Have you ever wondered why your furry friends insist that you must not be alone when you head to the toilet? Do they want to see you use your ”litter box” and offer their approval? Are they afraid you’ll drown in your lovely hot bath?
Often the answer is simply that your cat loves you. Wherever you go, they want to go, too. Plus, whenever you’re sitting, there they can find a warm lap!
“Cats are creatures of habit,” says Dr. Mark Biehl, DVM, owner of the College Station Cat Clinic in Wheaton, according to an article by Homeward Trail Animal Rescue. “Cats have a good internal clock [and] know when their owners are getting up, when they’re going to leave for work, and when they’re going to come home again.” Same for your bathroom routine.
It’s also likely that you have some positive interaction with your cat in the bathroom, and they want more of the same. Whether it’s the closeness of brushing your baby’s teeth or just the time you take to give them extra pats or scratches while they preen on the bathroom counter, they know it’s a time they can get your attention, even for a few minutes.
Could it be separation anxiety? Possible. Reassuring them as you go in and out should go a long way to settling them. If they continue, or seem disturbed, aggressive or give other signs of persistent worry over separation from you, check out the relative points in this article from VCA Hospitals: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/preventing- separation-distress-during-and-after-the-covid-19-pandemic
Maybe they are just curious and want to know what you’re going to do next!
Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all! Bathrooms are full of interesting things for kitty to enjoy. Piling up the slidy throw rug, hanging off the shower curtain, drinking from the sink fountain, lying in the nice cool bathtub on a hot day—kitty heaven.
Whichever it is, for the most part it is perfectly normal cat behavior to follow you into the bathroom. If you don’t want them there, you could set them up ahead of time with a toy or treat in the other room, and close the door. Just keep in mind that closed doors are just as big a curiosity generator, so you’re likely to find them waiting for you as soon as you’re finished!