Cat Chat Feline Forum

So my cat, Gizmo, follows me everywhere I go in the house, she has to be with me as much as she can. If doors are closed she scratches and meows until she opens it or it gets opened. She can't find me she meows until I respond and comes to find me. If I'm away for the night she goes mad and meows until I'm home, and when I'm away at uni or work she stays in my/her bedroom.
She's even brought mouthfuls of food to eat it in the same room as me.

I'm not complaining, I love her even if she's super clingy.
I just don't understand why she has this need and want to be around me 24/7.
Does anyone's cat do this? Or does anyone have any possible reasons?

How old is she, and how old was she when you got her? I can't explain her behaviour, but it might help to know if she came to you as a newly-weaned kitten or as an adult who had lived in a different home.

She's just a few months older than one now and was 7 or 8 weeks when we got her, and I stayed with her for the first few weeks downstairs in the room we gave to her while she settled in

7 or 8 weeks is very young, ideal age for a kitten to go to a new home is 12 weeks. That may explain her clingyness. Also at just over 1 she's very young and has lots of energy. Does she have access to outside, other people when you're at work / uni? Or is she on her own quite a bit? Would another feline friend be an option?

meriad wrote:7 or 8 weeks is very young, ideal age for a kitten to go to a new home is 12 weeks. That may explain her clingyness. Also at just over 1 she's very young and has lots of energy. Does she have access to outside, other people when you're at work / uni? Or is she on her own quite a bit? Would another feline friend be an option?

Is it really that young? We've only rescued before, she dowsny go outside unless I'm there and when I'm away she has people until 12 then no one until I get home. We do have two other cats so whilst I'd love to get her a younger friend we can't due to them

gizzy wrote:

meriad wrote:7 or 8 weeks is very young, ideal age for a kitten to go to a new home is 12 weeks.

Is it really that young? We've only rescued before, she doesn't go outside unless I'm there and when I'm away she has people until 12 then no one until I get home. We do have two other cats so whilst I'd love to get her a younger friend we can't due to them

Years ago kittens (and puppies) were often taken from their mothers as young as 6 weeks. Modern thinking is that it's better for their socialisation to stay with their mother and litter-mates until nearer 3 months. There's also the practical aspect that by 12-13 weeks, they can have both of their initial vaccinations before moving to a new environment.

Gizmo has clearly bonded with you as a substitute for her original cat family, and you reinforced this by spending a lot of time with her when she first came. Had you hardened your heart and shut her in a room alone for more of the time, she might be more independent now, but of course she would have been miserable at the time, so I'm not criticising what you did; you cushioned the shock of the new home for her.

It's good that she has other humans and cats for company, even if she prefers you. She is more clingy than most cats of her age, but I expect she will eventually accept the fact that you can't be with her every minute of the day. It sounds like she has a very good home with you.

Mary