Why does my cat always follow me around?
There are several reasons why a cat might follow its owner around; the most frequent ones are outlined below.
To Demonstrate Love
The majority of people are well-versed in canine behavior and body language. We can quickly tell whether our dog is pleased to see us. Researchers have just recently begun to study the behavior and body language of cats.
Unlike dogs, cats don't always show their owners affection. This contributes to the widespread misperception that cats aren't particularly affectionate, along with a general lack of knowledge about cat behavior and body language. Even the least socialized feral cat, nevertheless, is still capable of subtly expressing affection for a carer.
Cats engage in a behavior known as bunting when they brush their faces and occasionally even their bodies against people and other items outside of their homes or territory. Cats frequently rush in between your legs and are constantly underfoot because of this.
Therefore, your cat is not attempting to trip you up on the steps. They're merely pleased to meet you! even if their attempts to demonstrate it are a little ill-advised.
As soon as two weeks old and up to seven and a half weeks old kittens who are handled by people have a tendency to be friendlier and more trusting of people in general1. In contrast, kittens aren't exposed to as much human contact when they're in this age range.
Even cats who have had less exposure to human contact can nonetheless be affectionate. Since they have limited interaction with humans, truly feral cats will avoid them.
A feral cat may, however, become accustomed to and at ease with individuals who regularly offer to feed and care for the colony of which it is a part. With each consecutive visit from that person, they might emerge from hiding more and more, allowing themselves to
To Attract Eyes
Dogs and cats both like to play. But cats frequently play differently from dogs. In contrast to dogs, who may be content to shred their favorite rope toy or chew on their favorite bone, cats enjoy both interactive and predatory play.
While some battery-operated toys make use of this predatory impulse, most interactive devices that encourage predatory play are more realistic. Most cats adore playing with wand/feather toys and laser pointers, two traditional interactive, predatory behavior toys, but they necessitate owner participation. It's possible that a cat would follow its owner around because it wants to play "Catch the Bird Feather" with them.
Although some toys that dangle from doorways and chirp when they are knocked can be fantastic for predatory play when used off-hand, it is still advised to only let your cat play with these items when an adult is around.
Those should be taken down or pulled up while you aren't around to observe your cat play to prevent your cat from unintentionally getting tangled in the string.
Encourage you to give them food
Cats are habit-forming animals. When it comes to things like breakfast and dinnertime, they follow a timetable. Cats might follow their owners around because of this, which may also explain why they won't let their owners sleep in on their days off.
Cats are also not stupid. Like any fundamental dog trainer, they use classical conditioning. Therefore, rewarding your cat with treats or more food when they meow or vocalize only serves to encourage their begging behavior.
For this and other reasons, feeding your cat at regular intervals is preferable to keeping food out for them to graze on throughout the day. Your cat will be less likely to beg for food all day if they only expect food at specific times of the day.
Because your cat may not even associate you with meals, automatic feeders can also stop begging behavior. Of course, the drawback of this is that you may develop a weaker attachment with your cat because they may stop looking to you for food.
only to be close to you
In contrast to dogs, cats are sometimes marketed as being solitary, yet this can be deceiving. Cats don't live in the wild as solitary recluses who don't require human contact.
They most certainly do! Cats can form bonds with both their owners and other cats in the house. Even feral cat colonies are referred to as colonies since numerous cats coexist there. Your cat may simply be following you around because they enjoy your company and being close to you.
Final Reflections
There are many reasons why cats stick close to their owners. The majority of them are a result of the attachment a cat feels to its owner. So if your cat enjoys acting as your own shadow, know that they are bonded to you.
