Separation anxiety can be troubling whether it is occurring in a person or a pet. Many people often assume that animals cannot suffer from these sorts of conditions. Unfortunately, this is not true. Cats, like many animals, can suffer from mild to severe cases of separation anxiety.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Cats
Most often, the signs of separation anxiety in a cat will occur when the cat becomes separated from the person, object or other animal with whom it has formed a strong bond.
Some obvious signs include:
- Loud vocalizing when the owner leaves.
- Following the owner from room to room, in an excessive manner.
- Urination and/or defecation at the door that the owner left through.
- Destructive behaviors such as chewing, scratching, and more.
- An extremely enthusiastic greeting upon the owner’s return.
Overall, the cat feels it must be with the owner at all times. The cat may also become obnoxious because it always needs to be near the owner: whether it is on the owner’s lap, in the same room, or underfoot in the kitchen.
There are also some less noticeable signs, which include:
- Vomiting when the owner is not at home.
- Being unable to eat when the owner is away.
- Excessive grooming, to a point of developing bald spots.
- Sulking or hiding when the owner is gone, or about to leave.
What Causes Separation Anxiety in Cats
There is no known cause at this time. Many vets believe that there could be a variety of factors including being weaned too early, or being abandoned as an extremely young kitten, or it could be an entirely other reason, such as genetics.
How to Deal with Separation Anxiety in Cats
Ideally, any cat exhibiting signs of separation anxiety should be taken to the vet. This is because there may be an underlying cause that the owner is unaware of. For example, a cat urinating by the door may actually have a urinary tract infection; or a cat with an unknown food allergy may be excessively grooming and vomiting, because the animal is stressed.
It is also recommended to allow a behaviorist who specializes in cats to come and observe the cat’s behaviors, in its home. The animal behaviorist may determine that there is another cause for the behavior and recommend ways of modifying the bad behavior; or he can confirm that the cat is having separation anxiety issues.
Many vets will recommend that the cat is ignored for 15 minutes prior to leaving, and for 15 minutes upon return. If this does not work, there are also recommendations of distracting the animal: for example, using the cat’s favorite toy, hiding food or using toys that hold treats, all of which can help distract the cat during the owner’s departure.
Overall, adjusting the cat’s environment may provide a significant improvement in behavior. Cats that are stimulated by their environment through the use of toys, scratching posts, cat trees, cat nip, and even window watching, are less likely to suffer from separation anxiety.
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