Recent Spike In Cuddle Cravings?

Hi there!

My boy Angelo is 4 years old. Recently (like the last 2-4 weeks) he’s been crazy about cuddling! Every time I’m sitting in my desk chair, he’s all over my lap, computer, homework, etc.
When I’m standing at my vanity doing my makeup, Angelo climbs on a chair I have behind me, and stretches up to give me a little back massage with his paws! It’s incredibly cute, but he won’t leave me alone until I pick him up or literally lie down on the bed and snuggle with him. Then he falls asleep.

Nothing in my schedule has changed, so I don’t know if it’s separation anxiety. But he’s never been this dependent before.

The only thing that’s changed significantly for him in the past month is his diet. I recently put him on raw food because he got a UTI and I realized that what I’m feeding him really affects his health.

What could this be? Is he trying to tell me something?

Maybe the new diet is making him feel better so he wants to cuddle more? Either way, I commend you for taking charge of his health!

My cats' proximity to me increases as the temperature goes down. They get cold!

Wow, great point! Winters get really bad where I am, too. Never crossed my mind, ha!

MaxineYamazaki said:

Hi there!

My boy Angelo is 4 years old. Recently (like the last 2-4 weeks) he’s been crazy about cuddling! Every time I’m sitting in my desk chair, he’s all over my lap, computer, homework, etc.
When I’m standing at my vanity doing my makeup, Angelo climbs on a chair I have behind me, and stretches up to give me a little back massage with his paws! It’s incredibly cute, but he won’t leave me alone until I pick him up or literally lie down on the bed and snuggle with him. Then he falls asleep.

Nothing in my schedule has changed, so I don’t know if it’s separation anxiety. But he’s never been this dependent before.

The only thing that’s changed significantly for him in the past month is his diet. I recently put him on raw food because he got a UTI and I realized that what I’m feeding him really affects his health.

What could this be? Is he trying to tell me something?

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I think he feels good. He's hydrated, his cells are fed the nutrients they need, his body is working well, he's eating something that his species loves and he's telling you "thank you"!

Well this is great news! I always just assume any change in behavior is something I have to worry about

MaxineYamazaki said:

Well this is great news! I always just assume any change in behavior is something I have to worry about

Click to expand...

It is. But usually it's not happy "I feel good" stuff, more like "I don't want to eat/drink/use the box, I walk around crying and lay around when I used to play."

Maybe it just took this long to train YOU to cuddle as much as he wants?

LAL said:

Maybe it just took this long to train YOU to cuddle as much as he wants?

Click to expand...

I been there. I had a cat years ago that was cuddly, on his terms of course.
A few years later I was shaving and getting ready for the day and he hopped up on the bathroom counter. He got this weird, gleamy, super happy look on his face and I was like "...?" and he launched on my shoulders and face, stuck to my like glue, and I ran around for a second like "this cat is possessed" but turns out he'd just decided being an aloof brat wasn't satisfactory enough, and he wanted to be sweet now.
Even when pitted against Baby Girl, the lovebug cat of my life, he takes the cake on affection.
My Queen Bee girl was so aloof that handling her or holding her was not happening. One day she decided to sit next to me, and I pulled her into my lap. She tensed up a little, and once she relaxed she was in Kitty Heaven.
...And now she won't leave me alone. (But I love it. It's nice to be wanted by a little cat that used to give you the bird and walk away whenever you offered pats or praise.)

It could definitely be the new healthy food making him feel good.
It could also definitely be the cold weather.

It could also be that cats... are cats.

I had a cat that loved my super abusive boyfriend, but she didn't really like me that much. She didn't dislike me she just didn't care to cuddle or anything. He eventually went to jail and after a couple of years, one night outta nowhere she jumped on my lap and became my best kitty friend ever. We had super close bond for 10 or so years until she died. I dunno what made her jump up and cuddle that night, but I'm sure glad she did. <3
(Oh, and it was summertime and I fed garbage kibble with corn as the first ingredient... I didn't know!!)