Not all cats are affectionate in the same way and the same amount. Some will show affection more often than others to their owners.
Still, I’m sure none of you are used to seeing their male feline friends suddenly overly affectionate. This is surprising, and can even make you wonder whether it’s something going on with your cat.
Why is my male cat suddenly so affectionate? Does this imply some health problem in him?
There are ten common reasons for this behavior in your cat. Let’s look at them and see whether there is something to worry about, or you should just enjoy your cat being cuddly.
1. Neutering
Intact male cats show behaviors that make most pet parents consider neutering them, such as:
• Running away from home to seek out females in heat
• Urine spraying
• Getting into fights with other males
Neutered males can’t mate and impregnate females, meaning that this procedure also decreases the cat overpopulation problem.
This procedure has some additional health benefits, as explained by North Shore Animal League America. These are eliminating the risk of testicular cancer, and decreasing the incidence of prostate disease.
Neutering also decreases aggressive behavior in male cats and could, in some cases, make them more affectionate. Neutered males tend to be easier to get along with, and are more gentle.
Therefore, recent sterilization could be the reason why your male cat is suddenly so affectionate.
2. Your Cat Wants Food
Your cat’s sudden affection could indicate that he’s just hungry.
You could notice this behavior every time you have your own meal. It seems that your furry friend is enjoying the smell of it and wants to get a piece of it!
It’s necessary to feed your male cat in accordance with its age, health, and energy levels. You shouldn't exaggerate by giving him cat treats and, especially, human food.
It can be hard to say no to a cuddly kitty who's so adorable you'd give him whatever he wants! But, you should be careful here.
Meredith Wall and her associates [1] point out how, in developed countries, anywhere from 11.5 to 63% of domestic cats are overweight.
So, seeing your cat all affectionate towards you is adorable. But, if your cat does this only to get additional food, make sure you don’t let him have too much of it.
3. Boredom
Your overly affectionate male cat could just be bored.
All cats thrive on diverse activities and entertainment inside their homes. There's no need for your cat to venture outdoors to have a good time!
You should provide him with interactive toys, a lot of space to hide and lounge in, as well as nice scratching posts and cat trees.
If he lacks these, he could direct all of his time and attention towards you. While it's charming to witness your cat displaying unusual affection, it's crucial for his well-being to prevent boredom.
Also, boredom can lead to destructive behaviors in cats, such as scratching the walls or defecating outside the litter box.
4. Attention Seeking
Your male cat suddenly becoming affectionate could indicate that he feels he's not getting enough attention from you.
Today's busy lifestyle unfortunately often means that we have too little time for everything we would like to achieve.
Even if you didn’t want this, your schedule could get too overwhelming, and it seems that you haven't been spending enough time with your furry friend lately.
Although cats seem aloof, they love to get attention from us. When a cat feels like he’s being neglected, he can show you he misses you by being overly affectionate.
5. Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is something usually related to dogs, but some cats could also experience it.
Your overly affectionate male cat could be anxious about being separated from you. Rubbing against you and showing excitement when you show up at the front door can mean your cat didn’t have such a nice time without you.
Metropolitan Veterinary Center explains that there are some other potential signs of feline separation anxiety, such as:
• Excessive meowing
• Not eating
• Excessive self-grooming
• Elimination outside the litter box
• Trying to escape
These are all highly undesirable behaviors. So, you should find some ways to minimize separation anxiety in your male cat.
You shouldn’t make a big deal out of your arrival or departure. Try to leave the house, and get back in, without much noise, and without informing your cat about it.
Another good thing to do here is to leave the radio or TV on for your cat to still hear some voices when you’re away.
Leave your cat with a comfy place to lounge in and nice toys and puzzles for him to have some fun on his own. Ask some of your friends or relatives to check on your pet.
You can always ask a veterinarian for advice, especially if nothing seems to be helping your cat. There’s a chance he could get anti-anxiety medications.
6. Territorial Behavior
The arrival of a new pet into your household can also be a reason why your resident male cat becomes too affectionate.
Felines are highly territorial, and most of them will show signs they don’t like their new family member. These signs often include hissing, growling, intense staring, and even initiating confrontations.
Some cats could also become overly attached to their owners to claim them as their own. This means that your cat is sending a message to the other pet to stay away from you!
It can look charming in the beginning, but, this isn’t something you want to see in the long run. Your two cats not getting along could become a nightmare.
To avoid territorial behavior in them, you should make sure you spend enough time with both of your cats.
Also, they should have their own separate areas in the house, as well as food and water bowls, and litter boxes.
Furthermore, the most important thing is to introduce them properly. Let them get used to each other and don’t force them to become friends.
It will all come to them naturally with time.
7. Stress
An overly affectionate male cat could be under stress.
Your cat is trying to get comfort and support from you. Many things can make him stressed, such as:
• A change in his environment
• Loud noises like fireworks or construction works
• Conflict with other cats
• Veterinary visits
• New people or new pets
You should give your cat nice pets and comforting words. His looking for comfort in you means he trusts you as his person and protector.
The best would be to find the exact cause of stress and eliminate it from your cat’s surroundings.
In some cases, help from a veterinarian or pet specialist behaviorist may be necessary.
8. Advanced Age
Just like humans, cats go through many changes as they become older.
One of the behavioral changes you might see in your senior cat is him becoming more affectionate.
This transformation occurs because their aging brains often lead to a decline in hearing or sight. This causes him to become disoriented and confused, and, therefore, clingier towards you.
Cats require adequate care in all life stages, but this is especially important in their senior years.
Cornell Feline Health Center suggests the following ways of taking care of an older cat:
• Take him to regular veterinary appointments
• Make sure his favorite spot to nap is in a warm part of the house
• Provide him with easy access to basic needs, such as installing litter boxes on every floor, and providing a litter box with very low sides
• Turn on a light overnight to help him navigate
• Consult your vet on the best type of food for your senior cat
• Remember to give him much of your attention and love
9. You Or Your Partner Are Pregnant
Your cat could suddenly become affectionate if you or your partner are pregnant.
Women's hormones go wild in early pregnancy. Since cats have such a powerful sense of smell, they could notice your body smells differently.
This is why they could start rubbing against you, and become more affectionate than usual: They want for you to smell like you used to!
10. Health Problems
The last potential reason for your cat’s sudden affection is health problems.
While most cats will run away and even try to hide their pain, some could try to find comfort in their owners.
This happens because your cat feels vulnerable and insecure and trusts you to make him feel better.
If you have any doubts your overly affectionate cat could be sick, you need to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
You shouldn’t try to figure out what's going on on your own since there are so many possibilities.
Conclusion
Why is my male cat suddenly so affectionate?
There are plenty of potential answers here. He could just be asking for food, or some attention from you. Your male cat could also be bored and in need of some fine mental or physical stimulation.
Senior cats are likely to show this behavior, due to them losing their cognitive function.
Another pet in your home could cause your cat to become territorial, and show more affection towards you. Also, he might be stressed or anxious about you being away from home.
Finally, a cat’s sudden affection could indicate that he’s sick or injured. This will request an immediate visit to a vet clinic.
Remember that your cat’s behavior change always indicates something. Stay observant and be prepared to take action if you suspect your pet requires assistance.
References:
[1] Wall M, Cave NJ and Vallee E (2019) Owner and Cat-Related Risk Factors for Feline Overweight or Obesity. Front. Vet. Sci. 6:266. DOI, Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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