If you are pregnant and own a cat, then you may notice that your normally docile pet has suddenly developed a bit of aggression towards you. Ever wondered why this happens? Well, we asked our experts. Let’s explain why cats attack pregnant women.
There are several reasons why cats attack pregnant women. In most cases, it is because the behavior of a pregnant woman changes, and cats are not a huge fan of change. In other cases, it may be because the cat is feeling a little bit neglected.
Of course, those are not the only reasons that cats attack pregnant women. On this page, we want to go through some of the other common reasons, as well as what you can do to prevent it from happening.
Why Do Cats Attack Pregnant Women?
As we said, there are several reasons why cats may attack pregnant women. Unfortunately, since cats can’t speak, it does make it hard to determine why your cat is behaving the way that it is. However, it is likely to be one of the following.
Behavioral Changes In The Pregnant Women
A pregnant woman has a whole host of hormones flowing through their body. They are carrying another human. It isn’t a surprise.
Of course, as anybody will know, these hormones can have an impact on a person’s behavior. It can make them emotional at times. This may mean sadness, it may mean a bit of anger, etc.
The cat isn’t used to these behavioral changes. It feels as if its way of life has changed a little bit. Cats hate change. Therefore, cats may become aggressive towards a pregnant woman.
Cat Feels Neglected
When you are pregnant, you have a lot of things to worry about. It is very time-consuming.
Because of this, you may start to interact with your furry friend less. This can result in them feeling neglected. The aggression towards a pregnant woman is the cat essentially screaming “pay attention to me!”.
Of course, you may also notice that this behavior change happens towards everybody in the household. This is because most people are going to be concerned with the upcoming baby, and less concerned about the cat.
Increase In Petting
Sometimes, the cat may feel that you are feeling a bit too ‘caring’ of them. When people have cats, they often reach out to them whenever they feel low, in pain, or a little bit too emotional.
As we said earlier, pregnant women tend to be overloaded with those hormones that can make them feel low. This means that they are much more likely to reach out to their pet as a sign of comfort.
The problem is that while cats like some attention, they don’t like constant attention. Therefore, if the amount that you are petting your cat has substantially changed, your cat is going to get annoyed. Some of them just want to be left alone.
If you notice that your cat is attacking aggressively when you get close to them, then this is likely going to be the reason behind it. If you are seeking your cat out specifically to pet them, then this is also going to be the reason behind it.
The Cat Is Feeling Territorial
This ties into the first point, to an extent. When a cat feels low, it wants space for itself. As you know, cats are highly territorial animals, although most of the time they are territorial towards other cats.
However, if the cat isn’t feeling too great, then it doesn’t really want anything encroaching on its space. In most cases, the cat is going to tie the fact that it is feeling low to the pregnant woman. After all, in the cat’s head, it is the pregnant woman that has been the greatest source of change recently.
This means that if the pregnant woman gets too close to the cat, it can result in an attack. It may not escalate straight to an attack, though. Many cats will give warning signs that they are starting to get a bit annoyed with your presence. It may start with some hissing, telling you that you should probably be backing away from them.
Fear & Stress
Emotions are going to be running high. When emotions run high, it can cause the fear & stress response in a cat, particularly if there is shouting or a lot of crying (both can happen when pregnant)
Fear & stress in cats will often show off as aggression.
How Can You Prevent a Cat From Attacking a Pregnant Woman?
In most cases, you won’t be able to do too much to prevent the cat from attacking a pregnant woman. Sadly, many women may have to steer clear of an overly aggressive cat. Remember, the cat hates the fact that the situation has changed, and you can’t do much about this.
However, we do encourage you to try and spend some time with your cat, wherever possible. Play with them. Try to ensure that the standard routine doesn’t change too much.
If you are interacting with the cat and they seem to display something that looks aggressive (hissing, etc.) then we suggest that you back away from them. There is a pretty good chance that if they are hissing, they are about to attack.
If you heed their warning signs, then they may realize that you aren’t there to annoy them, so there is less of a chance of them attacking you in the future.
Cat Attacks FAQ
How can I tell if a cat is going to attack?
There are usually warning signs before a cat attack. The cat may hiss, growl, or bare its teeth. It may also stare directly at you, swish its tail back and forth, or raise its hackles. If you see any of these behaviors, it’s best to back away slowly and give the cat some space.
What should I do if I’m attacked by a cat?
If a cat does attack, there are a few things you can do to minimize your injuries. Try to cover your face and head with your hands and arms. curl up in a ball and tuck your head down to protect your neck and throat. And if possible, try to get away from the cat by running or moving to a safe place.
What are the most common injuries from cat attacks?
Cat bites and scratches are the most common injuries from attacks. These can range from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious puncture wounds or lacerations. Cat bites in particular can be dangerous because they can introduce bacteria into your bloodstream, which can lead to infections. In rare cases, cat attacks can also cause concussions or other head injuries.
What should I do if I’m injured in a cat attack?
If you’re injured in a cat attack, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor. Then, you should contact animal control or the police so they can investigate the incident and take appropriate action against the attacking cat’s owner. Finally, you may want to consider taking legal action against the owner if your injuries are severe or if you have sustained significant property damage as a result of the attack.
Final Thoughts
Cats attack pregnant women for a multitude of reasons. However, the number one reason is the cat is struggling to deal with the sudden change in situation.
Sadly, there is very little that you can do about this. Your best bet is to ensure that you pay attention to your cat, and try to ensure that you follow the same routine as you did before the pregnancy. If your cat does seem to be showing any sort of aggression towards you, then steer clear of them.
Has your cat ever attacked someone you know that was pregnant? If this rare occurrence happened how did you handle it? Any recommendations? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to checkout our other articles on cat behavior