My Cat Wont Leave Me Alone : Here Are The Reasons

The behavior of a cat can vary significantly from one cat to another. We all have seen some cats who couldn’t care less about the people around them.

We have also seen some cats who like to accompany you everywhere. Some cats even belong to the middle of those two categories.

So, you cannot tell which cat will show a certain kind of behavior. When they show a sudden behavior change, you have to suspect that something is wrong with your cat.

If your cat has suddenly shown over-attached behavior, you might be wondering why your cat wouldn’t leave you alone.

The answer lies in their mental state. Some changes to their surroundings, health, or security are bugging your little furball.

This article will explore such sudden behavioral changes and suggest how you can deal with sudden clinginess from your cat. Let us start by looking at the behavior more profoundly.

Reasons Why Your Cat Won’t Leave You Alone:

Several reasons can be possible for your cat not to leave you alone.

Although the reasons somehow relate to the cat’s mental state, there could be multiple plausible factors that can contribute to the situation. In this section, we will explain the possible reasons why your cat wouldn’t leave you alone.

Anxiety:

Anxiety is one of the most common distress that your cat can face. There can be several reasons why your cat can go through such distress.

Generally, shelter cats suffer from this issue because of preemptive separation from their mothers. If they do not get sufficient time with their mother, cats cannot adapt to different environments.

As a result, they become resistant to changes and often show clinginess. You have to be careful when you are petting as these cats are often timid of humans.

Changes:

Cats are creatures of routine. Cats prefer to stay on a specific schedule, and they do not like changes in general.

If you are finding your cat to be clingy suddenly, look for some significant changes in their lives. The changes can be anything from a new baby in the house to an entirely new environment.

If you are going forward with a sudden change, make sure that the cat gradually feels the effect. For example, if you are changing your house, only introduce a particular room to the cat first.

As the cat becomes adjusted to the room, gradually introduce it to the entire house. Keeping an eye on the cat is your best choice in this scenario.


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Ailments:

Cats do not show their weaknesses easily, and it becomes complicated to understand when they are suffering from a particular illness.

Generally, ailments are associated with specific behavioral changes as well. Becoming clingy is one of such changes that you can observe in your cat.

You can slowly touch the cat all over the body to look for any unnatural reaction from the cat.

Going to a veterinarian would be the best choice for you, as they will pinpoint the problem with the help of a few tests.

Early discovery can be highly fruitful for your cat. It is sad to realize that clingy nature can also be an outcry due to some illness.

Past Trauma:

Your cat may show clinginess from the start, and dealing with those cats might be more complicated than you can imagine.

These cats require love and attention at all times. Cats can suffer from abuse or early separation at previous homes.

When they go through so much, cats can suffer from extreme clinginess. You have to be patient with the cat for as long as it needs. You can also take the cat to a behavioral guide to recover from this type of anxiety.

Demands:

Cats can be extremely vocal about their demands. If they need food, water, attention, or care, they will let you know in the most obvious way possible.

If you have recently started spending most of your time away from home, they will feel the need to ask for extra care.

Following you all over the house and meowing at every opportunity are the most common ways of grabbing your attention.

They can also show this kind of behavior if they need food. You should not give them food as soon as they demand it as it will act as positive reinforcement to this type of behavior. Instead of that, always follow the schedule of their food.


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What Does It Mean When A Cat Doesn’t Leave You Alone?

There can be several meanings to the situation when your cat is not leaving you alone. It can be due to some form of anxiety, a new atmosphere, some past trauma, or simply asking for attention.

If you are observant enough, it will be easy for you to understand what is going on with your cat. However, there can be times when you can make heads and tails of the situation.

If you are concerned about the cat’s health, going to a veterinarian would be the best course of action.

Most of the time, you can be a little careful and attentive to get rid of this situation. It only means that either it wants your attention, it loves you, it wants your security, or your help.

How Do You Get A Cat Leave You Alone?

 

Going to the root cause of the clinginess and solving that would remedy this problem. However, you need to pay attention to deal with the situation effectively.

If you observe that you keep up with all the requirements of the cat and the cat is healthy, you can take the following actions to make sure that they leave you alone:

Strict Routine:

Cats often find themselves in distress when they have to adapt to something new.

If your cat suddenly went through a significant change in its surroundings or routine, it is time to make the cat follow a strict routine.

Following the schedule daily will again make the cat comfortable, and they will leave the clingy nature.

Stop Overfeeding:

It is one of the most common scenarios that we see in cat households. You have to stop giving food to the cat whenever it wants.

By doing so, you are involuntarily teaching the cat to ask for food all the time. Whenever you are giving food to the cat when it wants, you are reinforcing this behavior.

So, when the cat is hungry, it will come to you and demand food from you. You have to get rid of this behavior and stick to a strict schedule to feed the cat.

Silent Treatment:

You don’t need to respond to their clinginess at all times. The primary reason why you should control yourself is that responding exacerbates the situation.

If you are sure that the cat is healthy and is not suffering from mental trauma, you have to restrict yourself.

It does not mean that you stop giving attention completely. You have to continue with the routine diligently no matter what. The routine must contain some amount of playtime and bonding time with the cat.

Another Cat or Dog:

If you observe the clingy behavior just after you started spending long hours away from your cat, it will probably cause separation anxiety.

Cats tend to suffer from this scenario when they spend long periods on their own. Bringing another cat or dog to the house may improve the situation drastically for some cats.

However, this is also not a foolproof solution. Your cat can also have problems with having a new pet in the house.

This solution is more effective when both pets are young. Having another pet in the house will keep the cat busy throughout the day. But you still have to spend a sufficient amount of time with the cat when you get time.

A Visit To Veterinarian:

As this kind of behavior can also be associated with specific health issues, taking the cat to a veterinarian would be wise. Cats are extremely good at hiding their ailments.

As a result, you cannot simply understand whether a disease or injury is hurting your cat. Clingy behavior is their outcry for you to see the situation.

Inspecting their body for any cuts or lumps will give you enough information about the situation. However, if you are unsure, take the cat to a vet.


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Frequently Asked Questions:

Why Isn’t My Cat Leaving Me Alone All Of A Sudden?

Sudden change in behavior of a cat is almost always a reason of concern. Generally, cats do not show such behavior on a whim.

There can be several reasons behind this kind of clingy behavior. For once, the cat can go through an anxiety-related problem.

It is also possible that the surroundings of the cat went through a significant change. A change in their daily routine can also cause such behavioral change.

They can also suffer from separation anxiety. An underlying ailment or injury can also make them show such behavior. A close look at the cat will give you enough to decipher what is wrong with your cat.

Why Doesn’t My Cat Leave Me Alone At Night?

Cats prefer a safe and comfortable spot when they are sleeping. They are most vulnerable to attacks during their sleep.

Although house cats do not have such problems in normal circumstances, old habits die hard.

So, the cat may be choosing your side because you provide the safest alternative. As your body radiates heat, cats also find warmth in your presence.

Why Doesn’t My Cat Leave Me Alone In the Bathroom?

Some cats show extreme levels of clinginess towards their owners. Cats like Maine Coon or Siamese naturally show this kind of behavior.

If you have these cats, you should expect them to follow you around the house; even in the bathroom. However, some cats can show clinginess because of their anxiety, illness, or attention-seeking behavior.

Conclusion:

Clingy behavior is not uncommon for cats. Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Siamese cats show this behavior because of their nature.

But, if you have observed a sudden change in their behavior and become highly clingy, it might be a reason for concern.

Anxiety, separation, trauma, newness, or attention can be a contributing factor to this behavior. You can also get rid of this behavior if you are attentive to the demands and follow the tips that we have provided.

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