HRT and Pets

[Sarah_P]

This may seem like an odd question, but has anyone who's on HRT & have pets (cats &/or dogs mainly?) have any problems with them treating you differently? Since the hormones are changing our smells (more so to them!), I was curious.
My cats seem to be fairly aloof now, where before I couldn't keep one of them off my lap (the moment I sat down, there he was!). I'm sure some of that is trauma from our recent move, but that was almost 3 months ago now. They're not unfriendly, and they let me pet them & even purr, but otherwise they just don't act the same. 

[sarah1972]

We have two cats (boy / girl) and we have observed them treating me a bit different since I am on HRT. They are both much more attached now than they have been before HRT. Not sure I can exactly point what in their behavior has changed, but something subtle to the point that we both noticed.

It may be the different smell.

And they are confused by someone walking in heels... sometimes to the point that they go hiding.

[AnneK]

Dogs and cats rely on their sense of smell far more than humans do.  The hormones you take will change how you smell to your pets.  You no longer smell the same to them, so you're now a stranger.

[Jenny94]

This is one of the biggest things I fear about HRT. My dog is my soulmate  I don't want to "lose" her...

[Bari Jo]

I can tell you that my dog hasn't changed his feelings for me.  I occasionally ask him if he likes his new mommy.  Like you my Fanta is my soulmate, and I can't imagine life without him.

[Roll]

I was reading about this issue a while back (I think it was in a ->-bleeped-<- thread) and the general consensus seemed to be that if you are around the animals consistently the gradual change won't make them treat you as a stranger since they will adapt to it overtime. The larger issue seemed to be when people returned to their parent's house after transitioning or something of that nature in which they hadn't been consistently exposed to the animal during the course of the transition, in which it was more like a stranger scenario. Though animals who are gender biased may change their opinion of you, it won't be because you're a stranger I guess.

I'm down to one cat who is 16-17. I'm fascinated by what will happen when I start HRT, though he is enough of an idiot (but sweet) I don't picture any reaction. Probably just continue to sit around obliviously.

[Tammy Jade]

We have 2 cats, my cat is significantly more affectionate I love it! My partners cat is about the same, he kept running away from me to start with then we worked out he doesn't like the jingle of my bangles. Cats are strange creatures..


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[KathyLauren]

One of our cats is a former feral.  She has bonded to my wife, and she is a one-human kitty.  She would never have anything to do with me, and regularly gave me the evil eye.  Now, she will occasionally let me pat her.  She used to steal my wife's socks and leave them scattered around the house.  Now, she sometimes steals mine, too.

[TransAm]

We have two cats and nothing much has changed except they both want to lay on me even more now (increased body temperature, perhaps?).

One likes to wrap around my neck like a shawl and the other flops onto her side or back across my chest.

[Julia1996]

I have 2 cats and a dog. My dog's attitude towards me hasn't changed. She still thinks she's a baby and wants to be in my lap all the time. The 2 cats, I really haven't noticed any difference. They still act like they are doing me a huge favor by acknowledging me at all. I love the cats but cats can be ->-bleeped-<-s a lot of the time. Cats are the only animals who can actually look at you like you're the biggest idiot in the world. Lol

[Kylo]

I don't have pets right now but if I did and if I can detect the change in smell on myself, they surely would. The change in general body scent happened overnight with the first T dose. I imagine any dog or cat would find it temporarily intriguing.

[Sarah_P]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Hmm... I have been away from them more than usual (what with actually trying to have something of a social life for the first time in the 15 years I've had them). I'll keep budying up to them and bribe them with treats. Hopefully they'll warm back up to me.

[Jenny94]

Okay, so - animals, dogs in particular, definitely make a distinction between men and women. So, when we go on hormones, do they come to "view us" as our proper gender rather than our birth sex?

[KathyLauren]

Okay, so - animals, dogs in particular, definitely make a distinction between men and women. So, when we go on hormones, do they come to "view us" as our proper gender rather than our birth sex?

I asked our dog that question, but she didn't answer.    I think that as long as I keep taking her for walks, I'm okay by her. 

[Nora Kayte]

Dogs and cats rely on their sense of smell far more than humans do.  The hormones you take will change how you smell to your pets.  You no longer smell the same to them, so you're now a stranger.

Ya right. My 3 love me just as much. They don't care. They still love you.


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[steph2.0]

Been on HRT for 10 weeks, the first 8 very low dose, and last two full-dose. No changes from my little buddy (dog) at all. Maybe it was gradual enough she didn't notice.

Or maybe the walks and food still smell the same, so her tail's in the air like she just don't care. [emoji846]

Steph

[Sarah_P]

So maybe it's just cats that take issue with it? They do like to be judgmental even in the best of conditions.
I have noticed my friend's dog is much more interested in sniffing my butt lately...

[Rachel]

Our dog kept smelling me when I went on HRT. He is a Kerry Beagal and has a good nose. The cats pretty much showed no changes toward me.