To feel 'touched out' by my pets?

[undermyskon]

I have two cats and two dogs and I just feel so irritated and 'touched out' by them recently. I love them all to bits, I really do but when I'm home I honesty do not get a moment to myself.

I have a 9 year old and although she isn't physically demanding, she is emotionally then when I sit down at night when she goes to bed I have animals crawling all over me. Right now I have one dog on my leg, one dog leaning on my back and a cat on my chest clawing at me as soon as I stop clapping him.

My dogs follow me everyyyywhere, to the toilet and if I don't let them in they whine outside. Whenever I sit down, even just for a ten minute coffee the dogs are up licking me, clawing at me to pet them and constantly wanting a cuddle.

I really do love these animals but the constant physical touching is really starting to irritate me. I wouldn't mind at the end of the night on my terms but I feel suffocated and like I just don't get a break.

I remember feeling this way when I was breast feeding but I dont know, do others feel like this with their pets?

@Sukisal Are your dogs quite suspicious at times? Of strangers I mean, we have had two saluki lurchers and they tolerated strangers stroking them. Well one actually glared at our builder and then strode off!

The other is a rescue so Ive always wondered if its the Saluki with her of the fact she's had a difficult past.

Never, I’ve got two dogs and they follow me everywhere and want cuddles all the time and I wouldn’t have it any other way :)

I feel your pain
Three small needy dogs and a super needy high maintenance cat.
Love them dearly but sometimes could just have some space.
Currently have two dogs on my lap, one up behind my neck and Dh has cat on his lap.
Sometimes sneak off to another room and shut door, but then feel bad .
I think the cat is probably the worst as he is vocal and also fussy and demanding of exactly the right kind of food ( which only he knows) and he can follow me upstairs, there's no escape 🤣

I hear you lol I'm the same. We have 4 dogs and by the time my husband comes home I'm like take the beasts! Bless them I love them to bits but like yours they are with me all day and totally a 24/7 attention breed.

Aww bless. See it's just me and my daughter and the pets in the house, and they love my daughter but if I ask her to take them up to her bedroom for a bit they just whine to come back down to me. So I feel like I have no respite. But gosh I do love them so much

Yes! We have a dog and three cats and while I love them all to bits, it can get a bit much sometimes. I had all four on/next to me last night 🙈

If I need space, I give the dog a chew and give the cats some catnip toys to play with!

I'd work on rewarding them more when they're relaxing by themselves. And on gradually getting them to give you space a little at a time so you can go to the loo in peace.
I'd also be giving them lots of brain games and licky toys to entertain themselves. This is what I do with my very clingy fosters and it has worked well for us.

2 dogs, 2 cats here and the dogs just stick to me. 1 cat likes her rubs and the other literally never seeks me out.

I get it. We have young kids including a 3 year old who is going through a difficult, very clingy time.

It's the cat who is driving me nuts. He seems to have decided that my son is being clingy as a food strategy, and that he needs to stick EVEN closer in case I accidentally give all of his sheba fine flakes away.

I keep accidentally treading on him and then I feel guilty as well as annoyed.

My saluki cross has no fucks to give me.
Unless I have food.

I have a very cuddly cat. I love her more than anything. But she is so in my face, literally. Typing this with her draped over my shoulder. She demands cuddles in the night and is incapable of sitting still!

cat on my chest clawing at me as soon as I stop clapping him

I have to ask, why does the cat need to be clapped, it is a performance cat, does it do tricks, I've never come across that before

My idea of heaven. I love needy animals.

Sounds lovely

You probably just need a bit of a break and some space for a while. It's ok.

Embrace it!

My DCats are like this - all over me as soon as DS has gone to bed. It’s a bit much sometimes, but they’re so lovely, and they really think I’m their Mum 🥹 just hug them back.

Two Russell's here. They are very cuddly. Too cuddly. One is sitting on my chest with her head on my neck and the other is on my legs
I love them but I just want some space!

I've got 1 clingy cat and it can be abit much. I am aspergers though and I'm touch sensitive

My cat must be broken.

At night he sleeps somewhere in the house, I have restless legs so I must piss him off. He sits on my partner's lap but only in the evening during winter. He does sit watching me on the toilet but only when I get up to go to work at 6am a couple of days a week but not at any other time. He is greedy and always "starving" so he does pester a bit before his mealtimes.

I totally understand. We have 2 whippets. Wherever I am, they are. After a full day of work and children, I want everyone to fuck off and leave me alone lol

@JennyForeigner 'in case I accidentally give all of his sheba fine flakes away'. This made me laugh out loud.

Oh I'm so jealous. I have a cat who mostly ignores me. I could cuddle her all day - I would love it if she'd at least sit next to me!

I agree. I adore my velcro cat but she is incredibly needy. We have had many discussions about how she needs to be more independent but it doesn't go in. She is currently sitting glaring at me as it is past our bedtime. As soon as I go upstairs she will come too and get into bed with me under the covers with her head on the pillow. It is adorable but sometimes a little bit much.

One of our cats enforces bedtimes and get quite cross if DH leaves the bedroom after she has herded him in.
I'm currently sitting with my least clingy cat on my knee so feel quite privileged. She enjoys company but not too much stroking. DSD was favoured earlier but firmly told with a paw on the arm and a loud meow that was enough now.

Why do you have so many pets? I have one super needy Ragdoll cat and I love him to bits but wouldn't have any more. He's definitely enough.

That's an odd question, I have so many pets because I love animals and wanted them 🤷‍♀️ I can afford them and they are all well looked after so why not? I've said numerous times, this is for a vent. I'm not thinking of rehoming them or anything.