[Shatoka]

I'm sure the initial question sounds like more of a good thing than a bad thing, but I'm a bit concerned about it.

My cat was a stray that we picked up about 2 to 3 months ago. Over that time, she warmed up to my family and I and would act like any normal house cat until she had her kittens (I should probably mention she was pregnant when we found her, though at the time we had no idea). Well, her entire litter ended up dying (long story short, our cat gave birth in a space that was much too cramped for her and 5 kittens) and she went through a mourning phase. Now that that has passed (or at least seemed to pass), she's become much more affectionate. She constantly tries to nuzzle her head into my hand so I'll pet her, she's not only willing to stand on my bed but will even sleep on it now (when before she'd jump off the second she was put on there), and will constantly jump up on my computer desk and go to sleep right in front of me/next to me.

Like I said, I understand that this is most likely something I shouldn't be concerned about it, but it just seems too weird. She went from being a somewhat-independent cat to an attention-hog. Does anyone have any idea why?

[paleophlatus]

Hi,

I suspect, since she so readily allowed you to 'take her in', that she either got lost, ran away from, or was abandoned by her previous owners. That she was pregnant is absolutely no surprise! Who knows what memories she has, especially if she left a happy home through no effort of her own. You may be experiencing a reawakening of the good times that people can provide.

If she was aloof before she delivered, she had other things on her mind, plus you were total stranger and she didn't know what to expect out of you. Since then she has come to trust you and feels safe and secure in her new home... it is now hers, after all, or so she believes. We cat owners are just allowed to live with our cats, in our cat's house.

Her affectionate behavior is a reflection of her newly found security. By rubbing her face on you she is releasing 'feline pheromones', thus 'marking' you as her's, in case any other cats were to come along and wonder. Sleeping on your bed?. remember, it is also hers, now. She just lets you sleep in it.

You haven't said, so I hope you have had her spayed by now. If not, there are many good reasons, and no bad ones, to having this done. Not the least of which is she will drive you crazy when she comes into season again. Cats are obligate ovulators... they ovulate after mating. Consequently they will stay in season until it occurs, with brief periods of respite between biweekly periods of pandemonium... mournful meowing and rolling on the floor. She will also become an accomplished escape artist, and get out at her first chance. There will be a willing Tom cat waiting for her, and he will quite rapidly make sure she is pregnant again and stay with her for another day or so until she finally has lost the lust and chases him off. Hopefully she will be able to find her way back to you by then. I venture to say that people who let their female cat out at will have never seen her in season, but have raised numerous litters of her kittens. This is the reason that late spring/early summer is the time shelters are full to overflow with kittens.

Best wishes, and enjoy your cat.