My cat follows me everywhere?

Question

when i go to work he chases the car i have to go back and put him indoors and run when i get home he is waiting for me at the drive he's a year old now i got him from a pet orphanage do you think he needs another cat to keep him company.

Answer 1

Hi!

Is it possible to keep him indoors when you leave for work? If not, have you tried feeding him immediately before you leave so that he is busy eating and this will provide a distraction for him?

Also, if you let him out during the day, why do you get out of the car to take him back in the house? He wouldn't be able to chase your car all the way to work :-)

I have heard of electronic cat flaps that work on a timer, so perhaps you could look at this option! Keep him inside in the morning and set the timer for half an hour after you've left - that way he can get out and there is no danger of him getting run over by your car or following you so far that he gets lost.

It sounds like your cat loves you very much, which is a great compliment. It's also a very good thing that he waits for you on the drive when you get home from work - at least you know that he'll always come back at a regular time.

Another cat may help. We have a 1 year old male cat (although he is indoor-only) and he seemed quite lonely. After doing a lot of research, we got a new kitten to keep him company about 4 weeks ago. They are now living peacefully and playing together - and my male cat seems far less bored. He is also less dependent on us to play with him, as they keep each other entertained.

However, as you seem to work (full time?), you'll have to make sure you have the time to look after the kitten and introduce them properly. You'll also need to be able to provide a spare room or something similar to keep the kitten in. It's been 4 weeks now and we are still keeping our kitten and cat separate at night or when we are out of the house. It's not safe to leave them together if you get a young kitten, as the older male can often get quite rough during play.

However, your cat is still young and therefore should take to a new kitten better than an older cat. It is usually recommended that you get a kitten of the opposite sex and who is younger - the smaller in size, the better. So a female kitten between 8-12 weeks old would be perfect.

Getting another male cat of a similar age, or an older age, may be problematic. A female cat of the same age may be ok - but a young female kitten is the most reliable combination.

If you are interested in getting him a play mate, have a read through these articles and judge for yourself whether or not you have the time and space in your home to introduce them properly (remember that the kitten must also be kept inside until she is 6 months of age and has been spayed, microchipped and fully vaccinated):

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/introducing_new_kittens.htm
http://www.trulycats.co.uk/health/kitten-older-cats.html
http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/f/cathateskit.htm
http://www.vickyhalls.net/FelFAQ.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/unitedcats/newcat.html
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=new+kitten+existing+cat&meta=

xx Emmie

Answer 2

Another cat would be good. Get a kitten of the opposite sex. I have 2 Siamese and my girl was lonely so i got her a little boyfriend. She hated him for a month, now the adore each other! So, be patient if all is not well at first. Let your kitty sleep on a towel for a week and when you collect the new kitty rub him and wrap him in the towel so your cat will smell himself on the new kitty already. Introduce very slowly in a small room, maybe letting the new one stay in his carry basket and the existing cat can smell him through the bars. Good luck :)

Answer 3

Hey Dude,

To be honest, I don't think hes lonely. I have 3 cats and frequently when we walk to the shops they follow us. At times we've taken them back, but then they have ran around the back garden, over the fence and round again!

My oldest cat Amber, follows me absolutely everywhere! Including the toilet! She even sits next to me while I'm having a bath, lol.

I got my last cat Max from Mayhew Animal Rescue centre - there came details about what he liked and how he reacted with other animals. If you have those it may say about his attitude towards fellow kitties. If he gets on well with them, they maybe you could consider getting another cat.

Thank You! :-)
Take Care ..

Answer 4

He's following you as a sign of respect and love, my cats do the same, but a playmate might be an idea so long as they're of a similar age. A year old is a good time to introduce a new cat, you'd be better off adopting one from a shelter that's of a similar age than getting a kitten, but it's up to you.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

My cat follows me everywhere. I would take it as an honour personally because they don't do it to just anyone.
The old cat we used to have followed me over to the shops every time I went. The new one follows me outside when I go for a cigarette
They always wait for you when you get home, no matter what time you get back.

Answer 6

Cats grow very close to their owners, just as we grow close to them. He probably felt unloved or unnoticed when he was in the pet orphanage and wants extra attention now. A sibling for him would probably be very nice! I would try a kitten or a cat around his age of the same sex.

Answer 7

my cat is like this too but often I think it's sheer noseyness or devilment. not so bad with the car - he'll follow us there and then sit and watch us leave. on foot is a nightmare, he follows us, even our neighbours, through a path to the main road near our house. so many times my boyf has been heading to the pub about half a mile from our house, turned round and here's the cat following him the whole way!!
I'll be interested to see what answers people have!!

Answer 8

I think that he definitly needs some other cat! I would get another male. It seems that the cat needs attention all the time because it did not get alot of attention when it was little. Good luck with your cat!

Answer 9

Another cat probably would help to settle the kittie down but make sure its alittle older than him or her and yes some animals as well as humans needs the companionship.

Answer 10

Dose it matter, he seems to like you. Just put him in when you leave with a big bowl of cat food and when you come back give him lots of love, it might just be a phase.