Anyone else have to avoid eye contact with their cat?

[BerylStreep]

I have 2 Burmese. A mummy (sensible) and her grown up kitten (nuts).

Kitten has always been a bit needy, but we love her. She's a yowler too. But it is getting out of hand. She has become completely fixated with me. Not any other member of the family, just me. If I walk into a room that she's in, on the off-chance that she hasn't already been following me round the house, the yowling starts.

Honestly, sometimes it is so relentless, it is like having a newborn baby. It has got to the stage that I can no longer make eye contact with her, as it will set her off. I feel mean even posting this, as she obviously just needs a high level of attention (not that we don't play and cuddle, just not 24 hours a day). She's currently sitting between the keyboard and the mouse, intermittently head butting my hand, giving off grumble noises and trying to make eye contact.

Anyone else have this? Is it just Burmese? The mummy treats us with normal cat levels of disdain mixed with a bit of affection.

It's an oriental thing...my Siamese likes to be touching me at all times if possible. She's currently sleeping pressed against my leg beside me on the couch, if I move I'll be told off and followed from room to room until I sit down again and she can sit on or beside me.

They are very needy and they do tend to pick one person to be their person.

Does she sleep with you?

Cozie sometimes, if DH is away, they will both sleep with me, burrowed down underneath the duvet, sometimes one on either side of me so I can't move. When DH is here they have to sleep downstairs in the kitchen.

The kitten is 3 1/2, so not really a kitten anymore. Her idea of heaven would be being carried around on my left shoulder, like a baby, all day long.

I forgot to mention, she doesn't register being fed by anyone else. Cue relentless crying until I go over and point to the food in the bowl. Only then will she eat it.

Honestly, to think we had the pick of the litter, and we chose this one.

Awww, it sounds so cute but I can imagine it's extremely annoying.

I did have a Burmese for a short time but I stupidly let him out and one day he just didn't come home. I tried all sorts of things from leafleting to the internet to visiting everyone's houses locally (we lived rurally at the time), sadly I can only assume he died. In the short time I had him I remember him being amazingly athletic and knocking everything off the mantle every night. He wasn't that needy but he did mew lots.

We have a Maine Coon cross now (rescue cat) and she cries all the time and thinks she is human. I've never known such a sweet natured, passive cat. She won't roam from the garden and if you pick a blanket up to put on your knees it's as though it sets off a silent alarm and she appears immediately and gets on your lap.

I know well what it's like - had that sort of cat from a kid. The only thing I can think of is to actually let her sleep with you all the time. (Don't worry - they're pretty discreet about human 'personal time' and just seem to take themselves off to the bottom of the bed.) That way you stand a chance of sort of 'filling them up with love' and also - hopefully - she'll come to think of your bed as the safe/love place to go to if you're not immediately available.)

It shouldn't increase her dependence on you (I'm not sure that that's possible with that sort of oriental) so might be worth a try.

Have you tried a Sling?.

Are the two cats close to each other? I have 2 burmese brothers and I recognise this behaviour 100%. Luckily they are close and get comfort from each other too. But they follow me everywhere and 'chat' to me all day. They always have to be on you (preferable) or right up next to you. When we go out they stay in the window until we get back and seem to sense us coming. One is totally in love with DD and purrs like a train when he hears her voice. They roll on their back for tummy rubs and like to head butt, rub our hands and faces and wash us. They are very much like little dogs which is why they appealed to me (dog lover). I don't have any advice though...

code funny that you mention it, they used to be very close, then there was a bit of a falling out about 6 months ago. Things have improved, but they are not as close as they used to be. I wonder if that is connected?