Why Does My Cat Follow Me?

You've got questions, we've got answers. We're taking some of the most commonly asked questions about feline behavior and chatting with Dr. Mikel Delgado, certified applied animal behaviorist, to give you the answers you need.

Cats can do silly things that we don’t always understand. But they usually have a perfectly good reason for doing these things that to us may seem strange! Take being followed around by your cat -- does it feel like somebody’s watching you? Do you find that your cat follows you every move from room to room?

There are plenty of reasons that cats want to keep up with your activities. First of all, many of our kitties live indoors-only, and they like to stay on top of everything that is happening in their territory! Much like you might want to check your social media feed to see what has been going on with your friends or in your neighborhood, your cat wants to update on ALL of the latest activities. That includes every.thing.you.are.doing. I like to call cats “human psychologists” because they spend so much time studying and learning our behavior!!

Cats also love us, and they might want attention, a warm lap, or cuddles. The best way to be first in line for those activities is to stay close to you -- the provider of those pets and cuddles! You might pay a little extra attention to your cat when they follow you around, perhaps enjoying a little conversation with your feline friend. If attention is just what they wanted, they know this is a great way to get it.

Cats also learn quickly that certain human behaviors lead to certain outcomes -- sometimes when you walk to the kitchen, that leads to cat food or even better yet, yummy treats! You might notice that your cat gets underfoot as meal time approaches, as they are hoping you might deliver that meal a few minutes early. At the very least, they want to make sure you do not forget. Think of it as a “puss notification” -- like a calendar telling you to get ready for that upcoming Zoom meeting. Your cat is saying, “Hey, in case you might not remember, my breakfast is due in 10 minutes.”

And the frenzy isn’t just for food. When I walk toward the “toy closet,” my kittens are not far behind -- they know that more often than not, when that closet door opens, their favorite toys come out. That’s why your cat may even run ahead of you - they are not just happy, they are downright excited about the possibilities!!

So really, cats are just taking advantage of opportunity for good times - whether it’s some love from you, or some fun with a toy, or their favorite treats, those are all great reasons to keep an eye on you! So, when your cat follows you around, it is because they think good things are going to happen, and they know that you are the one who makes their dreams come true.