Pregnant woman’s cat and dog suddenly behaved strangely, pressing against her belly all night — two days later, she realized why
Pets never fail to amaze their owners with tricks up their paws. A pregnant woman was puzzled by the sudden clinginess of her cat and dog, especially during bedtime. Under a Reddit post shared by u/Stak7, who talked about her dog’s strange behavior as she neared her due date, another lady (u/Action-Bell) chimed in with a heartwarming story of her pets sensing she was about to go into labor. Not only hers—the comments were flooded with similar experiences shared by new mothers and fellow pet owners.
In the top comment, the pregnant woman revealed that both her cat and dog were glued to her two days before her water broke and she went into labor. Even though she was early for her due date, her pets were attuned to her body and guessed it before the doctors did. Speaking of her pets’ typical behaviors, the woman shared that both her cat and dog were loving but became overly protective as the due date drew closer. “At night, our cat would usually sleep in bed with me, but he was different, like plastering his whole body against mine. Our dog is a total sweetheart, but not cuddly at all,” she wrote.
Her dog usually slept in an armchair in the bedroom, but suddenly shifted to her bed two nights before she went into labor. “For those two nights, she crawled inside the covers and pressed herself right against me.” She recalled asking her husband, “Do you think they’re sensing the baby is coming?” The couple did not have to wait long for the answer. 48 hours later, she gave birth, and everything fell into place. “I suspect that they can smell or sense the hormonal changes that bring on labor [sic]. All the best for the arrival of your little one!” the dog owner speculated.
The original Reddit post told a story along similar lines. The pregnant woman was only four days away from her due date and noticed her pet dog becoming “very clingy.” However, it was not atypical of her “velcro” pup, but the intensity of her protective behavior caught her attention. “She's just started pawing at me and whining and won't leave my side. I was sort of worried she's got something wrong or something is bothering her, but she acts normal with my husband,” the dog owner penned. She admired her dog’s perception and how well it aligned with her life.
Similarly, u/v_logs shared that her older dog, who loved her husband more and did not like cuddles, had been clingy, cuddly, and protective during her pregnancy. “Our other dog has no idea what is happening in the world but is very concerned when I get upset,” she quipped. “My velcro dog definitely got more velcro the last fourish days? More anxious, more clingy. She’s more relaxed now at almost eight weeks post-partum,” noted u/Past_Ad_5629. Dogs, and pets in general, have an acute sense of smell. “I suspect that dogs can smell something we cannot,” said Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, a senior vet and director of Pet Health Information at the Animal Medical Center of New York City, per the American Kennel Club.