Do Cats Get Clingy When You’re Pregnant?

Pregnancy is such an exciting time for expectant moms, dads, and even cat siblings. But, do cats get clingy when you’re pregnant? In this article, we’ll aim at looking at this fundamental question and get the right answers to it.

During pregnancy, it also seems like the whole world changes around you. Smells are stronger, food tastes better, and your skin is absolutely glowing.

Among the hubbub of getting a house ready for a little one, you may notice some abnormal behavior from a certain furry family member. Your cat.

Maybe your kitty is weaving between your legs whenever you get up, or maybe every time you sit down there is a cat on your lap, so you may be wondering, do cats get clingy when you’re pregnant?

Let’s jump right to it.

Do Cats Get Clingy When You’re Pregnant

Cats can definitely get clingy when you’re pregnant. There are a number of different reasons your cat might want more of your attention when you’re pregnant, but it is nothing to be concerned about. They could be concerned about changes in their favorite person from all the morning sickness or just want to be closer to you due to your higher basal body temperature (BBT) now that you are pregnant. It could also be from them hearing your baby’s heartbeat from their top-notch hearing capabilities.

You may feel like your cat is getting a lot more clingy to you due to the pregnancy but in the real sense, they are just worried about the changes they’ve been observing in their favorite human being.

Cats have a very strong sense of smell. They are more than 15 X stronger compared to ours, thanks to the 200 million receptor cells in their noses. They are, therefore, able to detect even the slightest change in scent, including changes in hormones associated with pregnancy.

With that said, your cat may act clingy as they sense new life in you and would therefore want to be loving and protective, offering love and affection. In some cases, they have also been known to send more cat kisses (cats winking) – As a way to show love and affection.

Does My Cat Know I’m Pregnant?

Well, yes and no. Your cat is your constant companion, sometimes you might feel like they know you better than you know yourself! A cat can definitely sense a big change in you, but they don’t necessarily know what that change is.

Cats may become clingy when you’re pregnant because they are worried about you, their beloved owner. The changes brought on by pregnancy are going to be obvious to your cat, even if they aren’t to you.

Nausea, fatigue, and moodiness are all things a kitty can pick up on. Cat’s have amazing senses, and they will put all of them to good use when trying to figure out why their favorite person is acting weird.

Your cat may never leave your side during morning sickness or your third nap in a day, but that isn’t a bad thing. They love you and want to protect you, by staying with you through it all.

So no, your cat probably doesn’t know that you’re carrying an extra human, but they know something is up and they will do what they can to help you through it.

How Do Cats Sense Pregnancy?

You’ve just found out you’re pregnant and you couldn’t be happier! Except, your favorite furry feline is acting extra needy lately. Did your cat sense that you could be pregnant? How do cats sense pregnancy?

Let’s find out.

There are four key signals a cat may use to be able to sense pregnancy. These are:

• Detecting Hormonal Changes: During pregnancy, women produce two key hormones estrogen & progesterone. It’s said women produce so much estrogen in one single pregnancy than they can produce in their entire life. Although unnoticed to us humans, cats are able to pick the hormonal changes through their powerful scent receptors, sensing the existence of a new life inside you.
• Behavioral Changes: Cats are masters when it comes to understanding our body language. Meaning, even the slightest change in our behavior. During early pregnancy, most women suffer severe mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations – cats are able to sense this change. Presuming that you could be pregnant. This also includes morning sickness or the fact that you could be more tired than usual.
• Increase in Body Temperature: Women experience an increase in body temperate especially during their first trimester. This is mostly due to hormonal changes causing an increased blood flow boosting their metabolism by around 20%. This leads to an increase in body temperate. Cats are drawn towards warmth and are therefore able to sense your pregnancy.
• Hearing Unborn Baby’s Heartbeat: Cats have very sensitive hearing, they are known to be able to hear high-pitched tones including hearing a dog’s silent whistle. Cats are therefore able to hear your unborn baby’s heartbeat. The bigger question is around how early they are able to even way earlier during pregnancy are they able to hear the heartbeat.

Using these signals, cats are able to sense pregnancy in human beings.

Why Does My Cat Lay On My Pregnant Stomach?

Besides being protective of you, your cat may also start to take frequent naps on your pregnant belly. They aren’t just trying to be nosy and obnoxious. Cat’s can be clingy when you’re pregnant because you’re actually warmer!

Not only do pregnant women have a higher basal body temperature (BBT), which is your temperature when you first get out of bed, a pregnant woman’s regular body temperature can also raise up to .02 degrees.

If you know anything about cats, you know they like to be warm. Whether it be laptops, a sunny windowsill, or your pregnant belly, cats are going to look for the warmest spot around.

Your natural warmth paired with the soothing sound of your baby’s heartbeat makes your pregnant belly the perfect place for a feline snooze.

In Conclusion

Cat’s adore their owners, even if they don’t show it all the time. Because they adore us so, they will notice any and all changes our bodies go through, including pregnancy.

Your cat may become clingy when you’re pregnant because they’re worried about you, feeling protective, or simply seeking a warm nap with their favorite person. In any case, soak up the extra kitty affection and let them know how much you love them in return.