I just had to post this. I am so glad Cat Versus Human did a comic about it, because it’s the weirdest thing. What is it with cats and the bathroom?
Whenever I’m in the bathroom, it’s a sure bet that at least one of my cats is in there with me. In fact, it’s pretty common to have at least two or three cats in there with me at a time.
Juniper is notorious for dashing in there after me, and if she doesn’t make it, she scratches at the door until I let her in.
Kudzu does the same, except he meows pitifully if I don’t let him in. He is particularly fond of the shower, and likes to stick his head in there and drink water off of me. It’s adorable, if a bit annoying, because he will sit there and cry if I don’t give him any. I rarely let him in while showering, though, because I’m afraid I’ll accidentally fling some soap into his face! When I’m just using the toilet, he likes to jump into my lap and curl up.
Palpatine and Persy also like to share the bathroom with us. Palpy will whine and scratch at the door if my boyfriend doesn’t let him in with him.
Does anyone have any idea why cats like the bathroom so much? It doesn’t make any sense to me. I know many cats like drinking from the faucet, and curling up in the sink, but why do they follow us in any time we need to go? Do they really just enjoy being with us when we’re doing our business? Weirdos…
My Pumpkin is the only one of my 3 cats that way. She has to be in the bathroom with me at least 50% of the time. I can’t even be alone when I’m sick :-( She used to sit on the tub between the shower curtain and the liner and just stare at me taking a shower, but she stopped doing that recently.
I also have a cat named Pumpkin and he is a big orangy cat. Pumpkin loves to be wherever I am even in the bathroom. He always races to beat me in there – even almost tripping me in the process! He rubs against my legs demanding attention and meowing until he gets it. First to one side and then turns to get the other side rubbed. He has to be with me no matter which room I am in. Since its just me and him and I have to work, he tells me all about his day when I come home and then waits for me to join him on the sofa. He’s a goofy boy, but I love him.
They enjoy the (somewhat) undivided attention. Also I’ve noticed my cats freak out if another one of the cats gets shut in a room. Perhaps they are worried you are stuck in there?
my Siamese, Mickey, that i had to bottle-feed would sit on the edge of the tub while i showered & cry when he was a kitten. he knew i was getting ready to go to class or work and that i would be gone most of the day! whenever Mickey would hear me coming up the stairs, he would greet me at the door!
My cat Bowser runs in frantically most times I go into the bathroom. He purrs and walks back and forth rubbing on my legs and sometimes he rubs his head on my foot…which I don’t get because he never does it unless I’m sitting on the toilet!
Will someone tell me why they do this? I can’t go to the bathroom by myself and I can’t count how many times I’ve had to catch one of my cats before it falls into the toilet! A few of them MUST be held while I’m trying to do my business. God forbid I shut the door to get some peace. they go insane and scratch the door and CRY! Ugh!
WOW!! I AM NOT ALONE!! My female cat does that too…but unfortunatley I too dont’ know why! When I go to the bathroom, she will come in immediatley and just sit directly in front of me and stare at me and purr…I pet her while I am “siting” there and she is in heaven! Funny when I get up she runs away for the “flush”!
Cats are weird!!!
I thought they liked the sounds, but it is odd. I found this link. http://www.google.com/gwt/x?q=why+do+cas+go+with+humans+to+the+bathroom&ei=cKkHTpjQNqbOMvnCzFw&hl=en&source=m&u=http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid%3D20100506184642AAwkUwe
a guess:
at the moment a person goes into the bathroom s/he relaxes, be quiet & interrupts her/his business. this is what the cat sees/feels & she uses this moment. may be she also realizes that one is “stuck” totally available for her.
you can get a similar effect when meditating.
one of my cats comes when I take a bath & expects me to “dangle” my arm out of the bath tub. she then wants me to pet her while she is turning the body parts she wants to be petted towards my hand/arm. thus, my petting is done “blindly”.
my other cat starts to imitate her.
It’s because they know you will be sitting down! :D I was babysitting two cats for a few months recently, they would both bang on the door if I didn’t let them in!
I happen to believe that my cat realizes that when I am on the potty, I am at my most vulnerable. Mine always jumps on the top of the toilet tank and entwines himself around my neck and head, nuzzles me nose to nose, then goes over to investigate the sink and get a better angle at me.
He knows my morning routine and accompanies me every step of the way. I believe they are real creatures of habit and they have become used to knowing that water will be running when we enter the bathroom. That intrigues alot of cats, not so much to get a drink but to play with the water. Used to be everytime I flushed the potty, Roscoe would put his front paws up on the seat and almost jump in watching the movement of the water. I have become used to quickly closing the lid to keep him out. LOL
Cat Vs Human comics are ok, but a couple days ago when I first discovered them I read all of them from the past year and quite a few of them were kind of…offensive. Ok, really offensive. So, I don’t really like the person who writes these, but I respect her otherwise because she is a cat person lol.
How exactly are they offensive?
My cat Jax does the same thing! What gives??
I freaking love her comics, and this takes the cake. The bathroom obsession is hilarious. Sometimes my kitty turtles just puts his paws on my legs and headbutts me when I’m on the can, and I’m just like uhhh…what exactly is it that you want? Maybe it is the fact that you are quiet with no other distractions that they like, or the that when you flush there is some super duper fresh cold water avail for them to drink..haha…not sure, but it’s funny. Cats crack me up hard.
I would love to know what is offensive regarding the oh so insanely awesome Cat Vs. Human comics too. I am boggled.
p.s.- I just recently came across your blog, it’s great!! :D…I also am a crazy more so modern lol crazy cat lady. i have a kitty blog too.
Aww, thanks! :3 I’ll be sure to check out your blog!
And yeah, I’d really like to know what’s so offensive… Maybe it’s the way she portrays dogs and dog people? hahaha.
My 2 boys do the same thing…..maybe they believe it’s a group effort. I had another cat who had to be in there with me too, he’d walk around the toilet and nip my rump while I was taking care of business, then walk away with his ears back as if to say “Gotcha!”
Yep, as soon as I sit down, I am the cat magnet!!!!!!
To understand this and any other cat behavior, try not to personify your cat. The undivided attention theory is pretty good, but again, attention as a form of affection is a human trait. Cats seem to like attention and affection, but that’s not what they are seeking.
Cats, like any animal, are all about territory and dominance. Scent marking is their primary method of dominating territory, second to scratching and howling.
When you are in the bathroom, you are making and using a lot of scents. To your cat, you are aggressively staking claim to the bathroom. To maintain their place in the household pecking order, it is imperative that they mingle their scent with yours. The more scents you make, the more they need to mix with it.
Dang, way to take the fun out of it. Haha.
I mean, I’m sure this is true, to an extent. And it’s definitely interesting. But I can’t honestly believe that affection has nothing to do with it.
I also do not understand why attention as a form of affection is a human trait? what kind of data support this interpretation?
this is just an interpretation based on a theory of dominance & territory. this type of theory is fairly restrictive in interpreting behavior…..
what is important: observation & then …. consciously applying a theory & being aware that the theory just defines a framework for interpreting.
If that were so, they would be more likely to piss on you than sit on you.
My most affectionate cat always comes to me in the bathroom, I think because he knows I am sitting there and not going anywhere so he can get my attention. He props his legs up on the edge of the toilet and rubs my face. SOmetimes he even uses his head to push the door closed! Maybe he doesn’t want me paying attention to the other cats.
For 17 wonderful years my cat friend, Pocker, followed me into the bathroom and nipped the wiggly wobbly bit of my bottom that hangs over the edge of the seat. He started it when he was so tiny that he had to rear up on his hind legs to reach it, and then it became a part of our morning ritual. He was always purring so loudly and seemed so pleased with himself. It made me laugh – it tickled. It’s been almost 16 years since he passed and I still miss him and his morning nibbles. .
haha, Juniper does the same thing! Though it’s pretty random, not so much a ritual. Pocker sounds like he was a doll. :)
Thanks for sharing this cute comic. It instantly reminded me of our 1 friend’s 2 cats. When they were kittens, he told us they would have fun jumping into his pants while he sat on the toilet! :)
my cat will curl up in my husbands underware that he has around his ankles ( poor cat)
One of my female cats does that too! I think she is curious for the human body scent. There might be some chemical we produce that yhey fancy.
My cat tiger will always be in the bathroom when I take a bath. I always wonders why but I think its because he knows I only take baths when I’m in pain or really stressed out and he wants to find a way to help.
My cat & BFF slaps my hind end as I am just starting to sit on the toilet & then smacks me again when I sit. He then tears off to the light switch, looks @ me, looks @ the switch, back @ me & then jumps up & turns the switch off. Uhg…. So I had installed a nightlite & at least I can see when I’m done w/ my business. I love him sooo much.
My cat does EXACTLY what ttge above comic depicts.. In fact she’s doing it now as I type this lol