Kitten that's TOO affectionate? Will she be needy?

OK,

We had a feral rescue that was sick with an eye ulcer, now nursed back to health. When she was a kitten of 4 weeks, she would come out of her cage and sit on my chest or back to be comforted.

She's five months old now, and she will come to me about five times a day, crawl up onto the computer keyboard or desk, put her paws on my chest and want to be cuddled and held like an infant. She rubs faces extensively, wants to be held, and will drape herself over my shoulder and go to sleep.

My girlfriend is a little jealous - since the kitten will cuddle with her as well - briefly - but if we make eye contact, the kitten is right back in my lap.

Eeek! All this love is great, and I'm happy for it, but I'm wondering if I'm actually creating a monster of a cat that's going to get entirely stressed somewhere down the road when she's not getting 24/7 attention.

If I put her down when she's in her "cuddle me" mode, she comes right back up, feet on my chest and wants to be cuddled again. She'll adjust and readjust herself in my arms until she's feeling comfortable and comforted.

??????

she sounds just like my baby nimbus. I don't think it is a bad thing. She is just going to be a cuddly cat

Max was this way when he was a kitten (rescued him at 3 mo. old). He is now three years old and is just as much of a cuddle bug. If I am cleaning the house, he is following me around and if I sit down - he is in my lap. I think they will always be like that as it is part of their personality. I don't mind it - at least I know he loves me. lol

Yes, Freddie (7 mos) is like that too. I can put him on my shoulder when I get home at night and he will sit there all evening.....I can vacuum, cook, open the mail, watch tv., and he will hang out like he's in a papoose of sorts. He was always like this, even as a kitten when I got him at 3 months. Interestingly, he does not exhibit separation anxiety when I leave for work or go out on the weekends for something; he's pretty laid back about it all, but just loves to cuddle. Does your little one exhibit separation anxiety and act out at all? If not, no worries.

I have had other kitties in the past w/same behavior and it's not any drain or strain unless another kitty is introduced at a later age into the household (happened with us) and then there was a jealousy issue between them which we corrected by giving enormous amounts of quality time to each, but nothing maniac from any of them.

This is usually the way of rescued cats. Once they bond with you, they want you and need you to be close to them. There is nothing wrong with it, and as the kitten grows, although the desire to be with you will still be strong, it will mellow a bit. Right now you are the comfort station. I would not discourage this at all.

You are so lucky!!!!!

You've described my Muddy to a tee - he was orphaned at 10 days old and at 6 months does the same thing to me. I call him my "blood pressure reducer" cat, as I'm so honored that he loves me that way that I relax whenever he is around.

Scarlett is a 2 year old orphaned (at 3 weeks) kitty that used to do that and is more relaxed now that she is older. She needs her snuggle time, but is not obsessive with it like Muddy still is.

I think she'll grow out of it!

My boy is like that too, I have never had such a snuggly cat. I was told he was like that by the foster mom, but I thought she was exaggerating! But no, he's like a little puppy, wants to cuddle, puts his little head on my hand while i am typing.
My nickname for him is lovebug. He was born and abandoned by his Mom in an alley so might be needing the reassurance like you say.

Wow! Good to hear there are many other cats like that.

This kitten is a sweetheart - she gets so intense about face-rubbing that you'd swear she's trying to get inside your mouth...

Cuter than cute - I only hope that I can keep up....

Originally posted by hissy
This is usually the way of rescued cats. Once they bond with you, they want you and need you to be close to them. There is nothing wrong with it, and as the kitten grows, although the desire to be with you will still be strong, it will mellow a bit. Right now you are the comfort station. I would not discourage this at all.

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Wow I never thought of it that way! Willow was a resuced Kitten and she's very much a cuddle bug! to the point that I can't even cook dinner with out her wanting to be cuddled. It's like having a baby! I cook while holding her.....geeze is she spoiled or what!

LOL Noddy sits on my shoulders as I am brushing my teeth in the morning. It's the funniest thing- and hard on my back!