Cat people... any ideas?

[DemWitch]

My dog has two cats. She raised them from kittens. One is a bit over a year old, the other is 2. Up until a week ago, they were quite happy to have their food, and ignore me completely, which was fine. Every once in a while they would want to be pet, and I would and that was it... The beginning of last week, all of a sudden both of them are up my ass 24/7. They want to be pet, bellies rubbed, ears scratched, sleep in my lap, etc. I don't really mind, but their sudden need for human attention is really alarming. I'm not a cat person, these are the first cats I've ever had in my house. So is this normal to go from who gives a shit to pet me, pet me, pet me?

[SoCalDem]

1. No one can figure out their though process..

They are just being cats,..Appaerntly they have been watching you, and have decided that you are worthy of THEIR attention..:)

[demnan]

2. Mine have always been pet me, pet me, pet me

never had a cat that wasn't needy in some way. Maybe they've just been waiting to see if you would accept it. And of course when one jumps in the other one always follows.

You may need to buy a larger bed with all these critters! They like to sleep with you too!

[truthspeaker]

3. Reason for the behavior: Cats are weird

Maybe it took them this long to decide they can trust you. Who knows? I think they act in inexplicable ways just to mess with our heads.

[sui generis]

4. cats are demented little people too

All "domestic" critters love human affection and attention. Keep on about your routine - the critters will figure out their own level.

Every once in a while surprise them with a toy and some play time - otherwise, you're pretty much stuck with a couple of lovebugs. I have a chihuahua and jazzcat combination that absolutely MUST drape themselves on me if I sit on the couch - I don't even notice anymore. If I need to get up I just do it and they get out of the way.

[curse10]

5. It just means they love you

or have figured out who's giving them food :-)

My cats often go through cycles- they are in a needy cycle right now- they are constantly talking and hopping up into laps.

[LWolf]

6. Yes.

And it will be normal when they decide they've had enough cuddling for awhile, too. That's the thing about cats; it's always their schedule, and their agenda. I find that my cats often decide they need quality laptime when they see me reading; they enjoy pushing the book or newspaper out of the way. They also seem to enjoy standing over the keyboard while I'm trying to type to get my attention.

With cooler weather coming in the near (I hope) future, my cats will require much closer contact. When it's hot, they sleep near but not on me, and lounge around the house near but not on me. When it cools down, they immediately move in to the warm spot; me.

[Shoeempress]

7. If they are unfixed females they may be in heat.

[DemWitch]

10. both fixed males...

responsible pet owner :)

[calico1]

8. Cats are just strange little creatures.

I have 5 of the little furballs myself. Three of them love to cuddle. One does once in a while and the other never sits on your lap but she likes to cuddle next to you and purr in your ear and breathe on your face as you are trying to sleep. Cats can be affectionate but unlike dogs their affection is on their terms. When I come home my Rottie greets me like I am a war hero returning home from the war. My cats are like "oh, its you. Hi. Where's my dinner?" Then when they feel like it they will come over and cuddle and be lovey dovey. If I feel like cuddling with one of them and grab them and put them on my lap, that is not good. They don't like it. But if they feel like they want to cuddle then they expect your undivided attention. And they can change their routines too. Strange yes, but cute and as long as you don't try to predict their behavior which is difficult with cats, you should be fine. Hope you can learn to like your cats more. I was never a cat person myself and now I have 5!

[miss_kitty]

9. DemWitch they LOVE you!

their fur is so soft and fluffy...

seriously though, has your dog had a check up lately? maybe they sense something...

also, you were quite a lovely DemWitch to get your dog some cats.

[DemWitch]

11. Yeah, Kyra just had her annual physical...

The only reason I got her the cat was a friend had a cat he couldn't keep, and I kinda liked it. She was indoor/outdoor cat. Kyra fell in love with her. Unfortunatly he was killed by my neighbors dog. Kyra went into a seriuos depression when Ciera was killed. She refused to eat, would pace all night long, howl for hours... broke my heart... She had an appointment with the vet, and the day we went they had found a stray kitten dumped on their doorstep. So, I adopted it for Kyra. She took to mothering right away, cleaning him, teching him stuff, and oddly enough, trying to nurse him (wanna see funny, a 12 ounce kitten nursing off a 90 pound pit bull)... The next winter I went to go get dinner, and when I got back I found this beat up, half starved, 3/4 frozen (it was 18 below zero) kitten, about 4 weeks old, in my driveway. I didn't think it would survive the night. Kyra didn't move for two days, except to go out, which is when Enki would take over warming the kitten. Kyra would come back in and kept the kitten under her leg next to her chest. Eventually he came around and Xander is now quite the healthy chunkin'. But... the cats were always afffectionate with Kyra, but with me they could care less... until last week... I don't mind, I love them both, just weird after all this time, they have decided that they want affection from me...

[VOX]

12. The cats are still relatively young, and they want to bond with you...

They've probably matured just enough to figure out that you're the "boss" of your dog, so the cats are "bypassing the middleman," so to speak, to get some attention from the top critter in the house -- namely, you! :)

[barb162]

13. I think this is a wonderful development

so pet them already! they decided they love you.

PS I have four cats

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. It's not that they like you so much....

It's just that they feel a need to mark their territory.

[KT2000]

15. Time of year

Cats tend to shore up their homelife as Fall approaches. They want to make sure they have a warm house and food for the winter. Bonding ensues!

If you give then lots of pets and assurance and they will calm down.