurst84 · 23/10/2016 22:58

Same here
This is mine gazing adoringly at me Confused

Clingy pets
AldrinJustice · 23/10/2016 23:07

Love it! My kitty used to be like this, but moreso when I moved out of my parents, any big changes spurs it on, or habits that have formed in the beginning few months. Has she been neutered? I've seen cats change behaviour after neutering but they become very independent and not more clingy :/ could try weaning her off you by always having a soft toy when she cuddles you, then get her to lean up against the toy, slowly she may make the transition between you and the toy and hopefully just cling to the toy for comfort! And Before anyone flames me, that's assuming she is not/has not suffered from any trauma and is just a lovely cat

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 23/10/2016 23:13

Does she play with toys? Can you get her stoned on catnip? (only half joking on that one.....). Giving her something else to do would help. Tire her out with exercise - that helps with my needy indoor cat.

Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 24/10/2016 04:58

No trauma. She just woke me up and I can't get back to sleep. I think boredom sometimes but she is quite OTT anyway and neutering hasn't helped. I gave her some affection now hoping she would lie back down but instead she ran as fast as she could up and down the stairs, leaping over my bed each time and skidding across the wooden flooring Envy

OP posts:
Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 24/10/2016 04:59

She would beat a teddy up and be violent to it!
She can be a bit violent when she gets really really over excited

OP posts:
steff13 · 24/10/2016 05:19

Maybe a second cat would help, give her someone to play with.

Clandestino · 24/10/2016 05:59

Is she an indoor cat? Then it could be boredom. Do you have a cat tree? Even a laser pen could keep her occupied.

Broken1Girl · 24/10/2016 06:22

Aw the poor thing sounds bored. Yes cats need toys to beat up, they're animals, they need to chase and kill prey.

CaoNiMao · 24/10/2016 06:38

I have this with my two ginger rescue boys - one more than the other. I found them both as abandoned kittens on the street when I was living overseas - just relocated back to the UK with them.

The older one (6) has always been exceptionally clingy. He follows me everywhere, even to the toilet. The younger one (2) likes to be around me, and sleeps on me if he possibly can!

I presume their clinginess is down to having been abandoned by their mothers at an extremely early age.

Imissmy0ldusername · 24/10/2016 06:56

One of ours needs to be exercised if the mornings are light and we want to sleep past 5am. The night before, we try to wear her out by throwing things for her to chase (scrunched up paper is her favourite). If she's not had a good chase about, she can be really quite hard work. It's sweet, but as you describe OP, quite intense! Has your cat got places up high she can go? Ours has a few favourite spots where she can keep an eye on what's going on. We find that if she's getting a bit to over the top, we can plonk her on one of her high spots, and she settles.

Lillagroda · 24/10/2016 07:06

This. Right now.

Separated from mum too young, in her case.

Clingy pets
Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 24/10/2016 07:31

I have a tree and she's not interested. I have another cat too. It sadly her annoying behaviour has annoyed the other cat and they don't get along.
I'm happy for her to go out and once every now and then she trots off outside but usually she runs back in the house if I try to get her outside

OP posts:
Original poster
Myusernameismyusername · 24/10/2016 07:34

My kids play with her a lot. She's got too much energy to be indoors all the time I think I am going to try encourage some more going outside!

OP posts:
Thattimeofyearagain · 24/10/2016 07:42

She luffs you Halloween Wink
I have a. 6 stone something lab that likes to walk along the couch to sprawl on my knee, waited for me if I go upstairs / toilet/ move an inch.