Despite their reputation for being surly and autonomous, there are several reasons why cats tend to follow people throughout the rooms of the house.
Imagine a cat. They are said to be elusive, independent and only look for their owners when they need something. However, there are many lovers of these felines who affirm that their cats follow them everywhere, including the bathroom. Even to the point of scratching and meowing if the owner closes the door preventing their entry.
But why do they do it? What is the reason why they act like this? Is there research or studies that provide a scientific explanation for this behavior?
The independence of cats, in question
It has always been thought that cats are independent and do not create a dependency like dogs do. However, scientifically, this may not be the case. Oregon State University published in the medical journal Current Biology a study whose authors made it clear that Cats were capable of developing the same attachment to their owners as any other animal. What’s more, the study concludes that these animals are capable of establishing attachment bonds similar to those of babies and their parents.
That’s why Many cats tend to «watch» humans closely, usually just one, the one they consider their favorite person and with whom they interact the most. And they do it to the point of control their movements even when they don’t see them. Kyoto University, in Japan, published in the magazine PLOS One the conclusions of the study they had carried out. According to this, it was stated ability of felines to control the movements of their caregiver through vocalization, so that they know where we are.
But why do they follow us throughout the house?
The reasons why your cat follows you everywhere, including the bathroom
There are several reasons why your cat may be following you around the house, or he needs to keep an eye on you to know you’re there and that it can find you in a specific place in the house.
The most common are the following:
They need emotional attachment
When a cat spends many hours a day with its owner, the relationship that is created between them is very strong, to the point that the cat considers the human to be its family, and vice versa.
This makes When you leave it at home for hours, when the person comes home from work, the only thing the cat wants is to be by your side so as not to feel aloneand at the same time to demand the attention that he has not had in the solo period.
They are hungry
One of the tools these felines have is none other than their meowing and approaching the owner to demand something. Although they can be caresses, they can also This approach and chasing the person throughout the house may occur because they are looking for food.
Although they could do this during the hours when food is usually given to them, they can also develop this routine so that snacks or other types of rewards are given.
They are curious
For cats, The fact that there is a room that you do not want them to enter with you makes them very curious to know what is done there. In fact, many animals stay in front of the door and rush in as soon as it is opened to see if something has been moved.
They seek to protect their owner
Another reason why many cats follow their owners everywhere is because of their protective instinct. They They need to know where they are at all times and monitor them to see that they are okay.
Therefore, in the case of the bathroom, when entering and Notice that the person spends time sitting and cannot move from the area; many felines interpret this as a vulnerable moment, before which they stay in front of the door or in front of the person as a kind of shield (although some run away at any noise or are distracted by elements in the bathroom).
What is clear is that for cats, The home is their own territory and, as such, they need to know that everything is in order. Therefore, it can be thought that they follow humans as a form of control over the person. Does your cat usually act like this or does he or she not follow you closely except to eat or look for pets?