Does anyone else have a velcro cat?

[NewCatAnxiety]

And if you do, do you have any tips to deal with the clinginess?

I've posted before about my vocal, food-obsessed rescue, but she also appears to be a total velcro cat. Between the yelling for food any time I set foot in the kitchen and the following me everywhere I go, I'm finding it quite draining.

I'm also concerned that this means she is miserable when I leave her home alone, especially the 3 days per week when I'm in the office. I've tried with as much enrichment as I can (cat tree, toys etc), but all she wants is my attention.

Can anyone help reassure me that this will get better?

Do you let her out? Do you have other cats? It sounds like you’re her only form of mental stimulation

How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Does she go outside?

I had one. She was a fabulous cat. Drive me mad waking me for cuddles. But I miss it now she’s gone.

My cat was and I loved it. She was a feral street cat who I couldn't approach and within a year, she was a total lap cat. She slept whilst I was at work. She died last year and I miss her every day.

She's an indoor cat, never been outside. I could potentially get a catio, but I'd be nervous about giving her full outdoor access.

Definitely get her a catio. And she is probably asleep while you're out, saving all her energy to pester you when you get in!

She needs company. How old is she now? Another cat or a young dog?

I’ve got a Velcro cat who is currently snoozing next to me (with all four paws planted on my thigh in case I have the temerity to go anywhere) — despite having already spent all night sleeping next to me and most of the day on my lap…

If she could sleep on me all night then again all day and then sit on me for any of the remaining time she’s not eating, she absolutely would!

I think the word I was struggling with there was puppy … 😁

I'm struggling enough coping with the adjustment to having one cat, there is no way I can add another pet to the mix.

I possess a velcro cat! His name is Ian and he wakes us at 3am simply because he needs a cuddle. Then again before breakfast and again before we leave for work…

He squeaks wildly on the bed whilst waiting for me to change after work so I can pick him up and generally one of us holds him whilst the other cooks dinner 🙈

He does have an adopted brother and they play together but not cuddle! Every time we get home though, they are asleep, usually in different spots in the same room, so I’m fairly sure they’re unbothered whilst we’re out!

He’s just this second jumped on my lap as I write this!

Mt DBro cat was a proper VelcroCat , she went out and about too ,she was an adult (Rescue) it was quite sweet I thought .

My cats are TeflonCats they might walk over us at night but they;d rather eat their own spleens than cuddle up ,

You’re right to not get another cat. A rescue cat who’s been the sole cat in the house for a while doesn’t need the stress of another cat invading its territory. I’m wondering why you don’t let your cat outside. Do you live in a particularly hazardous area for cats, eg on a very busy road? Because a cat that can follow its instinct to explore will be less bored and probably less totally demanding of attention.

She was never outside in her previous home, and while I do think she might benefit from outdoor access, there are already quite a few cats in the area and I worry that she will struggle to establish territory. She's also a very sociable little ragdoll (and not the brightest) so I'd worry that someone might take her (probably irrational lol).

I should also add I've only had her for a few weeks and was advised to keep her inside for at least a couple of months, if I did want to give her outdoor access.

One of mine was like that and has got much better. He's still never far from me and I need to spend time with him when I get home after being out, but he doesn't get anxious when I'm not there. But he has outdoor access and other cats, not that he's interested in them. A catio would probably do your girl the world of good.

You can also try rotating toys and cat trees so she always has something new to play with or a new view out of the window.

In which case, a catio will help keep her stimulated, she can watch the world go by safely.

Was she an indoor cat? How was she if you had to leave her home alone?

I don't, but DH does. She stalks him round the house and tries to get into the car with him. She sulks when he's away, I'm not a suitable replacement. But she's fine all day without him really.

Oh, you can also try training her to walk on a lead. I say TRY because we know what it's like trying to get a cat to do anything, but some people succeed.

@NewCatAnxietyyes she was. I work 12 hour shifts and she just slept all day. I worried about how they were when I was at work. But during covid, when I was at home more. I realised that she still just slept! My presence was not required 🤣

That's reassuring. I'm in the office 3 days per week and out for 10 or so hours. But I've also noticed that when I WFH, she sleeps a lot of the time - although she does tend to go a bit nuts late afternoon.