Why has my cat got so needy?

[Floopani]

I have an 11 year old rescue boy, been with us for four years now. We just moved house a month ago and he has suddenly become a needy grumpy old man.

This is the second house move we have had with him and he seems to have settled in well, going out and about, using the litter tray, flopping on the floor like the king of the castle and exploring all the new places in the house.

But he will not leave me alone and this is new. He was a stray before we got him and has always been friendly but independent and quiet. He always slept on the bed with me, but now he is sleeping on me which is very uncomfy when I wake up realising I am being squished. I work at home and he is sitting on the keyboard and pawing at me whilst I'm trying to work. If I sit on the sofa, he is there on my lap. He is suddenly miaowing and grumbling at me for food, even though we did have a very good food routine and he is waking me up in the early hours. He is regularly wormed and last had a clear health check in Nov.

Could the house move have unsettled him this much? He seems happy enough as long as he is eating or attached to me or settled to sleep on a blanket very near me, so I don't think it's pain or anything. Will it wear off again? I feel like I have a demanding toddler!

Generally the older they get, the more stressful and confusing they find big life changes. 11 of course isn't elderly but it's definitely senior and it may just be he's needing a bit more reassurance ☺️

Has he lost weight? Could be a thyroid thing.

I don't think he has lost weight, but I'll try to get him on the scales to check and look up thyroid issues.

I'll keep an eye on him, which should be easy now he is my shadow 😂 luckily no more house moves are planned for many many years.

I think it could be the move, especially if he's not sure about his territory, or other cats are scaring him a bit. Also, he's ageing so less able to go out and establish his territory.

Maybe reassess in a month or so, (and book vet if you're still concerned) and get him some feliway if he's being too annoying now!

If it coincided exactly with the move it's very unlikely to be medical, especially if he had a clean bill of health in November.

I'm sure he'll be back to normal once the weather improves a bit!

Thank you, he has always been very territorial and has the battle scars to show it, but I have noticed he isn't as interested in going out as he was. Maybe you are right and the move along with him feeling a bit less up for a fight have made him unsure and clingy.

I do have some feliway, so I'll try that too.

Any chance you are pregnant? Cats can get weird when their person is pregnant.

I hope not, that would be a shock to the system at the age of 43 and just seeing the teenagers off to uni!

Yes, maybe a bit of sun will entice him out and once I'm spending more time in the garden too it might increase his confidence.

I'd get his thyroid checked, my lovely girly's first sign of hyperthyroidism was been extra needy. She's now controlled with medication but i know she needs her levels checked when won't leave me alone.