What made me start to question this new behavior is when I noticed that she would also follow me around everywhere. It didn't matter if I was going to the kitchen or the bathroom, she would be at my side.
When I bring out my laptop to do some work or play around on the internet, she decides she needs to meow at me and sit on/near my computer, impeding my ability to do anything on it.
I started to wonder if she was like this because she was trying to tell me that her food and water bowl is empty, or that she wanted her litter box changed. When I went to check these things, however, they didn't seem to be an issue. She had plenty of food and water, and her litter box was clean.
I then started to think of anything in her environment that may have changed and stressed her out. I haven't moved into a new apartment, I haven't introduced any new people into the home, and I haven't moved any furniture. Sure, the apartment may get cluttered every now and then, but for the most part, I keep it pretty clean.
As I type this, I feel as though it sounds like I'm complaining that my cat wants attention. I'm not being a jerk, and I really do love how loving she is. I'm just wondering what may be causing this sudden change in behavior. Maybe this is just part of her personality, and she is showing it more because she is comfortable with her surroundings and fully trusts me (she is a rescue cat). Maybe she's lonely during the day when I'm at work, so she feels the need to cling on to me when I get home.
One of my first thoughts is that since my cat is a rescue cat, she's not used to being a single kitty. She's used to constantly being around other cats, so maybe she gets bored and lonely during the day. I've actually thought about getting another cat, but held off because she seemed to do fine as a single cat. I've also been afraid of what her reaction may be with the new addition to her environment. Would she be welcoming, indifferent, or hostile?
I've done my research, and from what I've read, there's no way to predict how the current resident cat will react. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with this "trial and error" approach. I would hate to bring in a new cat, only to have to take it back to the rescue again if Kitty will not have it. That's not fair to either my cat or the new cat.
Cats do have a reputation for being more independent and self sufficient. Maybe a second cat will not do her any good because her neediness is just a sign of boredom, and not necessarily loneliness. Maybe I need to make her environment more stimulating. While she has free roaming capabilities throughout my apartment, maybe she needs more stimulating toys such as tunnels or cat trees (even though I bought her a tall cat condo, she much prefers the top of the refrigerator).
All in all, adopting a second cat is a big decision to make, and I don't want to make a hasty decision. While I don't have any qualms about getting an additional cat, I only want to do so if it is the best decision I can make for my current cat. I want to make sure that she is happy and healthy. If she would benefit from having a feline companion, I am happy to oblige. :)
