Can Cats Sense Pregnancy? What Experts and Owners Say

Last spring, an expectant mom and her cat went viral on TikTok with a video capturing the moment the cat realized its owner was pregnant. In it, the cat curiously investigates its owner’s pregnant belly, sniffing around and pressing a tentative paw to her belly button.

The video set off a cascade of comments, like, “He knew you were pregnant even before you did!” and “Animals have a sixth sense.” While we can’t argue with the video evidence—that cat definitely knows something’s up!—it’s important to be honest about what these types of reactions from our feline friends actually mean.

To be clear, there’s no scientific data to prove that cats know when their owner is pregnant. They do have a powerful sense of smell, though, and can probably pick up on hormonal changes during pregnancy. But can cats sense pregnancy itself? Learn more details—plus signs your cat might be able to tell you’re pregnant—ahead.

Key Takeaways

• Can cats sense pregnancy? There’s no scientific evidence proving that cats can detect a human pregnancy, but their sense of smell and sensitivity to environmental changes suggest they probably know something’s different about your body.
• Cats can sense some physiological changes: During pregnancy, cats may notice some hormonal shifts, an increase in your body temperature and other changes.
• Your cat may act different—or not. Some cats will react to your pregnancy by acting clingy, anxious or vocalizing more, but other cats won’t respond at all.
• Take precautions. The biggest safety consideration for pregnant cat owners is toxoplasmosis, a parasite spread through cat feces. To avoid this, stay away from the litter box, keep your cat inside and avoid raw cat food.

Can Cats Sense Human Pregnancy?

The short answer is that we don’t have any scientific data confirming that cats can sense human pregnancy using their sharp senses or observation skills. The more nuanced answer is—maybe. Here are some pregnancy-related changes your cat could possibly pick up on.

Increased hormones

In the early stages of pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of subtle but significant changes, especially shifts in hormones like estrogen and progesterone, explains Dr. Kate McLean, MD, an ob-gyn and chief medical officer at Evvy. With their incredibly sensitive sense of smell, cats may be able to pick up on those body chemistry changes.

“A cat’s sense of smell is much stronger than ours, and they’re definitely sensitive to different types of pheromones and hormones,” says Dr. Katie Merkatoris, DVM, a Wisconsin-based veterinarian and contributor to JustAnswer Pets. “In fact, we often use an artificial feline pheromone to mimic a mother cat’s calming scent to help calm anxious cats.”

These hormone changes don’t just happen in the first trimester; biochemical shifts at the end of pregnancy, including a rush of oxytocin and prostaglandins before labor starts, can also pique a cat’s attention.

Mary Beth F., a mom of two in North Carolina, says her cat, Weasley, started acting out of character—rubbing all over her feet, meowing loudly and curling up between her legs—right before the births of both of her children. When it happened the second time, Mary Beth even sent a joking text to her husband, saying “Am I about to have a baby or something?” Her water broke later that night.

Routine changes

Hormonal shifts can also affect your daily life, says Dr. McLean, triggering common pregnancy symptoms like fatigue, nausea and mood swings.

Because cats are sensitive creatures, they’ll likely notice if you’re suddenly camping out on the bathroom floor every morning or falling asleep on the couch by 8 p.m. They might also try to rebel against environmental changes, like you moving furniture around to set up a nursery (especially if it disrupts one of their favorite sleeping or hiding places!).

Increased body temperature

During pregnancy, your body temperature could go up by about 0.2 degrees, and Dr. Merkatoris says this can be attractive to cats, who are naturally heat-seeking. If your previously aloof kitty suddenly wants to snuggle with you, now you know why.

“Cats are very perceptive of subtle changes to routine, so they may change their behaviors if they sense something different from their owner,” explains Dr. Merkatoris.

Signs Your Cat Senses Your Pregnancy

Clues your cat can tell you’re pregnant include increased clinginess, anxiety and more meowing than usual (lucky you!).

That said, not every kitty will outwardly respond or react to changes in their environment, notes Dr. Merkatoris: “Some cats are very easy-going, while others are sensitive to even the smallest changes.”

Here, experts explain some feline behaviors you might notice in response to your pregnancy:

Clinginess

Some cats become more cuddly and interactive with their pregnant humans, says Dr. Mikel Delgado, PhD, a certified cat behavior expert with Rover.

Christina L., a mom-to-be in Connecticut, says her cat started snuggling with her every night in bed about a week before she even knew she was pregnant.

Julia C., a mom of two and TikTok creator, shares: “I didn’t have any early signs of pregnancy other than the cats suddenly wanting to be on my belly non-stop. The kitten doesn’t sit in my lap anymore since I gave birth.”

Anxiety

Some cats respond to pregnancy with anxious or nervous behavior, which can include hiding, excessive grooming or changes to their appetite or bathroom habits.

Vocalization

If your normally quiet kitty is suddenly meowing loudly at you, it may be their way of saying they’ve noticed that things are different—and, in typical cat fashion, it might mean they’re not pleased!

Research says cats use these “vocalizations” to share emotions, so don’t be surprised if you hear more yowling, purring, hissing or chirruping.

While these behaviors might be confusing or frustrating, they’re generally harmless. In response, try to keep your routine as consistent as possible and reward calm behavior, suggests Dr. Liza Cahn, DVM, a veterinarian in Seattle.

If your cat’s behavior starts to concern you, make sure to check in with your veterinarian, adds Dr. Merkatoris. Yes, cats can be dramatic—but if yours starts showing signs of aggression, refusing to eat, peeing outside of their litter box or not peeing at all, it’s best to seek advice. “It’s important to monitor your cat when there are any types of changes in the home,” she adds.

Safety Considerations for Cat Owners

The biggest safety concern for cat owners during pregnancy is the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and spread through infected cat feces and contaminated soil, food and water. Pregnant women are more susceptible to toxoplasmosis because their immune systems are vulnerable, and it can have long-term consequences for Mom and baby.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t have any contact with your cat during pregnancy: “The good news is that the risk is relatively low if you take simple precautions,” assures Dr. McLean. Basically, pass the litter-box duties to someone else for the next few months.

Dr. McLean also recommends regularly taking your cat to the vet and practicing good food hygiene to prevent infections. With these basic steps, she says, having a cat during pregnancy is completely safe for most people.

Preparing Your Cat for Life With Baby

Cats appreciate a slow introduction to lifestyle changes, says Dr. Merkatoris, so take the time during your pregnancy to prepare them for the tiny, noisy, smelly human that’s about to arrive.

Dr. Merkatoris says this might look like:

• Setting up the nursery and allowing your cat to investigate all the new baby items.
• Making major changes well in advance, including rearranging your cat’s personal items or keeping them out of your bedroom at night.
• Playing audio recordings of a baby crying in your home, and rewarding your cat with treats, attention or a favorite toy while it’s on (this way, your cat will associate the crying with a positive experience and the real thing will be—hopefully—less stressful).
• Continuing to spend one-on-one time with your cat after baby comes, even if it’s just for a few minutes to help maintain your bond and make them feel loved.

Remember to start small and go slow. Once your cat has had a chance to explore the nursery, set boundaries about what’s off-limits in there (like the crib or changing table). You might also consider introducing kitty to other new smells and sounds that come with baby, like baby lotion, a noise machine and rattles.

Finally, make sure your cat’s vaccinations are up-to-date and any other health conditions are well-managed before you bring baby home.

To Sum It Up

It’s possible that cats can sense pregnancy. But no matter how your cat is responding to your pregnancy (if they are at all), they don’t actually know you’re pregnant. Rather, they realize that something has changed. Their sense of smell is sharp enough to pick up on hormonal shifts, and they’re likely to notice pregnancy-related changes to their environment or routine.

In the meantime, keep your kitty’s routine as normal as possible, shower them with love and treats and give them plenty of time to adjust to upcoming changes.

How We Developed This Article

To learn about what cats can sense about pregnancy and their behavioral changes, we spoke with two veterinarians, a cat behavior expert and an ob-gyn. We also consulted several medical and academic sources, including Cleveland Clinic and the Journal of Veterinary Science. Finally, we spoke with three real moms about their experiences with cats and pregnancy. After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Sarah Bradley is a freelance parenting writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons. Because she homeschools her three boys, works part-time from home and helps her husband run a small side gig, her life is never, ever boring.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.