Does Your Cat Have Separation Anxiety?
Tips For Helping A Cat Cope When You're Not There
Aug 6, 2008
Most people are not aware that cats can suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs are adept at showing their displeasure at being left alone. They may howl and tear things up when their owners are gone. Cats, however, are more subtle. A cat owner needs to pay close attention to what her kitty is telling her, or she may not understand her cat's behavior.
Cat Anxiety Symptoms
Does your cat do any of these things?
- Follows you around the house, from one room to another.
- Shows signs of distress when you leave, including meowing, sulking, slinking away, hiding, and even acting depressed.
- Meows loudly after you leave. (You can use a tape recorder to monitor this behavior.)
- Refuses to eat if he's alone.
- Vomits when you're gone.
- Overdoes his grooming when you're not present. This can progress to compulsive self-grooming even when you're home.
- Claws and scratches doors when he's left alone.
- Urinates or even defecates on your clothing or belongings when you're absent.
- Greets you like you've been gone for years when you come home.
What Causes Separation Anxiety In Cats?
There can be many reasons. Sometimes your cat bonds too closely with you. This can happen with orphaned kittens, kittens who are weaned early, and kittens bought at pet stores. Sometimes genetic factors play a part. Siamese and Burmese cats may be more prone to developing separation anxiety. Some cats inherit a nervous or anxious disposition.
Sometimes a cat owner adds to the problem by encouraging the cat to get excited when the owner returns home because it's seen as a sign of attachment. Excessive attachment and overdependence is the basic cause behind separation anxiety.
A cat owner may think it's cute when her kitten follows her all over the house, and may not even realize that a problem could be developing.
How To Help A Cat With Separation Anxiety
You can help build your cat's confidence by using behavior modification. This form of cat training takes some time, but it's pretty easy to teach your cat to be more independent. A more confident, independent cat will be a lot less stressed when he's alone.
Here are some suggestions that may help:
- Don't make a fuss when you leave. Avoid paying any attention to your cat for a while before you leave.
- Set aside a favorite toy that you only bring out when you depart. Distract him with it when you go. Put it away when you get home.
- Hide some food or a favorite treat in a place where your cat will find it while you're gone.
- Don't make a big fuss when you get home. Instead, ignore your cat for a while.
Desensitizing your cat to your leaving and coming home may help, too. Start by opening and closing the door, without actually leaving. Draw attention to yourself so your cat notices. Then try going out for a minute or two and coming back in.
Gradually increase the amount of time you're gone every time you go out. You may need to work on desensitizing your cat for several weeks, but this should help him get used to the idea that when you leave, you do come back.
Cat owners tend to dismiss symptoms of cat anxiety, believing that they will go away on their own. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to problem behaviors, including vomiting, excessive grooming that can lead to hair loss, and inappropriate elimination.
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