Don't know where else to ask. Would like experts opinion.

Hi there,

My question is; I am 11 weeks pregnant. Have two cats. One of them, the one I put info on, keeps putting his head in my lower abdomen, and purrs, and kneads. He now likes to sleep in my stomach and has become more loving. He is now a lap cat, which is way out of character for him My question is, can a cat hear a baby's heartbeat? Can they hear the baby? Can hearing the baby cause this kind of behavior? Or is this behavior caused by all he has been through with his chronic IBD and now recovering from fatty liver disease. His name is Abby...Yep..it's a male kitty named Abby!
My other boy acts like I'm not even pregnant. He is oblivious to it al!

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

Hi again,

What a fascinating question! Oh that we could ever really know what they were thinking!
I have often wished I could converse with my pets and get their opinions. If you can't trust your pets, who can you trust, right?

The many aspects of nonverbal communication with our animals fascinate me too. Of course I cannot answer why your 'condition" may influence your cat's behavior, however, you could be right. Alternatively, your body may be giving off different pheremones, those hormone-like substances that affect others through the olfactory system. Its not a "smell" so much as a chemical substance that is unconsciously sensed. At least as far as we understand today. Perhaps also your behavior is unconsciously different...maybe slightly more nurturing ( I am "reverse anthropomorphizing" here) or caring.

Maybe another colleague will weight in with an alternative thought on this. Either way, glad your cat and you are closer than ever! (and that his illness is stable).

Kind regards,

Arnie Goldman
MedHelp

[PrettyKitty1]

Thanks for your input. Getting a expert's opinion is very important to me. My cat has changed so much since I became pregnant. I'm also glad Abby and I are closer than ever. He is my good boy. Always has been. Always will be. Just lately he has been putting his head real close to my womb and purrs. It's as if he wants to hear the baby even more...or even calm the baby down with his purring..which, as you know..is so relaxing :)

I have heard that some kitties will become aggressive towards the pregnant owner, precisely due to those hormonal changes which they can sense and react to. You see, I was expecting something like that lol. Not a cat who wants to warm up my womb..purr and knead where the baby is.

And you know what, Arnold? the baby is now starting to react to that! As Abby kneads....baby kicks! Maybe there is a connection between them already, hehehe...who knows....