Why Does My Cat Follow Me To The Bathroom?

The domestic cat has transformed from a solitary species who regarded humans as their enemy 10,000 years ago to one that forms social and amicable relationships with people.

These days, the foremost important things for pet cats are social relationships with their owners and their core territory. Connections with other cats have lower priority since many littermates are separated from their mum by the third month of life, joining new homes and encountering felines with fixed territories.

If your cat is attached to your hip similarly to my cat Simba, who follows me everywhere, you’ll be intrigued to find out that your cat may have a remarkably close relationship with you or may be displaying signs of separation anxiety.

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 An Owner To The Bathroom?

Erik and Rexxie like to follow me to the bathroom. Melina Grin / Cats.com

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

For an adult cat, cozy bedding plus toys will provide comfort and a sense of self-assurance.

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

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.

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

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.

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 Does A Cat Want To Spend Time In The Bathroom?

Jimmy likes playing hide and seek in the bathroom. Melina Grin / Cats.com

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 Tray Is Located Within The Washroom

Most owners place litter trays in discreet restroom corners where the cat feels safe to toilet without interruption by other pets or humans.

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 Love Drinking Water From The Basin Or Bath

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.

Bathrooms Have Comfortable Cool Sinks

Certain cats will seek shelter within bathrooms since they often have rock-solid walls, built into the center of the house

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

Cozy resting sites aid with body heat maintenance for seniors and geriatrics.

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 Love Underfloor Heating

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!

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.

Exhilarating Place For Fun And Adventure

Felines that suffer chronic musculoskeletal pain are all drawn to heat sources since warmth is beneficial for stiff joints.

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!

Cats Feel Safe In Confined Areas During Storms

Bathrooms are important cat territories and entertainment spaces containing familiar human smells and their own scent.

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.

Conclusion

Bathrooms are important cat territories and entertainment spaces containing familiar human smells and their own scent. There’s nothing wrong with your cat shadowing you to the bathroom from time to time as long as it doesn’t become an obsessive behavior warranting a veterinary health check.