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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

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?

OP posts:

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NAB3 · 17/08/2007 19:55

My cat definitely sensed something was different when I was expecting my first child. She grew out of being a lap cat once she got too big to sleep on my pillow and in a tissue box, but sat by me and on me loads when I was expecting. She was hanging around me a couple of months ago and gave me quite a fright I can tell you!!

ara · 18/08/2007 11:13

ooh i'm so glad someone started a thread about this - my cat, who is always v cuddly, has been extra cuddliy and quite clingy - the LO wriggles a lot when she's on my knee and i literally can't sit still for more that a moment or two before she is right there next to me trying to sneak up for a cuddle.

She is 19/20 now so i know her behaviour inside out and she is definitely behaving quite differently from usual!

ClairePO · 18/08/2007 18:32

This is really interesting - I have 3 cats and my youngest cat who has always been cuddly I now can't get away from in the last week or so. She's cuddled up to me now purring, earlier I was tired so went upstairs for a nap and she followed me up.

Would she really be able to sense it when I just found out myself?

NAB3 · 18/08/2007 18:33

Cats are very clever and sensitive.

Nanoon · 18/08/2007 21:40

I wake up every night to find my cat sleeping on my pillow. He never ventures over to DH's side and he was like this when i was expecting DS too. bless them eh.

becklespeckle · 19/08/2007 10:03

I honestly think that cats can sense it before we know - mine definitely did!

ClairePO · 19/08/2007 10:08

I wonder if maybe female cats are more sensitive to this - its my girl cat who is cuddlier, the boys aren't any different.

Eaglebird · 19/08/2007 15:27

I have a female cat, and she loves to lie on top on me in bed. When I lie on my side, she curls up on my hip. She keeps trying to lie on my bump, but I don't like her doing that.

MrsMar · 20/08/2007 11:33

Hmm so much for my cat being affectionate since I've found out I'm pg... yesterday she peed in the baby's car seat... I think she's trying to tell me something (I love you more than that silly baby perhaps?)

MrsMcJnr · 20/08/2007 15:50

mine are the same, like little shadows - one is doing dirty protests though - could be that DH is less diligent with the litter than I used to be though!

PurlyQueen · 02/09/2007 16:28

I thought I was imagining things, but Herman, our male cat definitely knows something's up. He won't leave my side. It doesn't matter if I'm in bed, cooking a meal or taking a nap. And if I'm in the shower, he waits outside the bathroom door until I'm done.
On the other hand, our other cat Button, a 20-year old lady, is too old and infirm to do anything except eat and sleep in her basket.

VeronicaMars · 02/09/2007 17:27

My cat would sit on my knee and glare at my tum. Really dirty looks. DD's first vest in the hospital was brought home by dh for the cat to sniff and get used to. She was never very curious after that and never went near dd.

PurlyQueen · 02/09/2007 19:16

I'm glad it's not just me whose pets have gone haywire. My DH refused to believe me until this weekend, Herman hardly left my side. I'm sure he'd have come to the supermarket with me if he could

Wilkie · 02/09/2007 19:18

Pinkteddy - my cat slept on my tummy and I had totally forgotten about the hiccups. She actually purred louder the more hiccups there were

leo1978 · 03/09/2007 08:55

Yes - my cat slept on my tummy for the whole 9 months. Just before I went into labour she started to guard the lounge and patrol the windows.

froozykins · 03/09/2007 09:52

im also wondering if the baby will have a special bond with tom as he sleeps on my tummy all the time and the baby is big enough to hear sounds now, so will baby recognise toms purring when he's born??

OP posts:

Anarchymummy · 04/09/2007 13:37

My cat Mischief's always been cuddly since she was a kitten(she's 2 now)but even she's got more affectionate,meowing to be picked up and curling up on my bump(till the baby kicks lol)
I'm hoping that this means she'll like the new baby as iv'e currently got my grandma,aunties etc telling me how my cat will try and suffocate the baby (just what a preg woman wants to hear)

WheresMyWaistGone · 04/09/2007 15:11

Our cats have never been lap cats as they were rescued from a cat shelter, where they'd been for a year and weren't socialised.

Recently, they have spent more time in a heap on the sofa, even on nice days, when they're usually only to be seen when they're hungry.

We did wonder if they could sense (never mind see!) my pregnancy - who knows! I'd like to think so. Perhaps if I have another they'll start to sit on my knee and generally be nice, not just at meal times...?!

McEdam · 04/09/2007 15:18

Didn't notice any difference with my (sadly now deceased) cat when pg except she liked curling up on my bump. But I assumed she just found it cosy - had always been very affectionate with me anyway. She was very pissed off when the bump was exchanged for a baby who monopolised my lap. And very upset about being banned from our bed, bless her, we had to get one of those plug-in things that released pheremones to stop her moping too much (on the vet's advice).

My mother says when she was pg our cats wouldn't leave her alone, though, clearly thought she was in need of extra care.

mckenzie · 04/09/2007 15:22

My tom cat had never ever brought home any mice or birds until I was about 8 and a half months pregnant. In the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy he brought home on average one a day. My vet said it was because he knew there was going to be an extra mouth to feed

walkingwomb · 04/09/2007 21:27

my cats have jumped on me a few times and padded me but (as usual) wandered off in disappointment as I am too skinny for them (only 5 weeks at the mo). DH has a nice round paunch that they LOVE. I am hoping that as I get fatter the balance will be tipped.

Is it okay to let cats pad your tummy when you are preggers?

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