New cat so demanding!

[Verbena91]

we recently got a new cat, adopted ftom
local centre. I’ve had rescue cats before and they always took time to settle in, hid under everything, tried to escape and didn’t want cuddles for months. Once settled they were more affectionate but very independent.

The new cat is like nothing I’ve experienced. Bless her she’s so sweet but she is so full on! The moment I open my bedroom door in the morning she’s there mewing. She follows me into the bathroom and literally everywhere. I wfh and have set aside chunks of time in my day to play with her, and have also moved my laptop to the sofa so she can sit next to me when I’m on there. Obviously we are feeding her regularly making sure her bowl has dry there in between her wet food, and she also plays with my DC before and after school.

Even so it’s not enough attention for her and she never goes off and has a nap by herself. She’s like my shadow, and if I so much as move she looks up, follows me close by my feet and is always sitting 2 ft away watching me! Bless her I know up to now she’s had a horrible experience in the cat shelter, but I wasn’t expecting this level of constant neediness and demands unless I’m in bed! I know it sounds silly but I’m actually feeling a bit claustrophobic and like I want to go and work in a cafe because I never get a moment to think without her looking at me, miaowing or jumping on me!

She’s so sweet but it’s a lot! I always felt cats were more independent than dogs but this one is giving puppy vibes! How can I help her to settle in other than what we’ve already been doing?

Awwww she sounds like a sweetheart. She may just always be like this! I have a 16 year old rescue cat (been with me for 14 years) and she’s just the same - stuck to me like Velcro most of the time. If I go out and leave her for a couple of hours she’ll be waiting by door for me when I get home, acting like she’s had no attention for MONTHS! She also sleeps with me every night, in my bed, under the duvet next to me. I’m clearly just her special human, and I’m her whole world. Makes me tear up thinking about it! 😢 I don’t know what I’ll do without her when she’s no longer with me 😢

How long have you had her? Its all new for her, as she settles she should hopefully become more independent. Do you live alone? I'm just wondering if someone else could entertain her at times? Or get another cat for company for her?

Oh, she sounds adorable. Has she any Oriental heritage? Oriental cats are known to be quite vocal and dog like - and highly intelligent. She might enjoy a puzzle feeder and respond well to training to keep her stimulated; an intelligent cat can be reward-trained to do all sorts of things.

I had two cats, Cornish Rees, and they were all over us all the time. It was amazing. The idea of cats being independent and aloof is just so wrong. It is very breed and individual cat dependent. This will not change. You don’t sound like the right owner for her if you’re already irritated by it.

Sounds like the perfect cat, tbh. I'll have her if you don't want her.

Having had cats as pets nearly all my life, my guess is that she will settle down eventually. She's likely scared that she's going to lose you. How old is she?
Does she go outside yet?

She needs another cat same breed

Cat tax please 😊

What do you mean she’s OUTSIDE your bedroom door when you get up?

🙀

Our cat was similar when we first adopted him. It was a big change from our previous grumpy old cat who avoided us whenever possible.

He's still very affectionate but also loves the outdoors and spends a lot of time out exploring, then sleeps a lot at home, cuddled up on the sofa. I guess you haven't let yours out yet if she's newly rescued, so you might find that she becomes a bit more independent when you do.

I had one like that. Absolutely no concept of personal space. She was an absolute sweetheart. I miss having to give her cuddles when I was on the toilet!

Yes she follows me to the toilet as well!
she is 2/3 they think. She’s only been with us a week or so, so still indoors. Will be letting her out in 6 weeks or so all bring well.

We have DC and my husband. She’s affectionate to all of us but it’s me she is stuck on!

no I’m afraid I draw the line at allowing her into my room at night. I just know she’d keep me awake and I value my sleep too much - sorry if it sounds cruel. My previous cat used to love sleeping in her bed (box) at night but this one doesn’t seem to know.what to do with herself, bless her.

they reckon she had been taken care of previously and was only stray for a few weeks. I don’t know if this is as a result of that or if it’s what she’s always been like!

Where is she sleeping on her own? She won’t understand why she’s locked out and scared

agree you should speak to shelter and see if a second cat can help her stop being scared

make sure she has recall reflex for dreamies or similar before you let her out

My cat's like this. He's 13, follows me around, even into the bathroom, or down to the bottom of my 70ft garden. I don't let him upstairs or in my bedroom because he walks around on the bed and keeps me awake.

She’s staying close to her new mummy
She’ll get past it
Love to see a pic

One of mine often follows me into the toilet and stands guard while I'm using it. I've explained to him that 'mummy's using the litter tray' 😆

She’s not “locked out” of anywhere. She has full roam of the whole house as it’s all open plan. Various cat beds, sofas, cuddly blankets, armchairs and places to bed down. I just prefer to shut my bedroom door so I can get some sleep!

Have you got some old jumpers or slippers to put for her to sleep on? Get some and wear them for a few hours, sweating if you can and put them next to you and keep putting her on them. She is just still getting settled bless her.

It might be she’s used to sleeping in a bed or bedroom

i adopted my boy and the first night he kept patting my arm. Eventually I realised he wanted me to lift the covers and he must have been used to sleeping IN the bed as he scooted up to me in little spoon happily
he wouldn’t settle otherwise

She'll settle down soon. She's just a wee cat in a big new space. Make sure she's got a snack (hunger is what motivates and moves mine) water, a litter tray, somewhere comfy of her own to sleep. And maybe a toy so she can entertain herself.

Mine is like this, I got her as a 4 year old, she is now 9. She does sleep by herself upstairs during the daytime now, though likes to regularly call downstairs to me in the hope I’ll go up and give her a cuddle. She is very clingy and nervous, I was pretty unprepared for it when I got her and found it all very intense. She did settle down and be less clingy but doesn’t go further than the garden, and prefers if I accompany her out there. I’m the only person in the house so all the attention giving is on me. She hides from strangers.

I would absolutely love this.

I hope you are going to keep her and not let her down.

Can we have a photo please

Of course I wouldn’t let her down! I love cats. I am just finding it different what all my past experiences as a cat owner and asking if others have experienced.