Can Cats Become More Affectionate With Age – What To Expect

Have you noticed your furry friend is a little more affectionate with you lately? It is normal to get worried about the recent changes occurring in your cat with age, and many of the cat owners might have this question: Can cats become more affectionate with age? 

Yes, cats can become more affectionate with age. Some specific cat breeds, especially male, neutered cats, show more love to their owners as they age, and it’s completely normal.  

Below, we have given answers to similar questions like at what age do cats tend to get more affectionate, tell if your cat has become more affectionate, whether a male cat gets more affectionate as they grow up, and others.  

At What Age Do Cats Tend to Get More Affectionate

At the age of one or two, cats usually tend to become more affectionate. Some will just come and climb to your lap, while others can just become more independent and would like occasional petting. As mentioned earlier, this entirely depends on the personality and breed of your cat, as every cat is different.

A cat usually enters adulthood at the age of one, and its permanent behavior starts taking root. This is the best age to determine if your feline friend would like to crawl up to your lap and become clingy, or it will just relax alone and depend on herself. Cats develop their permanent nature until two years of age, which is unlikely to change much as she grows up.

So, by the age of two, you will be able to easily decide if your cat will be affectionate and clingy with you, or she will rest in her own space and would occasionally express love while maintaining her boundaries. 

How To Tell That Your Cat Has Become More Affectionate

Cuddling, sleeping with you or on your lap, crawling up to your lap at times, looking at you in the eyes straight, following you at times could be taken as signs of your cat being affectionate towards you.

Cats generally cuddle with their owners or rub their bodies against them to show affection. If your cat sees your cat looking at you while blinking gently in the morning, then they are showing their love for you. Crawling up to the lap and sitting or sleeping there is another act of showing that they feel good and safe with you. If a cat likes to sleep with you at times, she reflects her affection for you. 

These behaviors are expected as the cat grows up and becomes mature, but the owner should always look for the sudden changes in affection mixed with other signs, which could even reflect some negative causes.

Why Is My Cat Acting Affectionate All Of A Sudden 

If your cat is acting affectionate all of a sudden, then she might be anxious, ill, seeking attention, having chronic health problems, and others. However, sometimes it could just be for attention too.

If you suddenly notice your not-so-affectionate cat jumping into your lap or cuddling with you all of a sudden, and other behavioral changes like lethargy accompany this, change in appetite, weight loss, not using the litter box, etc. it could indicate stress, anxiety, pain, illness, or maybe any chronic health disease. In this case, cats should be taken to a vet and taken care of.

Your feline friend might be seeking your attention by being more affectionate. Cats have their ways of communicating their need for attention and affection, and your furry friend might be conveying this to you through her sudden behavioral change. This could happen if you have suddenly reduced the time of playing with her, or maybe there are guests or any other new pet at your home that your feline does not like very much. 

Do Male Cats Get More Affectionate As They Grow Older

The sex of your cat has nothing to do with being affectionate or not with age. If you think that your male cat will gradually become more affectionate than the female one as they grow older, then you are mistaken.

On the contrary, many cat owners have reported that their male cats become more independent with age, so sex is not a factor contributing to cats’ affection. The personality and breed of your cat determine whether she becomes more affectionate with age or not. Some breeds such as Siamese, Birman, Persian, and others are more affectionate towards their owners as they age. 

Hence, your male or female cat can become equally affectionate or independent as they become mature. Sex is not a determinant in this case. However, if we talk about the male neutered cats, then it is a different case. 

Does Neutering Make A Cat More Affectionate

After neutering, male cats generally become softer and more affectionate than they were earlier. Neutering reduces the testosterone levels in male cats, making them calmer, and you would rarely see them involved in fights or being very particular about their territories after that.

Male cats are reported to become affectionate and even clingy after neutering. One thing which is important to keep in mind is that neutering a male cat does not mean that he will become extra affectionate or very lovable, but he will surely become more affectionate and calmer than he earlier was. The rate of affection depends from breed to breed. Also, these changes usually occur with time, and your male cat will not become a cute, calm furball within hours of surgery.

It is equally important to keep your cat indoors and monitor them after their surgery for some days. After neutering, your cat might feel disoriented or want to remain close to you. Hence, it is crucial to take care of them at that time. 

Things To Consider

Cats tend to become friendlier and affectionate around the age of one or two, but some cats might become more independent or particular about their boundaries. If your cat seeks your attention at particular times of the day, say, in the morning or when it is their playtime then, this should be taken as a sign of healthy affection.

Cats can become affectionate with age, but if your independent cat suddenly becomes clingier or it crawls up to your lap, then this might indicate an underlying health problem, or they might be seeking your attention. Taking your cat to a vet is a healthy practice that should be done if you notice your furry friend becoming needy all of a sudden.