If you are a cat owner, you’ve likely had the experience of having your furry friend follow you into the bathroom. It can seem a bit strange, but there are several plausible reasons for this behavior.
They are curious
Cats are incredibly curious creatures by nature. When they see you going into a room and shutting the door behind you, it triggers their curiosity about what you are doing in there. Are you getting into something fun without them? Cats want to investigate all spaces and closed doors only heighten their curiosity.
Following you into the bathroom allows them to satisfy their curiosity. Once inside, they will explore and examine everything intently. Trash cans seem to be a particular point of interest!
They want attention
For many cats, time in the bathroom offers a chance for some one-on-one attention. When you are sitting on the toilet or standing in the shower, you are stationary and focused on your task at hand. Your cat sees this as an opportunity to get some quality petting, lap sitting or play time.
Cats show affection by spending time close to their favored humans. So following you into the bathroom may be their way of showing love.
It’s a safe space
The bathroom tends to be a quiet, calm space without a lot of noise and commotion. For some cats, this makes it feel like a safe zone. This can be especially true for shy, timid or anxious cats.
Your cat may follow you into the bathroom because it is one place they feel relaxed and secure. With you nearby, their trusted human, the bathroom becomes a safe little haven.
They like routine
Cats thrive on routine and many develop set patterns associated with their human’s daily habits. If you always shut the door when using the bathroom, your cat will pick up on this pattern.
They learn that when you go into the bathroom, you will be occupied in there for a certain period of time. Wanting to stick close to your routine, they will sit and wait outside the bathroom door until you finish.
Separation anxiety
For some clingy cats, being separated from you is highly stressful. These anxious cats will follow you from room to room throughout the day because they need to be near you.
When you disappear into the bathroom and shut the door, their separation anxiety kicks in. Being apart from you in a closed off room makes them extremely uncomfortable.
Following you into the bathroom and staying close by your side is their way of keeping separation anxiety at bay.
They want to play
For especially playful cats, the bathroom offers a whole new playground for fun and adventure! They see you disappear into the room and want to join in on whatever interesting things you must be doing in there.
Once inside, everything is fair game for play. Toilet paper rolls waving in the breeze, water droplets falling from faucets, echoing meows, warm laundry piles to burrow into. The possibilities are endless!
Litter box issues
Sometimes a cat follows you into the bathroom because they have an aversion to their litter box. If the box isn’t kept extremely clean, cats may start to avoid it.
They associate the bathroom with relieving themselves and feel it’s an acceptable place to urinate or defecate if needed.
Medical issues
In rarer cases, persistently following you into the bathroom could signal an underlying medical issue for your cat. Any sudden change in bathroom habits should prompt a visit to the vet.
Cats unable to make it to the litter box due to illness, injury or joint pain may head straight for the bathroom when feeling the urge to go. Urinary tract infections also make cats associate the bathroom with a place to urinate frequently.
Tips for reducing bathroom stalking
If your cat’s bathroom stalking habits are over the top, there are some things you can try to discourage the behavior:
- Shut the bathroom door firmly and do not allow them access.
- Play with them and tire them out before using the bathroom.
- Give them a food puzzle toy to occupy them while you are in the bathroom.
- Designate another room or closet as “their space” and bring them there when you use the bathroom.
- Keep their litter box extremely clean to avoid aversion.
- Consider adding a second litter box in another location.
- Talk to your vet to rule out medical issues.
The takeaway
While having your cat accompany you into the bathroom may seem odd, it is actually quite normal feline behavior. Most often it stems from their natural curiosity, need for affection or desire for routine.
If your cat’s bathroom stalking becomes problematic, there are ways to discourage it. But in most cases, you can enjoy the company and special bond it reflects between you and your furry shadow.
Conclusion
Cats follow their owners into the bathroom for a variety of reasons. Their curious nature draws them to investigate the room. They may crave affection and see bathroom time as an opportunity. The bathroom also represents a quiet space for anxious cats. Some cats form a habit of shadowing your routine.
Excessive bathroom stalking could point to litter box trouble or a medical condition. But generally, this behavior is a harmless quirk and sign of your cat’s devotion.