Advice on clingy, needy cat?

gemma573

Hi all, any advice on dealing with a clingy, needy cat? He’s a neutered male, we have had him and his sister for about two and a half years from kittens. He’s perhaps a little unsettled at the moment because my partner is working abroad for a few months, but he’s never shown much interest in my partner anyway – always been a bit of a mummy’s boy.

I recently went abroad for a visit and left them with the cat sitters for 10 days – We regularly use them and they come in twice a day to feed the cats and give cuddles if they’re wanted. They said everyone was eating fine and no problems, although the boy cat wasn’t particularly interested in being sociable.

On my return a week ago I had such a welcome from him, he meowed himself hoarse and hasn’t left me alone since. He’s always been cuddly but since I’ve been back he constantly follows me around demanding to be picked up and cuddled and talked to, even sitting by the bath if I’m in it, which is all very sweet but it’s affecting my sleep! If I let him in the bedroom he wants to sleep squashed up to me on the pillow and meows and bats my face every half an hour if I don’t pay him attention, but if I shut him out he just sits by the door and howls, which makes me feel terrible and obviously keeps me awake as well! His sister is fine, no changes there.

I was just wondering if anyone has any words of advice on steps I should be taking to gently try and get him to be a little less needy and clingy – I don’t want to upset him but neither can I provide attention for 24 hours a day to him as seems to be expected currently!

rising_from_the_ashes

Awwwww Gemma you could be talking about my boy!

I was recently admitted to hospital on an emergency basis (ie no plans in place for the pets and it was a nightmare) and ended up being in for 10 days:eek:

The dog turned out to be the easy one as she's gone to stay with my mum until I'm back on my feet .... but the cats :eek:

Ended up leaving them at home as neither would do well in a cattery situation and my wonderful neighbours have popped in every day to feed / check on them etc.

However .... when I came back - OMG boy cat had got himself in such a state - he's lost weight he can't afford to and, contrary to me thinking he'd want to be out all the time after being confined to the house for 10 days (he's out all day most days) he's hardly been outside at all ..... 1/2 an hour most days.

He is getting better and has started to eat again / put some weight back on and has started to disappear back upstairs rather than sitting gazing / yeowling at me constantly ... but it's taking time and he is still really clingy at night.

Girl cat is a lot more independent but even she's been quite clingy and has been spending hours lying on my knee when I'm on the sofa but no-where near as bad as he's been.

Fingers crossed your boy settles down soon too xxx for him

themull1

You can get a plug in to calm cats down, but i don't know anything about it, you will be able to look it up on line.

Fire_Fox

Some cats really don't like change and some just love us! Maybe try a Feliway plug in plus Zylkene capsules, you might also check whether you have access to a behaviourist on your pet insurance. It's also wise to get a vet check up, occasionally anxiety issues have a physical cause.

kitkatzzz

Hi,

Boy cats are definitely not happy about change, when I leave my two cats (brother and sister) at our wonderful local cat hotel the Feliway spray always goes with them and it works... I even spray it in the house for a couple of days after they return which settles them down nicely. If you try it out with him by spraying his own bedding and giving him lots of cuddles I'm sure it will help.
You can also get catnip in a spray as a distraction!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Maybe they're just worried about YOU, Rising?

If you've been in hospital, you've obviously not been well, and perhaps they are concerned for your welfare and want to see you're OK?


Right up until a recent near miss, I'd grumbled that everytime I was alone, I was being shadowed by three cats and harassed to the point of murder - then I ended up in A&E, on a million different medications and they really aren't anywhere near as bothered by my existence. And the Idiot boy is back to murdering my feet for entertainment value.

I think they knew how ill I was, even though I hadn't realised.


Perhaps yours are the same?