Does Your Cat Know You’re Pregnant? Here’s What Experts Say

Many people swear that our cats can sense once we’re pregnant. Perhaps they’re extra clingy and snuggly. Perhaps they’re truly extra aloof. Some cats appear to know we’re pregnant earlier than even get a optimistic being pregnant take a look at. The query is: Is there any proof that cats truly know you’re pregnant? And in that case, how does that work precisely?

We reached out to 3 specialists to assist us perceive the phenomenon of cats sensing being pregnant, together with whether or not there’s any science-backed proof to show it, what behaviors to look at for, and normal recommendation about cats, pregnancies, and new infants.

What Specialists Say About Cats Sensing Their Proprietor’s Being pregnant

Okay, cats seeming to sense being pregnant is certainly a factor, however is it backed up by science?

Properly, not precisely. “There is no such thing as a arduous proof that cats know that somebody is pregnant,” says Mikel Delgado, PhD, cat habits knowledgeable with Rover. Nonetheless, cats usually reply to the hormonal and bodily modifications that occur in a pregnant individual’s physique, like modifications in physique odor and modifications of their proprietor’s habits.

Eboni January, MD, OB-GYN and fellow of the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG) and writer of Empowered Motherhood, says that cats might be able to sense being pregnant, however not in the identical manner people do. “Whereas there isn’t any medical research proving cats detect being pregnant, anecdotal and behavioral proof means that they reply to physiological and behavioral modifications of their proprietor,” Dr. January says.

Based on Dr. January, cats might choose up on a few of these widespread modifications throughout being pregnant:

• Hormonal shifts, like elevated progesterone, estrogen, and hCG
• Modifications in physique temperature or scent
• Behavioral cues, like fatigue or nausea

Indicators Your Cat Would possibly Sense Modifications Surrounding Your Being pregnant

As Aimee Warner, a veterinary surgeon within the UK and the resident veterinarian at Waggel describes, cats possess noteworthy sensitivity to environmental shifts, enabling them to detect human body changes during pregnancy. Their eager sense of odor and sensitivity to behavioral modifications doubtless come into play right here.

“Some pet homeowners declare their cats modify their habits throughout early being pregnant as a result of the modifications in physique scent from hormones change into noticeable to cats by their delicate olfactory sense,” Dr. Warner shares. This distinctive sense of odor is extra acute than in people.

Based on Dr. Warner, a number of the modifications in feline habits that being pregnant folks report embody:

• Enhanced affection
• Elevated following homeowners round
• Desire to be close to the proprietor’s stomach
• Protecting habits
• Turning into extra distanced, particularly if the cat detects emotional stress

And sure, some cats appear to sense that you just’re pregnant earlier than you even realize it—although after all, there’s no analysis to show this. “Some pet homeowners report their cats appearing in another way even within the early levels of being pregnant—typically earlier than a take a look at confirms it,” says Dr. January. “This can be linked to the animal’s eager sense of odor and behavioral sample recognition.” 

Why Do Cats Get Clingy Throughout an Proprietor’s Being pregnant?

Many cat homeowners discover that their cats appear to velcro themselves to their pregnant our bodies throughout being pregnant. What’s happening right here, precisely?

One attainable clarification comes from the truth that your body temperature rises during pregnancy. Many cats get clingy as a result of they’re in search of heat and luxury, Dr. January explains. “Pregnant folks usually emit extra physique warmth, making them cozy spots for cats,” she says.

The extreme attachment pregnant cat homeowners usually discover doubtless comes from a number of interconnected elements, says Dr. Warner. “Hormonal fluctuations throughout being pregnant modify human physique scents whereas altering physique warmth patterns which cats detect by their senses,” she describes.

Moreover, cats excel at sensing emotional cues and physique language modifications of their human companions. “Cats naturally reply to their proprietor’s elevated fatigue and emotional sensitivity by staying nearer and in search of consolation,” says Dr. Warner. “The cat makes use of this habits to supply companionship whereas in search of reassurance from the modifications taking place within the surroundings.”

Security Suggestions for Pregnant Cat Homeowners

More often than not, cats themselves don’t pose important dangers to pregnant people. Alternatively, cat litter can change into probably dangerous to cat homeowners throughout being pregnant. That is due to a micro organism referred to as Toxoplasmosis gondii, which will be present in cat litter. In case you change into contaminated with Toxoplasmosis gondii whereas dealing with cat litter, you’ll be able to cross the an infection to your child, which may probably end in beginning defects like imaginative and prescient points, listening to loss, and mental disabilities.

Listed below are Dr. January’s suggestions for dealing with cat litter throughout being pregnant:

• Each time attainable, keep away from cleansing the litter field your self
• In case you can’t keep away from cleansing it, ensure to put on disposable gloves and wash your fingers completely afterward
• Because the parasite turns into infectious one to 5 days after shedding in feces, cleansing the cat litter each day decreases your danger of infections
• Maintain your indoors to scale back their publicity to contaminated rodents, soil, or different out of doors cats.
• Don’t feed your cat uncooked meat
• Don’t undertake new cats or stray kittens throughout being pregnant
• Apply hand hygiene after petting cats, particularly earlier than consuming

Suggestions for Introducing Your New Child to Your Cat

Many individuals are understandably involved about how their feline companion will react as soon as their new child enters the scene. Whereas most cats will alter finally, there are some issues you are able to do to ease the transition to your cat.

Earlier than Child Arrives

Within the month main as much as your child’s arrival, Dr. January recommends:

• Progressively adjusting each day routines along with your cat routines to reflect what life will probably be like post-baby
• Letting your cat discover the nursery and/or new child objects to scale back novelty nervousness
• Utilizing baby-related sounds or scents (e.g., play recordings of crying) to desensitize your cat

After Child Is Right here

After the newborn arrives, Dr. Warner recommends letting your cat observe your new baby from a secure distance and never forcing any contact. She additionally recommends sticking to your cat’s regular routines as a lot as attainable to lower their stress ranges. “Your cat will thrive alongside your child by affected person and respectful care of their private boundaries,” she says.

 Different suggestions from Dr. January embody:

• Reintroduce your scent to your cat; if attainable, convey a blanket or hat the newborn used earlier than coming house and let your cat sniff it
• Keep affection to your cat to scale back emotions of neglect
• For security, supervise all interactions at first, by no means leaving the newborn alone with the cat
• Use positive reinforcement, rewarding your cat’s calm habits close to the newborn

Obtained additional questions on cat, being pregnant, security, and transitioning your cat to your new life along with your child? Don’t hesitate to achieve out to your OB-GYN or your trusted veterinarian.