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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

does anyone else's cat sense the baby?

30 replies

Boosta · 02/08/2006 12:24

weird question i know, but one of my cats seems very sensitive to my pregnancy.

when i was pregnant with DS1 2 years ago the cat spent 9 months more or less attached to my bump. he just wanted to curl up on my lap next to it, or lie over it all the time.

the cat is usually quite aloof, and doesn't normally do cuddles, but a few weeks ago he started being really clingy again, and sure enough i then found out i was pregnant again.

is this really unusual or do other people's pets behave in a similar way.

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babywhiting · 02/08/2006 12:30

had exactly the same thing happen although now my ds is born the cat always wants to lie next to him or under his bed!!!! very cute!!!!
all i can say is make the most of it its great to have an attentive cat!!!!!

yorkshirelass79 · 02/08/2006 12:33

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Boosta · 02/08/2006 12:34

i will definately make the most of it. it is so unusual for him to be so loving.

another weird thing he does... he doesn't try and sleep next to my son, or near him, but if DS is ill the cat is the first one on the scene. he will whine at me as if he is telling me to do something about it. He is a great alarm system to know if my DS is poorly.

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squishy · 02/08/2006 13:20

Mine did for the first 3-4 months, but haven't done as much since then, but it has been really hot and they're not lap cats in hot weather! One does like to stand on my bump though (keep trying to get them to purr into the bump, such a soothing sound!!!)

Iklboo · 02/08/2006 13:26

My dog followed me everywhere round the house when I was a week away from giving birth. She wouldn't let me out of her sight for a minute.

Also - bit weird - when I was about 28 weeks we went to Blackpool Sea Life aquarium for the day. Whenever we stood in front of the tanks all the fish in it would swim up to me. When I went away, so did they and didn't come up to anyone else. I wondered if they could 'sonar sense' the baby like dolphins are supposed to be able to do?

ComeOVeneer · 02/08/2006 14:06

Funnily enough my cats "went off me" when I fell pregnant. Prior to that they were the kind of cats that would curl up on your lap for the evening but shortly after I fell pregnant they wouldn't come on my lap or let me pick them up but would still do it with dh.

shhhh · 02/08/2006 16:43

Our cat (Siamese so very affectionate anyway) seemed really clingy to me when I was 1st pregnant and seemed overly attached just before I found out I had mc. It was strange as dh & I are sure it was his way of making sure I was ok. I remember coming home from hospital following the mc and he was back to his normal self iykwim. I somehow think he knew we knew and that things would be ok.
He was the same with our other mc and again when I was expecting dd. He seemed to dote on me..!

Sadly he died last Nov when dd was 6 months old, I'm 14 weeks now and I always wish he was here again with me. I also know he would have loved dd.

We got our cat when we were trying for a baby 4 years ago and somehow it's like felt he'd done his job and that we didn't need him anymore. DH & I honestly believe he was here for a reason.

redz · 02/08/2006 17:26

I believe cats can sense the baby in the womb. My cat is 14yrs old he was never the cuddly type either and since I fell pregnant he is always laying by my or on my belly, he's even felt it kick and it makes him jump!
Im hoping it will make him closer to the baby as its my first and he normally gets all the attention.

Hollyboo · 02/08/2006 17:40

My cat used to give my bump very dirty looks.

FanjoFanjoWhosGotTheFanjo · 02/08/2006 18:04

My senior cat only gave me "gifts" (dead birds, mostly) when I was pg. The rest of the time she doesn't bother. Very odd.

twocatsonthebed · 02/08/2006 18:51

I'm with you, COV. Only one of our cats 'does' laps, and she hasn't sat on me, I'll swear, since the week I got pregnant...

treacletart · 02/08/2006 18:58

Our cat was Dh's before he met me and I swear has always seen me as "the other woman". Except when I was pregnant and breast feeding when she became unusually affectionate - will only acknowledge me now if she's really hungry and Dh isnt around

FrannyandZooey · 02/08/2006 19:19

This is a really interesting topic but is it just me who finds the title extremely amusing for some reason?

I would think it is the hormonal changes causing you to smell differently, do you think? Animals are very sensitive to that.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/08/2006 19:21

When you're pregnant, you smell differently, and you're warmer, too. Both of which would really affect cats.

Steppy1 · 02/08/2006 19:22

my female cat did similar thing, just loved to lay over my bump purring, right the way through both pregnancies...she also loves the children since they arrived and lets them do anything to her, "doris" that she is !!!!

Myrtle1 · 02/08/2006 21:22

I've got 2 cats - one is quite sensitive and has always been DH's cat but since getting pg, she is very affectionate to me and follows me about the house. The other one is very cuddly and has always been my cat but she just seems to get frustrated with the bump because it gets in the way of a good lap/cuddle and she stalks off to DH's lap in disgust

cece · 02/08/2006 21:26

When pg with dd our cat would seek me out and sit on the bump at all opportunities. She would purr, the baby would move, more purring, more wiggling and so it would go on....

Funnily enough though the cat didn't do this when pg with ds.

wuzzlefraggle · 03/08/2006 08:17

our cats do seem to be giving me extra attention come to think fo it...one of them never used to want to know me (he was very much dh's cat) but now he is very affectionate to me

Morningnewspaper · 03/08/2006 16:15

My cats seem completely oblivious of my bump
Incidentally - do you have to protect the new baby from them (e.g. cots etc)? I have a feeling that mine will want to curl up for a cosy snooze with it. Have any of you had this problem and what have you done about it?

koshka1984 · 03/08/2006 23:24

My cats did that.

Now hes a month old and my youngest cat likes to cry to sleep next to him when hes on my lap and help me with changing nappies!

koshka1984 · 03/08/2006 23:27

oh and he brings 'presents' (mice) especially when the MW used to come...she wasnt a cat person (the horrified look spelt that out) and i was just sat there, couldn't jump up 'cause of stitches!

maggi · 04/08/2006 00:57

My cat loved the bump and she would curl up on it. She gently bounced when baby got hicups which was much funnier than the Malteser advert where the chocolate gets bounced around.
When I had toothache she approached me with a very determined step, jumped on my lap, deliberately stretched up to my face(never has done before or since), then gave me a single lick on my hot and inflamed cheek (never approached my face before) proceeding to climbing up to 'hug' my shoulder(another first). She then stepped down and away. My dh and I were gobsmacked. It made my toothache feel better momentarily too.

PinkTulips · 07/08/2006 15:02

yup, my cat loves lying on my bump purring as does my parents cat, both tend to ignore me the rest of the time.

my parents had a cat before i was born who hated every living creature except my dad, took peoples hands off if they dared to touch her but when my mom was pregnant with me she spent the whole 9 months lying on the bump!

oddly enough, both my babies did something which felt exactly like purring when the cat was near them, a vibrating buzz that was definitely coming from deep in my bump and not the cat... very wierd

snowleopard · 07/08/2006 15:04

Both my cat and our friends' cat were drawn to my bump. Our cat doesn't do laps, but she would snuggle up to the bump when I was lying in bed. One morning at aboiut 15 weeks I woke up convinced I'd felt the first "flutterings" ... it was the cat squished up against my bump and purring like a tractor!

peachygirl · 07/08/2006 20:18

I'm 12 weeks today and my cat couldn't give a toss!
She rejected her own kittens (as a teenage mum) so I'm assuing she's just being huffy. She does generally love my Dh more than me though.

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