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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Do pets know ur pregnant??

24 replies

Cherryblossom2021 · 22/04/2021 20:35

Just wondered do animals know you’re pregnant before you start to show?? Thing is I have a cat... usually she’s not one for sitting on me or even letting me stroke her , she scares my dog ( and he’s a huge new foundland) and generally rules the area I live! but the past 2 weeks she’s been my best mate and won’t leave my side, I wake in the morning and she’s there staring at me! she sits on me and purrs at me . When I’m at my desk working she will sit on the desk and watch me it’s like someone took her gave her a chill pill and sent her back!!

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WindyPudding · 22/04/2021 20:40

Yes it's quite common with cats I think. They want to look after you or get close to you. In my first pregnancy my cat used to sleep on the bed curled up against my stomach. The first time I thought I felt the baby move, I then realised it was actually the cat nuzzling me :o

Starshapeddreams · 22/04/2021 20:41

My parents big dog definitely knows, he's much gentler around me now and likes to nudge my belly with his nose. He'd lie with his head on my belly if I'd let him and he's not usually like that with me at all.
My own dog - she has no idea, continues to be her usual crazy self!

Watto1 · 22/04/2021 20:43

My cat virtually ignored me before I got pregnant. Whilst I was pregnant, he barely left my side and was all over me. The moment dd was born, he ignored me again!

BigPyjamas · 22/04/2021 20:48

My cat became much more cuddly when I was pregnant, attached to my lap.

When I was in labour at home she behaved strangely, was uneasy and upset. And in the few days before I went into labour she was following me everywhere, even sleeping within line of sight.

I miss my cat

ForgedInFire · 22/04/2021 20:49

Yes my cat acted the same way when I was pregnant. And now I've had the baby he has gone back to mostly ignoring me

Dizzy1234 · 22/04/2021 20:52

Ooh yes, I agree, my friend had a really viscous cat, it used to terrorise the neighbourhood, it hissed and scratched if you tried to pet it and even my friend and her DC were scared of it.
When I was pregnant it used to get on my lap, back feet on my lap and it's front paws on top of my bump and blink it's eyes and purr at me, we actually filmed it as it was so out of character, when I gave birth it never came near me again.
Could you be expecting?

romdowa · 22/04/2021 20:53

Both my cats were indifferent to me before and are still indifferent to me despite being pregnant. The lads just dont care.

Cafeaulait27 · 22/04/2021 20:53

Yes apparently they can smell it and become protective.

My dog has been snuggling up and trying to sit on me from the start! He loves to be near my belly xx

Chelyanne · 22/04/2021 20:54

Hormonal changes alter the way you smell and animals notice this change.

Our dog rests her head on bump, she's not more clingy than normal though (she's generally needy lol).

vixey · 22/04/2021 20:55

my cat won't leave me alone. he's still not laid down on me yet, but wherever I am, there he is. he's always been completely aloof but now he follows me around, be he either watches my every move or follows me. when I was being sick the other day he sat next to me meowing. xxx

Graphista · 22/04/2021 20:56

Definitely. Your smell and body temp change with pregnancy and certain animals notice this. Cats and dogs being the most popular pets mean this reaction is well known from them, I have a friend who has ferrets and she noticed a change in behaviour in them with her pregnancies, they were much calmer around her.

Justcashnosweets · 22/04/2021 20:58

I knew I was pregnant when my old cat randomly sat on my lap, which he never did! Sure enough, got a positive result a few days later. 😊

Firkinhavinalaugh · 22/04/2021 21:02

Mine did.

He sat near me, then when dc was born he lay along side him.
11 years later, he has followed dc to bed and sits looking at him 🤪

Firkinhavinalaugh · 22/04/2021 21:03

I didn’t explain that well, but cat had always ignored me or hissed at me.

He’s becoming nicer and I wonder if it’s because I’m peri!

NightOwl19 · 22/04/2021 21:05

Two of my dogs deffinetly knew, they followed me everywhere, sat outside the bathroom door if I dared to close it to have a wee and both use to take any opportunity to get close to my belly as possible. One is an extremely hyperactive nutter and she was so much calmer around me

Original poster

Cherryblossom2021 · 22/04/2021 21:15

Hi Dizzy yes I’m only 3 weeks though so really early days , I’m glad everyone else has had pets like this she literally won’t leave me alone! Think the dogs happy he’s not being jumped on and attacked by her right now he’s getting some peace!

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ivfbeenbusy · 22/04/2021 21:15

Yes....one of my cats turned into sex pest when I got pregnant.

It got so bad and started almost overnight I took him to the vets to check his neutering hadn't reversed itself (I know I know I'm
An idiot!) - I didn't know I was pregnant at the time as I was actually due to start IVF that week. The vet thought it was hilarious and told me take a pregnancy test.....well the vet and the cat were right.....I was so embarrassed!

For 9 months I had to put up with the horny little bastard humping me the moment I sat down.
He'd do this awful cross whine if I said no. The odd time id let him get on with it I'd get a lick on the nose when he'd "finished" and he'd then fall asleep on me snoring 🤣

My next pregnancy was with twins so you can imagine how bad the horny little sod got 🤣
I have to give him credit though he has got some stamina! 🙄

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 22/04/2021 21:20

My dog became very naughty when I was pregnant with dd1. Disobedient, ignoring me, even growling when I had to tell him off. He was entire at the time. First thing my dog trainer said was that he was reacting to my being pregnant. Had him neutered after that. Thankfully he went back to being my lovely boy again. Was a very upsetting time, didn’t know what was going on or what we were going to do with him.

miliie55 · 22/04/2021 21:26

Some do and some don't I think.

I know my aunts dog wldnt leave me alone when I was pregnant was on my lap every time I went in. She's a timid little thing and wld usually be hiding under the sofa! My sisters dog though just acted the same as before 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster

Cherryblossom2021 · 22/04/2021 21:32

@ivfbeenbusy that’s brilliant!!! I now have visions of your cat kissing your nose once he’s done the deed .... then rolling over and snoring

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hewegoagain · 23/04/2021 13:51

Definitely. I had a threatened mc 9 years ago and was put on bed rest. Our dog at time would not leave my side, he wouldn't even go into the garden to the toilet until my husband got home from work. Then he would go out, eat and rush back to my side.

When we came home with DS, the dog would stand guard over the cot when visitors came and 'baby check' everyone on the way out to make sure noone tried to steal him

Unfortunately he died last November at 10 years old (a good age for a great dane), and all of us are still heartbroken about it.

Amrythings · 23/04/2021 13:58

When I was pregnant with DS my mum was doggy daycare for next door's big Labrador and he would come and sit beside me doing his Very Concerned face every time we visited her, while my sister's dog, who arrived after I was pregnant and to who I presumably smelled no different would carry on bouncing round me and get himself snarled at if he got too close.

This time I haven't seen the lab, what with lockdown, but sister's dog is being much better mannered around me than usual!

MummyLE · 23/04/2021 14:11

My MIL's dog definitely knows. He always wants to cuddle up to me and put his head against my belly.

My dog has no clue though. She's always used my belly as a spring board when she's excited and still does it at 34 weeks pregnant!

whymewhyme · 23/04/2021 14:19

My horse knew, he kept sniffing and nuzzling my tummy!

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