'They never leave my side now': Pregnant Cat Owner Marvels At Her Felines' Protective Nature, Cat Lovers Chime In With Potential Explanations

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kalila courban
Dec 16, 2024 1:00 PM EST

Isn't it amazing how our cats can sense the changes our bodies are undergoing? They're incredibly sensitive to hormonal shifts, and even the slightest change in scent can signal to them that we might be in a weakened state or simply need a little extra comfort and protection. Cats are truly remarkable—we already knew that—but after reading this wholesome post, we're even more convinced of just how incredible they are.

Cats can detect changes in scent during pregnancy. They rely heavily on pheromones and subtle vocalizations we can't even hear. So yes, they know you've got a bun in the oven and often become extra protective of both you and the future member of their "colony." The original poster of this story can take comfort in knowing her cats are loyal protectors, ready to stand by her through the challenging months of pregnancy.

Cat lovers from all corners of the internet chimed in to explain to the OP the reasoning behind her cats' sudden interest in protecting her from anything that could be potentially threatening, and just wanting to be near her at all hours. We are melting, the wholesome goodness is strong with this one. 

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  • 01
    Why are my cats acting weird while I'm pregnant?
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 02
    So I'm currently in the end of my second trimester and my baby is very active, almost emotional dare i say, in my belly. He is in the 98th percentile and is already ahead of schedule, a very healthy boy. I have two cats, one male, one female. They never leave my side now, they are extremely protective of me to the point I have to put them up when we have maintenance men come by because they will straight up hiss, swipe, and down right yowl at strangers. Which is something I've
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 03
    strangers. Which is something I've never had an issue with my cats before now, however they are still super sweet to the few friends and family that we do have over. The female cat will lay exclusively next to me and my baby daddy or demand to rest on my tummy while the male cat stands guard at the foot of the bed, but it's like she knows when my baby is tumbling in my stomach. I'll feel him moving, jabbing or wiggling around and I'll get nauseated due to this being my first
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 04
    nauseated due to this being my first pregnancy I'm still getting used to that feeling, but my cats will literally YELL at me until I sit down or even try to herd me back to bed. So my question is do they know more than I thought they did? How do they know to comfort me and my kiddo so well????
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 05
    CertainInitiative501 · 3d ago • Hormones make you smell different, and since you're family they're going to protect you while you're vulnerable. It's sweet, dogs can do the same.
    via CertainInitiative501
  • 06
    . Deep-Promotion-2293 3d ago • Believe it or not, cats can get just as protective over their humans as dogs can. The cats understand that you're in a vulnerable position, they know you smell different and may have figured out you're pregnant. They will protect you and they will end up protecting the baby too. Many years ago, I had a cat while I was pregnant. She was insanely
    via Deep-Promotion-2293
  • 07
    pregnant. She was insanely possessive of me during the pregnancy and after he was born, decided my son was her kitten. She'd sleep at the bottom of the crib with her paw on his behind. The minute he moved she'd jump out of the crib and come get me. She'd come up to me, meow, walk towards the bedroom, look back, repeat until I got the baby. They're smarter and more aware than we humans give them credit for.
    via Deep-Promotion-2293
  • 08
    • ClaryVenture · 3d ago Animals are amazing!! They can sense things that we can't. Service dogs can be trained to alert humans when their blood sugar is too low or their heart rate is too high, etc. Cats can probably sense similar things :) it sounds like your kitties are trying to protect you and baby!
    via ClaryVenture
  • 09
    wackyvorlon • 3d ago The human is having a kitten! Very important to protect the human.
    via wackyvorlon
  • 10
    arillusine 3d ago • Agree with all the ppl saying that you likely smell different due to physiological changes of your pregnancy letting your cats know you're pregnant. lirc cats are pretty communal about their pregnancies too when living in a clowder (it takes a village, even if that village is a pack of cats), so maybe they believe your health and safety needs close monitoring.
    via arillusine
  • 11
    CouchLocked Oh 3d ago • • I'm thinking because of ... anatomy changes, pheromones, body scent, personal habits have changed (yours) I don't know are you possibly more or less. attentive to them? there's a lot of factors have you changed their food to save for the baby or anything like that? got to put on your thinking cap you know? as you know cats are very intuitive and lead with their nose! LOL
    via CouchLocked
  • 12
    • edyth_ 3d ago • 30+ years ago our lovely cat had kittens while my Mum was pregnant with my sister. My Mum used to have a nap in the armchair in the afternoon and our cat would bring her kittens and put them on top of Mum's bump to sleep too.
    via edyth_
  • 13
    Cool_Relative7359 • 3d ago You are (to them) a pregnant cat in the colony. Queens (female cats) who live in colonies will often help out with protecting the kittens. Tom cats (male cats) that have been neutered on time also don't tend to display much aggression to kittens since the drive to sire their own isn't there as much.
    via Cool_Relative7359
  • 14
    Cats can smell the changes to our scent in pregnancy. They communicate through a lot of pheremones and subvocal vocalisations we can't hear. So yeah, they know you have a bun in the oven and are feeling protective of you and future member of the colony. They might bring you more "kills" as well. Some cats are super jealous or even pee on their owners coz the change in scent triggers them tho. You got lucky.
    via Cool_Relative7359
  • 15
    arushareddit • 3d ago They sense so much that humans can't! I've heard stories about cats in retirement homes who will sleep on the beds of people who are close to death so it appears to be a bad omen but apparently they can literally smell cell death. There's more scientific evidence that dogs can detect these things but I'm convinced that cats can as well.
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 16
    adrlev 3d ago • I'm 24 weeks and I have 4 cats. They have become extremely clingy. They take turns making biscuits on my belly.
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 17
    MyChoiceNotYours 2d ago. • Humans always underestimate animals. Your cat's love you and see you as family and will protect you and baby because they also see you kinda like a funny looking cat. You are carrying the next generation so you need looking after. I'm surprised they're not trying to feed you.
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 18
    Curvelllustrious9987 • 3d ago My cat knew I was pregnant every time before I did. They loved those babies in my stomach. They would purr and my children tried to pet them while they were in my body, my children and cats have always had a very special bond.
    via LowkeyHateYou555
  • 19
    Petalwillow. 2d ago • it's actually crazy how animals can sense stuff like that. they're probably picking up on the changes in ur hormones and body, so they're just trying to protect and comfort u. cats are way more intuitive than we give them credit for, especially when it comes to things like pregnancy. sounds like they're really bonding with the baby too, it's sweet how they're so protective of both of u.
    via LowkeyHateYou555

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