You might have heard about feline attacks on pregnant women. This is no joke—though they are rare, such attacks happen. But it is ultimately a matter of expecting a child, and you should beware of all possible causes and consequences of having a cat. But for the time being, let us find out why cats attack pregnant women in the first place.
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Why Do Cats Attack Pregnant Women? 5 Reasons
1. Fears May Pop Up
A cat can behave aggressively if she is afraid of elimination or due to a lack of attention. When cats notice a period of dormancy in their pet parents’ attention, they might start smelling rats. They can easily have a fair idea that the attentiveness she once had is either non-existent or simply diverted to something else.
So, indirectly and not clearly, cats know that a baby is coming who will invade the exclusivity they once enjoyed.
Did You Know?
With their superpowered olfactory senses, cats can—it is suspected—detect the hormonal changes in the human body, thus sensing pregnancy.
2. Cats Loath Routine Changes
Cats hate it when something disrupts their way of living—some of them might even act out. Even some seemingly small changes, such as not cleaning the litter box on time, can be big enough to become a trigger point. This is what happens when their owners start bearing a baby.
Owing to the various associated difficulties, they might not perform their duties towards their felines well enough. Eventually, cats get perturbed; however, the resultant animosity is not permanent, and things return to normal soon.
3. Pregnant Women Might Have Stepped into a Cat Zone
Cats are territorial animals and therefore do not hold their horses to react when someone steps into their territories, regardless of whether she is pregnant. Both males and females do it; however, the males are more responsible for territory-defending-related attacks on pregnant women.
Pregnant women can knowingly or unknowingly invade the territories of their cats for various reasons, such as stress. Cats, in response, may show aggression towards them.
4. There Was a Petting Accident
Overstimulation can annoy cats, thus reacting aggressively. Cats are sensitive creatures; they become overstimulated as a result of too much petting. Consequently, they might show a reaction by hissing or even attacking even if the petter is pregnant—it does not matter if a kitty is cool-tempered and loves to cuddle like the Siamese. Other than that, the petter might also accidentally touch a wound or any area with pain that can perturb a cat further.
5. It Is About a Trauma
If a cat has any trauma related to pregnant women, she might not hesitate to attack them. If a cat was beaten or shouted at in the past by a pregnant woman, she might hold a grudge for a long time. Two reactions can be expected in this case whenever she sees pregnant women: fight or flight.
If she chooses the former, she will prepare for the confrontation each time. She might think that it is better to act before it is too late—before the past events repeat themselves.
How to Stay Safe Around Your Cat When You Are Pregnant?
You need to take some precautionary measures when pregnant to avoid likely attacks from your kitty. You can adhere to the following tips:
- Keep Your Cat Busy: Make sure your cat has no time to spot you and vent her fear and anger. Just buy her some of the best toys and puzzles. Those will not let her mind wander away.
- Give Your Cat Time: Do not forget to give your cat a fair amount of attention, especially if she is an attention-seeking breed. Without it, you will only risk getting attacked more often. Furthermore, cuddle with your kitty and regularly take care of her eating and potty-going schedules, and you should be fine.
- Take Care of the Sensitive Areas: Do not cuddle your cat in her sensitive areas, or you will risk retaliation. Particularly, you should avoid touching your cat on the stomach, tail, and hind legs. You can also observe your cat’s behavior to judge her overall preferences and aversions. Just monitor her reaction to touching different parts of the body, and only pet those which lead to the most favorable response.
- Stay Away! It is hard to shun your cat, but for the betterment of yourself and your baby, you will have to do it. Just reduce your contact with your cat as much as possible without compromising the necessary attention and interaction.
Eyenimal Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent does not let cats and other animals enter a pet-free zone. It is an especially helpful device for pregnant women trying to avoid cats near their safe zones.
Toxoplasma Gondii
Feline attacks are not the only concern for pregnant women—toxoplasma gondii found in infected cats’ poop is also a big deal. Pregnant women should therefore stay away from litter boxes. Getting infected by it can lead to serious birth defects in the baby.
Do Pregnant Cats Attack Human Beings?
Yes, pregnant cats might tend to attack not just human beings but other animals as well. According to the VCA Animal Hospital, cats do not witness any significant change in their behavior during pregnancy. However, a few might become aggressive—risking injury to the people and other animals around.
Over the internet, some pet owners have also shared the experience of their cats becoming easily angry and stressed during the last stages of pregnancy. In such situations, it is advisable to limit your cat’s movement in the home and keep her indoors as much as possible.
Why Do Cats Attack Pregnant Women? Conclusion
Cats attack pregnant women mainly due to some inherent behavioral problems such as loathing routine changes, fears of isolation, territoriality, and trauma. Other than those, petting accidents can also lead to a similar outcome. Due to these issues, expecting moms should take all necessary measures for themselves and their babies—it is better to stay away from your cat temporarily than to risk any drastic outcome.