Ten thousand years ago, the domestic cat was a lone species that viewed humans as their enemy; today, it interacts socially and amicably with people.
Today, social connections with their owners and their home area are the two things that pet cats value most. Since many kittens are taken from their mothers during the third month of life, joining new homes, and coming into contact with cats with established territories, relationships with other cats are less important.
You may be surprised to learn that your cat may have a remarkable tight bond with you or may be exhibiting symptoms of separation anxiety if it is tied to your hip like my cat Simba, who follows me everywhere.
Let’s decode why your cat is shadowing you to the bathroom, as well as the best intervention to enhance emotional happiness.
Why Does A Cat Follow Its Owner To The Bathroom?
Erik and Rexxie like to follow me to the bathroom.
Domestic and tamed cats now live in human diverse cultures, and their learned behaviors are receptive to different ways of living with people. Many cats exhibit clingy behavior and follow their owner everywhere, particularly into the restroom.
Common reasons why felines may pursue owners into the bathroom include, but are not limited to:
Close Animal-Human Bond
You formed a remarkably close relationship with your cat. This means you both love sharing many activities together, including spending time with each other in the restroom. Some cats adore sitting on an owner’s lap while they’re doing their business on the toilet. Although it’s not comfortable for humans, it’s warm and cozy for your kitty.
Attention-Solicitation Behavior
Attention-solicitation behavior is accompanied by persistent purring plus vocalization, as well as pursuing an owner around the home, including the bathroom. Attention-seeking cats may also beg for food or to be let outdoors, which is sometimes reinforced when the owner gives attention, lets the cat out or offers food.
Be mindful to not reinforce attention-seeking behavior, which might become a problem behavior in the future.
Separation Related Problems
It has been determined that cats can suffer separation related problems (SRP) similarly to dogs. Separation anxiety is evident through clinginess, destructive behavior, excessive vocalization, peeing on the bed and pursuing an owner in all places.
Environmental enrichment and behavior modification, along with cognitive training, plays a key role in developing an independent feline who doesn’t feel the need to prowl their owner incessantly into the washroom.
Attachment-Loss
When a kitten or adult cat is rehomed, it may lose a sense of security within its environment and territory, and seek to re-establish connection with the focus of safety through suckling behavior or over-attachment to a new caregiver.
To prevent attachment-loss during severance, provide a kitten a warm blanket with the mother’s odor. For an adult cat, cozy bedding plus toys will provide comfort and a sense of self-assurance.
Medical Reasons
Pain or disease can cause a sudden behavioral change, triggering your companion animal to stalk you around the home, as well as chase you into the lavatory.
Although cats hide signs of illness, a feline displaying subtle behavioral changes, such as increased vocalization, urinating outside the box and/or human over-attachment, may be experiencing pain or distress, and require a veterinary examination.
Loss Of An Animal Companion
Losing an animal is heartbreaking for both owner and resident moggie. When a cat loses a sibling or another species with a close attachment bond, they can become insecure and crave more attention by shadowing their owner.
Luckily, there are several things that you can do to assist your cat with the grieving process.
Why Would A Cat Want To Use The Bathroom?
Jimmy likes playing hide and seek in the bathroom.
The bathroom is an exhilarating place for a kitten as well as an adult cat. There may be several reasons why your cat wants to spend time in the washroom, most common motives include:
The litter bin is inside the bathroom
The litter box is often tucked away in a quiet spot within the lavatory necessitating your kitty to use it multiple times per day for urination and defecation. Most owners place litter trays in discreet restroom corners where the cat feels safe to toilet without interruption by other pets or humans.
Cats enjoy drinking from the sink or bathtub
You might be surprised to find out that the majority of cats love drinking running water from the sink; others enjoy sipping water from the shower or bathtub. Felines love flowing water since in nature water isn’t stagnant and fresher.
If you have a fussy drinker, purchase a water fountain to encourage them to drink.
Bathroom Sinks Are Cozy And Cool
The smooth surface of the sink basin with oval shape is hard to resist for some cats, who like to snuggle against the curvature of the bowl, which making them feel cool and also safe up high.
Territorial Protection
Felines are highly territorial species; your cat may perceive a threat to their personal security when important resources like litter trays are obstructed by a bathroom door closure, leaving them feeling less safe and distressed.
Cats Enjoy Floor Heating
No cat can resist sprawling on heated floors especially in the colder months of the year. Cats love warmth since it helps with temperature regulation.
Felines that suffer chronic musculoskeletal pain are all drawn to heat sources since warmth is beneficial for stiff joints. Cozy resting sites aid with body heat maintenance for seniors and geriatrics.
Exciting Location For Adventure
Indoor-only kitties are prone to boredom. Frankly, what other room within the home is as exhilarating, scent tantalizing and moreover fun as the restroom? Nothing is more amusing than playing with toilet rolls, rummaging the bin, rolling on the bathmat, climbing on blinds or hanging off towels – it’s a feline amusement park!
During storms, Cats Feel Safe In Enclosed Areas
Pets who experience fear of storms will show increased anxiety as the thunderstorm approaches. Certain cats will seek shelter within bathrooms since they often have rock-solid walls, built into the center of the house, with small or absent windows, offering insulation as well as perceived protection.