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Viral Thread: Cat Who Disappeared For 6 Days Comes Back And Turns Incredibly Attached, Owner Wonders If This Is Cause For Concern

All cats behave differently when it comes to their humans. Some cats are incredibly clingy right away, seeking out as much human contact as possible, while other cats are a bit more aloof, and physical displays off affection from them are rarer. But it doesn't always happen that a cat who was one thing suddenly and unexplainably turns into another thing. It's not every day that you hear about a shy and aloof cat turning into a full-blown clingy velcro kitty. 

But that's exactly what happened to this reddit user's cat. After disappearing for six days a few months back, the kitty somehow escaped and disappeared for six days. After that, out of nowhere, the kitty became incredibly clingy. Now, knowing that a drastic and sudden change in behavior for a cat can be a sign of something bad, this owner found themselves wondering if this is cause for concern. What do you think?

Posted by Marielru
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  • 1
    Cat - r/cats u/vhm3.4d.i.redd.it My kitty has become incredibly attached to me over the last few months, is this cause for concern? (Context in comments) Advice ✩ 24.6k 1022 Join Share

    In our opinion, it makes sense for your cat to suddenly seek more comfort in you after such a potentially traumatizing experience when it ran away. We think that had something like this happened to us, we too would experience a change in behavior. Cats, in a lot of ways, are not that different from humans- perhaps this is one of them.

    Via u/vhm3
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  • 2
    Font - vhm3 OP +1.4d Kingsley is 8 years old. Had him and his bonded pair since they were 10 weeks old. He's always been an affectionate but slightly aloof kitty. Over the past couple of months, he's gone from cuddling here and there to constantly needing to be with me. He's a little velcro kitty and follows me from room to room and sleeps under the blanket as little spoon every night. Obviously I adore this behavior, but I've read that these types of behavioral changes might indicate a problem.

    We do think that you should be enjoying this time with your cat, for whatever reason it may be. Keep an eye on it, see if now that he's getting more comfortable, his behavior is not reverting back to what it was. And if you continue to be concerned, then, despite the fact that funds are tight, we would try our best to get the kitty checked by a vet. We wish you and your cat good luck and much health!

    Via u/vhm3
  • 3
    Font - I'm not sure whether I should be basking in this or concerned. Maybe I'm the sick one and he's caught on, or maybe something in my behavior has changed. I apologize if this is silly, I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything of note. Thank you xx ETA: Definitely not pregnant. Reply 3.8k
    Via u/vhm3
  • 4
    Font - treebeardsbeard 4d A few questions to help rule things out before going to the vet. 1. Have things changed around the house? Maybe you were working from home and now you're back in the office? Did someone move out or move in? Have you moved actually places of residence? Was a new pet introduced? Has loud construction started nearby recently? If so, it's likely general anxiety, separation anxiety, or stress. 2. Have you noticed your cat isn't hearing or seeing as well? Cats become clingy w
    Via u/treebeardsbeard
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  • 5
    Font - vhm3 OP +1.4d Thank you! I don't notice anything declining in his senses but I'll keep a closer eye on it. I can't think of anything that changed around the house. Might be worthy of note, he got out a few months ago and was missing for 6 days. He was taken to the vet when was found and given a clean bill of health and the appropriate treatments. It seems like a silly thing to be concerned about, but thank you for validating this might be worth looking into! 42.0k
    Via u/vhm3
  • 6
    Rectangle - treebeardsbeard 4d He got out and was missing for a few days a couple months back and then it started? Oh the poor boy was TERRIFIED and you're his safe space. This is very normal. My cat did the same thing and after a while went back to normal. 3.0k +
    Via u/treebeardsbeard
  • 7
    Facial expression - vhm3 OP +1.4d That just about brought a tear to my eye! I feel like his clinginess has made me super clingy and now we're just enabling each other. Thank you again. 2.1k
    Via u/vhm3
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  • 8
    Product - Headless_Grammarian +2.3d My cat was gone for five weeks and he was velcro kitty for two weeks after that. I couldn't even go shopping for ten minutes without being greeted by upset meows when I came home. Yeah, this is likely it. 1.1k
    Via u/Headless_Grammarian
  • 9
    Rectangle - +1.3d vhm3 OP I like to think all the meowing is them telling us the stories of their adventure. I'm so glad your cat came back! 4766
    Via u/vhm3
  • 10
    Rectangle - NightmareRise 3d When I went away to college and took my cat with, I had a similar situation with him. He's become incredibly obsessive to where he follows me everywhere, gets in the way of everything I do, and even wakes me from a dead sleep because he wants my attention. I can't close a door around him or he whines all night. He wanted to be with me so badly one time that he actually taught himself to turn my doorknob. Every waking moment of every single day he has to be with me
    Via u/NightmareRise
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  • 11
    Font - vhm3 OP +1.3d What a smart kitty! It does feel like having my own very cute stalker that I'm equally obsessed with.
    Via u/vhm3
  • 12
    Human body - GlassStrawDisaster 4d You're not pregnant, right? My aunt had a pair of torties when I was a kid that were usually very aloof, then out of nowhere they became Velcro cats. Turns out they knew about my little cousin before she did. If he is otherwise healthy I wouldn't worry too much but keep a close eye on him and look out for signs that he is uncomfortable.
    Via u/GlassStrawDisaster
  • 13
    Font - vhm3 OP +1.4d Definitely not pregnant, but he has me wondering if it's something wrong with me haha.
    Via u/vhm3

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