Pets know your pregnant

[Halloweenbabyy]

I’ve had my cats for 6 years since they were kittens. The boy cat has always been very loving and affectionate, loves to be cuddled and purrs like mad. My girl cat has always been the absolute opposite! Very grumpy, not loving or anything- mostly ignores you and only wants to know when there’s food involved. But since becoming pregnant she is literally a different cat. She’s so needy it’s unreal, she even sleeps on me now. She screams for attention and just wants constant love. Am I been stupid to think this is because she knows I’m pregnant? He has not changed at all - still the same cat.

The very first time my cat sat on me was the day before I found out I was pregnant. I also went to my friends house and her very standoffish cat sat on me.

I have a boy cat and he is a very affectionate cat generally. Before I knew I was pregnant, he stopped sleeping on my belly and would sit behind me, always with a paw touching me. We got our golden retriever three months before I was due and his reactions to my DS kicking were always funny.

I don’t know if it’s that cats know you’re pregnant or that your core body temp rises and so cats automatically seek out the heat! I was pregnant in the middle of a heatwave, my cat wanted to sit on me all the time. It was hell.

Yes.I had a staffie bitch when I was pregnant,shed had pups a few years before and when I was early on she collected our shoes one by one and put them in her bed like they were her babies.When I went overdue she hid in the cupboard under the stairs as if she was preparing to give birth.So cute.

@Bloodless I've got a Chihuahua and can totally imagine your scenario

I think its important to remember that animals have significantly enhanced senses of smells, there's quite a lot of literature available that diachasea the fa t they can detect changes in blood sugar, pregnancy hormones, BP etc.

Tbh I think people just overly love anthropomorphising animals and feeling they 'love' the baby and are being 'protective'. What is moat likely going on is that they are taken by the overwhelming pregnancy hormones and start behaving in ways similar to how they would if they as an animal were pregnant or protecting young in a pack, the same as any other base urge such as toileting or feeding or catching prey. Hormones are powerful things.

We went to Blue Planet Aquarium when I was fairly early in pregnancy with DS. Pretty much every time I stood in front of a tank the fish would swim up to where I was and just stay there till I moved on.

I think there must be something in the 'hormone smell' theory. My friend swore her cat knew she was pregnant before she did.

@PrincessSloth
Nope, neither do you, obviously. 🤐