Separation Anxiety In Cats

​

Despite stereotypes, cats are not actually solitary creatures.  They often form close attachments with people and other animals, and can become anxious when their favorites are not nearby.  They might respond to the absence with excessive meowing or grooming, or by urinating on places that are saturated with their human’s scent, like pillows, laundry, and beds.  It’s easy to misread the inappropriate elimination as an act of spite, but it’s really just a way for kitty to self-soothe by mixing their scent with yours.  It’s also your cat’s attempt to help you find your way home; the feline version of dropping bread crumbs along a path.

​

Before self-diagnosing your cat as having separation anxiety, it’s important they get examined by your veterinarian.  The behavior being displayed may have an underlying medical cause.  For example, elimination outside of the litter box may be due to lower urinary tract disease or have some other medical cause.  Excessive grooming may be the result of external parasites, skin allergies, irritation, etc.  Don’t skip the crucial first step of visiting your veterinarian.

​

Once your cat is diagnosed with separation anxiety, the following techniques can be used to reduce their stress and increase their happiness in your absence.

​

1. Increase environmental enrichment.​  If you want your cat to feel satisfied, entertained, and secure when you aren’t around, then the environment in which they live must provide appropriate enrichment.  Utilize puzzle feeders, cat TV, playtime, elevated areas, hideaways, and more to encourage them to perform species-specific behaviors as well as satisfy their prey-drive.  If your cat loves puzzle feeders, then save them for when you won’t be home.  A cat tree is a wonderful place to nap, play, climb, scratch, and, if placed near a window, watch the birds outside.  As long as there’s no threat of other cats coming into the yard, consider putting a bird feeder outdoors so your cat will have some entertainment while perched on their cat tree.

​

2. Many cat owners reinforce separation anxiety by rewarding their cat for clingy, needy behavior.  Instead, ​inspire confidence when you interact with your cat​.  Ignore your cat when they’re meowing or being insistent.  Reward them when they’re quiet or entertaining themselves.  Always reward the behavior you want to see again and ignore unwanted behavior.

​

3. Engage your cat in interactive play sessions ​with wand toys on a twice-daily basis.  Interactive playtime allows your cat to be the mighty hunter they were born to be.  For a cat, being able to engage their prey drive and enjoy a successful capture is the ultimate satisfaction.

​

4. Don’t make a big production about leaving​.  Make your goodbyes very casual.  Cats pick up on even the subtlest emotions of their human family members.  If you’re upset and worried about leaving your cat, they will likely become upset too.

​

5. Practice coming and going​.  If your cat tenses up when they hear you pick up your keys or see you reach for your purse or coat, then practice doing those things several times a day.  Work up to actually walking out the door and then immediately returning.  Each time you walk back into the room, greet your cat casually or engage in a little play session.  Vary the times you do these training sessions, and gradually increase the time spent outside of the home.  If there are particular objects that trigger the anxiety such as your keys, purse, or briefcase, carry them around the house for a while each day so they are no longer an anxiety trigger.

​

6. For extended absences, it is wise to​ enlist someone to stay with your cat​ or visit at least twice a day.  During their visits they should recreate familiar activities your cat enjoys, such as wand toy playtime, treat time, or grooming.  Before you leave, place small towels and other articles of clothing that have your scent on them in sealable plastic bags — one for each day you’ll be away.  Your cat sitter should set out one new scented item each day for your cat.  Your scent will help your kitty feel like they haven’t been abandoned.

 

There are some cases where anti-anxiety medication may also be needed in conjunction with the behavior modification methods above.  Your veterinarian will advise based on the specifics of your cat’s case.  If medication is prescribed, it must be used alongside the methods above and not as a substitute for doing the work you need to do to relieve your cat’s anxiety.