Separation Anxiety in Cats and How You Can Deal With It
Some tips on dealing with separation anxiety in cats.
Make the cat's environment more stimulating.
A comfortable Cat Window Perch allows an outdoor view to provide all-day stimulation.
I have one on my window that looks out on my outdoor Bird Garden.
Cat Trees, or climbing ledges, carpeted towers with attached toys can be fun also.
Many people are familiar with separation anxiety in dogs, but assume it doesn't happen with cats.
When you leave, the cat may sulk and hide.
They may greet you enthusiastically on your return, or ignore you for a day or two to show that they are unhappy with you leaving them.
This anxiety may manifest in destructive behavior, such as inappropriate urination or defecation and less often, destructiveness (chewing, scratching).
A cat scratching pad toy gives them a place to work their claws on the toy and not on your furniture.
Less obvious signs include not eating when alone, vomiting when owner is not there, or excessive grooming.
So be sure to give them their own cat dishes and bowls so they look forward to eating from them..
I needed to go into the hospital and was gone about two weeks, while I was gone my cats would not come to my daughter, who was caring for them.
I was really concerned about "Twiggy".
She wouldn't show herself or respond to a call for her.
I had to go to a rehabilitation facility for two weeks, and wanted my daughter to bring me home so that I could see my cats.
My daughter didn't believe she would come for me.
All I had to do was sit on the couch and call for all of them.
As soon as they heard my voice and knew I was in the house, they came tromping down the stairs immediately.
That reassured me about their health and their attitudes, especially their sense of anxiety-loss.
Cats are very social animals and like lots of attention and special items such as cat trees, laser toys.
My cat has an aquarium that she watches and occasionally swats at the tank if the fish gets too close.
I call it her Cat TV.
Definitely important to keep them happy with their environment with cat toys, trees, beds and "goodies" so that when you do have to leave them, they are less anxious and know that you will return.
Love is everything.
Make the cat's environment more stimulating.
A comfortable Cat Window Perch allows an outdoor view to provide all-day stimulation.
I have one on my window that looks out on my outdoor Bird Garden.
Cat Trees, or climbing ledges, carpeted towers with attached toys can be fun also.
Many people are familiar with separation anxiety in dogs, but assume it doesn't happen with cats.
When you leave, the cat may sulk and hide.
They may greet you enthusiastically on your return, or ignore you for a day or two to show that they are unhappy with you leaving them.
This anxiety may manifest in destructive behavior, such as inappropriate urination or defecation and less often, destructiveness (chewing, scratching).
A cat scratching pad toy gives them a place to work their claws on the toy and not on your furniture.
Less obvious signs include not eating when alone, vomiting when owner is not there, or excessive grooming.
So be sure to give them their own cat dishes and bowls so they look forward to eating from them..
I needed to go into the hospital and was gone about two weeks, while I was gone my cats would not come to my daughter, who was caring for them.
I was really concerned about "Twiggy".
She wouldn't show herself or respond to a call for her.
I had to go to a rehabilitation facility for two weeks, and wanted my daughter to bring me home so that I could see my cats.
My daughter didn't believe she would come for me.
All I had to do was sit on the couch and call for all of them.
As soon as they heard my voice and knew I was in the house, they came tromping down the stairs immediately.
That reassured me about their health and their attitudes, especially their sense of anxiety-loss.
Cats are very social animals and like lots of attention and special items such as cat trees, laser toys.
My cat has an aquarium that she watches and occasionally swats at the tank if the fish gets too close.
I call it her Cat TV.
Definitely important to keep them happy with their environment with cat toys, trees, beds and "goodies" so that when you do have to leave them, they are less anxious and know that you will return.
Love is everything.
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