Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/pregnancy & cats

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/12/2009


Question
I am 4 months pregnant with 2 cats (2 desexed girls, sisters, who are almost 2
years old) the cats have recently started to urinate and poop inside the house
(nowhere near their litter trays), they have also been much more vocal and in
need of attention from me. Is this related to my pregnancy and how do I fix this
behaviour?

Answer
Claire,

Congratulations! Cats are very responsive to emotions, and they can sense a change going on and it is causing them to be insecure and 'needy'. Keep giving your cats attention and love during your pregnancy. Urinating where they're not supposed to is a way of 'acting out' if they are feeling neglected. Try to keep your routine the same as before you were pregnant.

I am including some excellent articles about cats and babies that you should find helpful:
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-pets-sense-pregnancy_1379572.bc

http://www.sthuberts.org/petpouri/articles/catmeetsbaby.asp

http://westwoodanimalhospital.com/BhvArticles/Infants,%20Children,%20And%20Cats....

http://www.petplace.com/cats/helping-your-cat-and-new-baby-get-along/page1.aspx

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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