If your cat has suddenly become affectionate, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why is my cat suddenly affectionate? Likely reasons why your cat is suddenly affectionate are that it has become more comfortable around you, something is causing it to be fearful or that it has simply learned that it likes attention from you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat is suddenly affectionate and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why is my cat suddenly affectionate?
Below are likely reasons why your cat is suddenly affectionate and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat has become more comfortable around you
It could actually be the case that your cat has become more comfortable around you. This would be more likely if you have not owned your cat for a long time, it was fearful initially and if it has also been doing things such as get you to pet it or rub itself against you a lot.
Your cat is fearful of something
It could also be the case that something has been causing your cat to be fearful and to follow you around in order to feel safer. This would be more likely if it has been doing it since things such as getting a new dog, moving homes or another change around the home.
Illness or injury
Another possible cause is that your cat has gotten an illness or injury and it has caused your cat to follow you around because it makes your cat feel safer. This would be more likely if your cat has been showing other signs of having an illness or injury such as being sick or limping. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Hunger
It could also be the case that your cat is hungry. This would be more likely if your cat has been more affectionate since a change in its diet, since you started feeding it at a different time or since you started feeding it less. It would also be more likely if it stops being affectionate after you have fed it.
Encouraging the behavior
It might also be the case that you have encouraged the behavior. If you tend to give it things such as extra attention and you pet it, when it is around you, it will likely want to be around you more for more rewards. This would be more likely if your cat gets you to pet it when it comes near you. If you don’t want your cat to do it as much, it would likely be necessary for you to pet it less.
You have been noticing it more
It could also be the case that your cat has always been affectionate but you have just been noticing it more recently. This would be more likely if you have been around the home more recently.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
What else happened when your cat started being affectionate
It would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started being very affectionate since an event could have caused it to start. Possible things that happened could include a change in the environment at home, someone mistreating it, a change in its diet or you stopped giving it as much attention.
The timing of when your cat is most affectionate
If there is a certain time that your cat seems to be more affectionate, it would also help to consider the timing. For example, if your cat does it more before you have fed it, the cause would be more likely to be that it is waiting to be fed. Whereas, if it does it more when there are loud noises inside, it would be more likely to be that the noise is causing it to be fearful.
What to do about my cat being suddenly very affectionate?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Let it do it
If your cat seems to have been doing it because it just likes being around you and it has not been bothering you, the easiest option would be to simply allow your cat to continue doing it.
Give it somewhere else to go
If your cat seems to be doing it because something has been causing it to be fearful, it could also help to give your cat somewhere else to go where it can feel safer. An example, could be a high-up spot somewhere that other pets can’t go.
Ensure its diet is right
If your cat seems to have been doing it due to being hungry, it would also help to ensure that it has been getting the right diet and that it has been eating the right amount. It could also help to feed it at the same time each day so that it does not follow you around for the rest of the day hoping to be fed.
Get help
If your cat has been behaving very unusually or it has been showing signs of illness or injury, it would help to take it for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your cat and to rule out medical causes.
Do cats get more affectionate as they age?
Some cats become more affectionate as they age and some do not. It really depends on the cat and the environment that it grows up in. If you want your cat to be more affectionate, there are things you can do to get it to be more affectionate. Things you could do include giving it more attention yourself, playing with it, and ensuring that there is nothing in its home environment that is causing it to be fearful.
Why is my cat so needy in the morning?
The reason why your cat is needy in the morning is most likely to be that your cat wants you to feed it. If your cat does not sleep in the same room as you, it could be the case that it follows you around, in the morning, because it makes your cat feel safer.
Why is my cat overly affectionate at night?
If your cat is overly affectionate at night, and it can’t sleep with you, the cause would be more likely to be that it has some separation anxiety. Whereas, if it can sleep with you, it could be the case that something in the environment causes it to get fearful at night. It might also be the case that your cat has learned that it is easier to get attention from you at night when you are not busy.
Why is my cat laying on me all of a sudden?
If your cat has started laying on you suddenly, it could be the case that it has learned that it is ok to lay on you, something has been causing your cat to be fearful or that it has become more comfortable around you. If you do not want your cat to do it, it would help to reward your cat when it lays or sits where you want it to.
Why is my cat suddenly cuddling with me?
Likely reasons why your cat is suddenly cuddling with you are that your cat has become more comfortable around you, your cat feels safer around you or that your cat has learned that it likes cuddling with you.