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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

can cats sense pregnancy?

46 replies

froozykins · 16/08/2007 19:54

my cat has started wanting to sleep on my stomache whenever i am lying down to rest, he has never been a lap cat and hates too much handling so im wondering if he can sense the baby?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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JeremyVile · 16/08/2007 19:55

Apparently they can.
Cant remember the ins and outs but yes its well documented they sense it and behave differently (protective?)

flamingtoaster · 16/08/2007 19:57

My friend's dog knew she was pregnant before she was - he began walking closer to her and growling if other dogs (or on one occasion her husband!) came near her!

flamingtoaster · 16/08/2007 19:57

Sorry - meant to say before she knew, not before she was!

aloha · 16/08/2007 19:58

My cat is the most stupid thing alive outside of an ameoba. I am v sceptical!

pinkteddy · 16/08/2007 19:59

Yes I think so, my cat constantly slept on my bump, especially towards the end, he never had before. Even when dd had hiccups in the womb and my stomach was bobbing up and down he stayed put!

BettySpaghetti · 16/08/2007 20:00

Our cat always used to want to sleep on my tummy when I was pregnant (until I got too big and round and she couldn't get comfortable then !). She normally prefers DPs lap.

FioFio · 16/08/2007 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Aitch · 16/08/2007 20:03

i remember goiing to my friend's house when i was pregnant and her two new kittens went wild. literally couldn't snuggle in closely enough, as if they were trying to get into my tummy. it was rather charming at first but became a right pita after ten mins or so. after about forty minutes we had to get them out of the room.
but the funny thing was that because they were new they weren't particularly affectionate to anyone else in the house yet. perhaps they thought i was their mum, who knows?

Bouquetsofdynomite · 16/08/2007 20:03

Yes, my cat took to lying on the middle stair and trying to kill me as I walked past!

Bouncingturtle · 16/08/2007 20:09

Can't tell since my cat is normally very affectionate with me anyway!
LOL aloha, I think your cat is related to mine!!!

FlameBatfink · 16/08/2007 20:13

Mine was the other way - wouldn't come near me for the entire pregnancy

moodymoo · 16/08/2007 20:15

Reckon they can - mine went off in a massive strop and started misbehaving. wouldn't come near me or my dh (not that she bothers that much with me anyway) and would try and bite me. Lost weight as refused to eat and ended up taking her to vet. Vet said cats can pick up on things like pregnancy and my cat was behaving like a sulky teenager!!When my pg ended at 21 wks her behaviour changed and she would come and sit on my knee when I was crying and stuff and just wouldn't leave me alone.
we are ttc aain so will have to watch the cat for signs - much cheaper than paying for a pregnancy test

iliketosleep · 16/08/2007 21:45

I have 4 and as they are very independant little swines they usually come in have some food, have a little kip then bugger off until the next day, but a couple of weeks ago they all started coming in about 5-6 times a day and were always rubbing against my ankles while i was in the kitchen. I thought it was for food but after their belly full they carried on, and followed me everywhere i went (even the toilet )

A couple of days later came my bfp....

I didnt actually see a link between it all before reading this thread, makes sense now!!!!

PuppyDogsTails · 16/08/2007 22:06

My next door neighbour has a cat who wont go near anyone unless they are pregnant, shes all over me. My shy cat has also become unusually affectionate, and he likes sleeping on my bump too, was never a lap cat before.
I think they can smell the hormones; my horse used to know when I had my period and do this weird nose wrinkle thind.

RGPargy · 16/08/2007 22:12

My cats are both really affectionate to me so i cannot tell.

kathryn77 · 16/08/2007 22:19

Mine were scared of the bump, then scared of ds... got used to ds, and now scared again as he chases them!

whomovedmychocolate · 16/08/2007 22:21

Mine noticed when the bump kicked him in the face

Seriously, he went into full sucking up mode when I was pregnant. However this might have had something to do with the fact I spent more time sitting/lying down so I was easier to cuddle.

MyMILisDoloresUmbridge · 16/08/2007 23:19

A patient of mine said that her dog sensed she was having a MC before she did. She said the dog wouldn't leave her side all day and she didn't know why till later.

Rachmumoftwo · 16/08/2007 23:23

My dog went through a phantom pregnancy just before DD was born, and when I came home from hospital she produced milk! Luckily for DD I had plenty of my own though, so we didn't need to use it!

naturelover · 17/08/2007 10:07

Our female cat has definitely been more clingy. Our male has always been very affectionate so I haven't noticed a difference. Michel Odent thinks childbirth is faster in a home with cats (here's hoping - since I have planned a homebirth!)

becklespeckle · 17/08/2007 10:16

When I was very very first pg with DS1 I had no idea and we went to a friend's house. They said their cat was very unfriendly but as soon as I sat down it jumped on my lap and went to sleep! Everyone was amazed and that is when I first suspected I was pg.
Since I have been pg again one of my cats follows me around miaowing until I sit down so he can sit over my bump - has been doing it since before I found out I was pg!

Cats are smart

naturelover · 17/08/2007 10:19

Forgot to say - the baby moves a lot when a purring cat is sitting against the bump! I like to think I've already transmitted a love of cats to the baby. Probably wishful thinking.

I'm actually pretty worried about how my cats will react to the baby's arrival (jealous, resentful, freaked out?) Can anyone tell me how their cats reacted. We've had them for 5 years and they have definitely been the centre of attention thus far.

MrsMar · 17/08/2007 11:24

I don't have the most affectionate cat in the world either - one of those aloof "I just stay here for the food" ones.. but she's been very affectionate with me since being pg... If I lie down on the sofa she'll sit with her face really close to mine and rub up against my face. She gets so close and snuggly sometimes I can't breath as she practically sits on my face! Not sure if it's pregnancy related, it's not very scientific... she's a bit ancient, so maybe she's softening in her old age

hobbcat · 17/08/2007 11:37

I have 3 cats and a dog and I have noticed that they are all anxious to hang out with me whenever possible. One outdoorsly type (Hobbes) now has to monopolise me each evening. They know what they are doing.

Original poster

froozykins · 17/08/2007 19:51

naturelover, how my cats will react is also one of my worries. tom, who suddenly loves my tummy is a huge cat, nearly 7kg and doesnt like being poked and prodded and will swipe viciously if poked too much. my other cat has been having the opposite reaction to my pg, he's normally a homebody but we barely see him anymore except when he wants us to open a can of food, will he leave home for good when the baby comes?

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