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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

does your cat follow you?

28 replies

paneer · 20/01/2014 12:24

CheeseyCat was in the front garden this morning when I left to walk dd to school.

She followed us halfway I told her off and said to stop following us but she still did.

DD and I found our moment and ran down an alley to shake her off our tail.

Dropped Dd (who was a little worried that cheesey would be lost). walked home the same way and there was the cat, pretty much where we managed to shake her off, waiting to see if I would come back. she then followed me home.

this isn't the first time something similar has happened with her following and then waiting for you.

isn't this dog like behaviour? Hmm

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 20/01/2014 12:53

The Lodger used to follow us to the shops if he got the chance. We had to sneak out of the house and if he was outside, it didn't work - even if we used the front door. Many's the time I've left a shop to find him waiting outside; and the butcher's shop was most embarrassing because they kept their door open so he could stroll in.

17leftfeet · 20/01/2014 12:55

One of mine loves his daily stroll to the shop with me

Won't come to school though

RiverRocks · 20/01/2014 13:28

Mine loves to follow me when I walk to the shops. Thankfully, he'll only go so far and stops before we get to the big road.

He sits there meowing pitifully for me to go back though, so I feel like a meanie Smile

TheSparklyPussycat · 20/01/2014 15:55

My DM's second cat loved to go for a walk round the block with me. I would walk round the corner, wait, and then she'd come bombing round the corner after me.

If DM had to go out, she would put her DCat out the back, and leave via the front as quickly as possible to avoid DCat following.

Another local cat, who sometimes visited, was attuned to the sound of DM's bubble-car. As we would drive up, he would appear like a rocket, dashing up the street to our house. (though I realise this last example is somewhat the other way round!)

Clobbered · 20/01/2014 15:57

Sounds like normal cat behaviour to me. They tend to have a limit to their territory that they will not go beyond and will wait there for you to return. For some cats that is a few houses away, for some it may be the end of the street, but it's usually not very far from home.

Mildpanic · 20/01/2014 16:11

One of our cats does the school run most days and waits in the hedge at the side of school rather than come into the playground. She also goes with the dog for a walk with DH twice a day. It really is a funny sight but people are used to seeing her.

Terrortree · 20/01/2014 16:57

Yes but she wails the entire journey there and back. It is very embarrassing.

Poledra · 20/01/2014 17:02

Only to the utility room, as that's where they get fed. Ruled by their bellies, my two Grin

Original poster
paneer · 20/01/2014 20:42

glad it is not just mine then!

although dd would totally love it if we got her a collar so she could do the school run Confused

OP posts:
catameringue · 20/01/2014 22:10

I have indoor cats, but they follow me everywhere in the house. I last went to the loo unescorted four years ago.

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 20/01/2014 22:13

ours follows us and it scares me so much we have to cross a busy road and they still follow..

we are their family unit so why wouldn't they come with us?

Sparklingbrook · 20/01/2014 22:14

When I go over to my neighbours to drink tea and gossip have a chat Sparkling Cat sits outside her front door crying loudly. Blush

monopoly123 · 20/01/2014 22:14

Yes, I thought it was because we had a dog as well and he is confused. But he won't go past number 3, he waits there for us to return & starts meowing. He's stopped jumping in the car now, which was a pain. If we go to our neighbours for a visit the cat will come too for a look around.

nelliesmum · 20/01/2014 22:16

We live in the grounds of a stately home so there is no traffic, both our cats will follow us all the way around a mile and a half walk. They get quite stressed when we go outside what they see as "their territory" but seem to feel they need to come along to protect us. In the Christmas holidays we walked with 5 adults, 4 children a dog and 2 cats; great fun but I wouldn't recommend it if there is traffic...we had a cat run over following my sister and I to Brownies when I was a child, it was very traumatic.

TheDoctorsNewKidneys · 21/01/2014 10:19

I have housecats but boycat follows me everywhere. If I close the bedroom door to vacuum or do some cleaning/laundry and open it again, he's sat with his nose pressed against it. If I go to the toilet, he sits on my lap, waits by the sink while I brush my teeth or wash my hands, and sits the right distance away from the door waiting for me to unlock it as I dry my hands!

kelper · 21/01/2014 10:22

Mine tries to follow us to school sometimes, ds gets ever so worried, so usually we have to take her back to the house and lock the cat flap so she has to stay inside!
She follows me all over the house though, what with her and ds trailing me I'm amazed I haven't fallen over and broken something!

Original poster
paneer · 21/01/2014 11:43

I realised last night that yelling "go home and stop following us. the road is busy and dangerous" made me look like a butter and would be pointless as cheesey only speaks cat.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 21/01/2014 11:47

When I was a child living in the countryside our boy cat used to come with us on walks. It was like having a dog.

Our older cat will sometimes follow us, but not very far. Giddy ginger ninja won't though. He's more interested in hunting.

Tabby1963 · 21/01/2014 17:56

All that cats I've ever been owned by have followed me, I love having their company but have to distract them and run away if I am going to be approaching main roads.

gobbin · 21/01/2014 18:18

Yes, up the road. One also follows me round the house like a toddler - I can't even have a wee in peace ha!

AnitaManeater · 21/01/2014 18:23

My ginger tom followed me all the way to work one day. I was just about to open the staff door and there he was. I live about 3/4 a mile from work. Very embarrassing but luckily employer found it funny and allowed me the time off to carry the cat back home.

Queenofknickers · 21/01/2014 23:58

My old darling boy once followed me and the double buggy about 1 mile to nursery! After dropping off the toddler I had to then balance the cat on the buggy roof above the baby for fear he wouldn't follow us home! He was such a sweetie. Picked up his ashes this week Sad

Rosencrantz · 22/01/2014 00:06

Doesn't follow me. She does, however, get in my handbag. I pick it up, go 'oh this this a bit heavy, probably need a clear out soon', then get half way to where I'm going before I hear the purring.

Wolfiefan · 22/01/2014 00:07

We used to have a Burmese that did this. "One needs to ensure one knows the whereabouts of one's minions at all times".
Now we have moggies and they can't be arsed!

CrazyHmissesHerbie · 22/01/2014 00:22

My Dms cat follows any family member everywhere, he often comes to the bus stop with me or to the local shop with who ever goes.

My 3 big cats always go to the shop with my Dp and sit waiting outside for him and then walk back home with him , I think its hilarious as he must get some odd looks