In this post we are going to answer the question of “why do cats follow you around the house?” Cats have the reputation of being unsocial creatures who love to spend time alone in their own personal space.
But if you have owned a cat for any length of time you will know that your kitty often follows you around everywhere you go in the house. If you find your cat following you into the backyard, bedroom, kitchen, or even into the bathroom, most people think it’s because their cat is hungry.
This could be one of the reasons but it is not always the case. Lets take a look at this and give you the information on why do cats follow you around the house.
Why Do Cats Follow You Around The House?
1. Mother And Kitty Safety Connection
A kitten will spend the first 8-12 weeks of their lives with their mother. The mother will do everything for the kitten including feeding, cleaning, and general other mother duties which will make the kitten feel safe. When the kitten leaves their mother, they often look for a replacement as they miss the attention.
When you take ownership of the kitten, you also take on the role of cat-carer by cleaning the litter tray, feeding them, having play-time with them, and giving them affection. All of this will build a deep bond between the two of you which means you become the mother replacement.
For this reason they will follow you around to seek protection and feel safe. You’ll notice them sleeping next to you when your relaxing. This is instinctive behavior as cats in the wild are vulnerable when they sleep. They feel a lot more safe and secure sleeping next to you.
As they grow out of their adolescence, cats will sometimes stop following you around. In some cases where a kitten is removed from their mother too early, they may never grow out of this.
This is due to the fact that they haven’t been allowed the natural weaning process. This is where the mother will shun them in able for them to strike out on their own. This means the will then become overdependent on their human mother.
2. Cats Will Follow You When They Become Bored
Cats in the wild will enjoy exploring the environment and hunting their prey. Although cats are now very much domesticated, the hunting instinct stays with them and for this reason, without stimulation an indoor cat will get bored easily. When they are bored you’ll find that they start following you around the house trying to find entertainment.
Other than following you around, here are some other signs to look out for that your cat may be bored:
- Hiding
- Destructive behavior
- Excessive grooming
- Lethargy
- Excessive eating
- Aggression towards you or other animals
Boredom can also start to become depressed which can lead to issues like stress and anxiety. It’s your responsibility to provide enough entertainment and stimulation to prevent these issues from happening.
Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is crucial for your cat, especially when they get old because they are not as physical as they once were. It’s also important if you have a clever or active breed of cat such as a Bengal cat. Here are some ideas to provide mental stimulation:
- Leaving the curtains open: In our experience we have found that cats spend countless hours sitting on the window sill. Watching birds and people passing by will provide plenty of stimulation.
- Interactive games: Interactive toys are something which any cat owner should have a lot of inside of their home. They provide hours of entertainment for your kitty, and there are some options which will allow your cat to play on their own without your involvement. Check out Amazon’s excellent range of interactive toys here.
- Sound is important: Many people believe that cats love piece and quiet so they can relax and sleep most pf the day. Music designed especially for cats is actually important to keep your cat entertained and is even backed by science. You can read this post on The National Geographic website for full details.
- Scent: Cats have powerful noses and certain smells that are pleasant will attract their attention and keep them stimulated. Some of these scents include Catnip, Thyme, Basil, Olive, Chamomile, and Honeysuckle.
Plenty of mental stimulation will provide your cat with a happy mind which will prevent them from following you around out of boredom.
Environmental
Cats will have natural instincts from when they used to live in the wild. You will need to set certain things up inside of your home to meet all of your cats natural instincts. Failing to provide this can lead to behavioral issues and boredom. Here’s a list of cat instincts and how you can provide an answer to these in your homes:
- Climbing: Cats love to climb, so providing them with plenty of spots around your home is crucial. Cat tree’s are also an excellent choice that come in different designs and sizes. See a selection of cat trees by clicking here.
- Hiding: Cats will have plenty of options to hide inside the house. You won’t need anything special for this as even simple cardboard boxes will provide this for your cat. So if you order something like a cat tree which we mentioned above, just keep the box that it came in and that will resolve this problem.
- Tunnels: Again, just simple cardboard boxes will do the trick for this one if you are on a budget. But for something more sophisticated that will provide more stimulation, check out these cool cat tunnels over on Amazon.
- Chewing: Cats love chewing on things. There is a huge selection of cat chew toys available in all kinds of color and designs that will provide hours of fun for your kitty.
- Scratching: It’s important to provide scratching posts in various locations around your house. Not only is it good for your cat but it also prevents them from damaging expensive furniture! We previously mentioned how cats love to climb. One of the best products available is the Multi-Level Cat Tree with Scratching Posts. This provides a two-in-one solution for your cat.
Preventing your cat from getting bored is very simple. All it takes is a bit of planning with the right tools and toys in place.
#3 Curiosity
Any cat owner will know just how curious a kitty can be. Every time you enter a room or open a cupboard, your cat will be right behind you or up on the counter. Cats are just naturally curious creatures and are following you around the house just because they want to know what your are doing.
There is no harm in this. If you are doing general things around the house, just allow your cat to follow you. You’ll find that they will grow bored and eventually go off and do their own thing.
#4 Territorial
In the wild, cats would release their scent and pace around certain areas which they would claim as their territory. Domestic cats will claim territory inside your home by rubbing themselves against you or the furniture.
As a cat can’t fully perform territorial behavior in the same way as it would in the wild, they have to perform it in a different way.
As you move around the house from room to room, your cat may see it as you are marking the territory. The reason for them following you may well just be that they are joining you in this process.
Cats are creatures of routine so they will just continue this behavior by continuously following you.
#5 Seeking Your Attention
A cat will also follow you around when they are trying to seek your attention. Here are some of the behaviors you can look out for:
- Meowing
- Nuzzling at ankles
- Circling your feet
- Nuzzling
Why is your cat following you to get attention?
Food
This is the obvious one which most people will know. Your cat will follow you around the house when they want feeding.
Petting
All cats are very different but most cats will love physical interaction, and some only when it’s on there terms. Petting your cat can build a great bond between the two of you. So when you are asking yourself “why do cats follow you around the house?”, one of the reasons may be that they are just looking for some effection.
To be certain that it is this that they are after, allow your cat to call the shots. You can hold your hand out and see if your cat comes to you. Follow this with some gentle petting on the top of your cats head.
Keep an eye on your cats body language as you continue to pet, as this will reveal if your cat is enjoying it or not.
If they are purring or half closing their eyes, this is an indication they are enjoying being petted. If you cat is still following you around after this, then it means there’s something else they are after.
Looking For help
If your cat is following you around everywhere you go, they may be looking for your help. This could be a number of reasons.
- Your cat may be in pain: A cat following you around and meowing may be an indication that they are in pain or discomfort. Keep an eye out for any other indications or signs there may be something wrong. If you feel something doesn’t seem right, take them to the vets to be on the safe side.
- Fear: This could be due to other animals in the house bullying them. If you have multiple cats you’ll find that one of them is the dominant one. This means that sometimes they can be a bit aggressive with there behavior. You may even have a dog that your cat is fearful of and is seeking your help.
- Practical matter: Your cats favorite toy may be out of reach and is following you in hope you will recognize their needs.
#6 Cats follow to play
One of a cats natural instincts is to stalk and capture prey. Not only do they do this for food, they also do it just for fun. This is taken away from an indoor cat which is why it is important to emulate this with playtime. For this reason your cat may follow you around the house because they want a play session.
Here are some tips and tricks for play time:
- Have a big selection of toys as your cat may favor some over others.
- Interactive toys are an excellent choice which can allow your cat to play on their own without any need of you being there.
- Two play sessions of around twenty minutes is ideal. Active cat breeds such as Bengal cats may need longer. Senior cats will need a bit less as they tire more easily.
Common Questions
Is it normal for your cat to follow you everywhere?
It is perfectly normal for your cat to follow you around the home as it is just instinct and cats are just naturally curious creatures. The only thing to be concerned of is your cat me be following you because they are in pain and looking for attention.
Why does my cat follow me and no one else?
Although cats are great with the entire family, including children, you’ll find that they generally form a stronger bond with just one individual. This may be because they have more trust in that person, and that certain individual feeds them, has more play sessions, and spends more time with them which all form a stronger bond.
What does it mean when a random cat follows you?
If you are walking along and notice a random cat following you, this is generally due to that cat being friendly and exposed to a lot a human interaction so they simply either want a fuss, or are just very curious.
Why do cats follow you to bathroom?
If you are their favorite person then your cat will naturally follow you around the home because they are curious at everything you do. It may also be a case of they think you have some goodies for them to eat.
Why is my cat following me everywhere all of the sudden?
Cats are very unique creatures who do some strange things. It’s perfectly normal for a cat to follow you around, but if they have all of a sudden just started this behavior, it may be due to the following reasons.
- They are in pain
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy or in heat
- Lack of attention
We advice you to check your cat over to check for any injuries. The best option is to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. You should also have regular, daily play sessions to provide stimulation and attention to build a great bond.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed this post on why do cats follow you around the house, and that you are now aware of why your cat does this.
