Do Cats Get Separation Anxiety?

 

 

It’s pretty well known that dogs can suffer from separation anxiety.  Their owners leave for work to cries and come home to find shredded pillows and claw grooves in the door jamb.  Do cats experience separation anxiety, too?  The answer is yes – but they react differently as you might expect. 
 
Until recently, scientists didn’t know if cats really experience the same separation anxiety that dogs do.  Happily, science is starting to catch up with cats and now there is some data to back up the idea that some cats do experience separation anxiety.   The increase in cat adoptions during the pandemic and the fact that many of those owners are now going back to work outside their homes makes understanding how cats react to separation all the more important.
 
The long-held myth is that cats are aloof and don’t really bond with their owners.  Turns out that is not the case at all according to the results of a study conducted in Brazil with 130 cat owners and their 223 total cats.  Basing the questions on known anxiety responses in dogs, the researchers used the  questionnaire to ask each cat owner about their cat's behavior, how they interact and describing their living environment.  For the cat study, since the owners weren’t always home to observe, their findings were based on what the cats did while they were gone, like breaking things or using the house as their litter box and what others might have observed.
 
The data, detailed in a CNNhealth.com article, showed that 13.5% of the 223 cats had shown at least one separation anxiety-based behavior, either emotional or destructive.  Of those cats, almost 67%  showed one of these behaviors as noted in metrovetchicago.com:
     Excessive meowing, crying or moaning
     Eating too fast or not eating at all
     Excessive self-grooming
     Elimination outside the litter box
     Destructive behavior
     Excitement upon returning from home that’s out of the ordinary
     Vomiting food or hairballs
     Trying to escape

Data also indicated that the cats with these behavior problems tended to live in homes with no female adults (or, strangely, in homes with multiple adult females), with owners aged 18-35 and in single-pet homes.  Cats do bond with their owners in many ways we don’t always notice so it’s natural that they would experience a negative reaction if their person is gone frequently or for long periods of time.

The findings make sense.  Younger cat owners, aged 18-35, might have more active social lives and work commitments that would take them away from their cat more often.  On the flip side, older cat owners are great pet parents since they are home more often and have more stable routines – and we know cats love predictable routines.  The article also suggests that, for younger pet owners, getting two cats together instead of one is a good idea if they tend to be away often.  A bonded pair of cats will always have each other as company and be less stressed.
 
It's interesting to know that, aside from shredded toilet paper and knocked over items, an anxious cat leaving "presents" outside the litter box for their owner – on cushion or in a shoe – is actually trying to help!  In a behavior that goes back to the first feral cats, they leave you things that add their scent to yours, which in their world will help you find your way home!
 
So, what can you do to help your cat avoid or reduce separation anxiety?  There are a lot of options according to metrovetchicago.com!
     Leave the radio or TV on a station that is often on when you’re there
     Keep arrivals and departures low key (hint: Don’t announce, “Mommy is leaving!”)
     Create a nook, safe haven, or refuge for your cat that is their safe space
     Provide plenty of toys and/or puzzles for playtime while you are gone
     Channel prey instincts by hiding food in toys that make them work for it
     Start with shorter absences first
     Provide a perch or “catio” so that your cat can see their favorite views
     Consider a room diffuser or pheromones to provide a calming scent for your cat (check the safety of this with your vet first)
     Remove departure cues (ie) put your keys in your pocket a few minutes before leaving)
     Provide plenty of cuddles and playtime once home
     For more serious cases, consider having a sitter coming for 1-2 play sessions during absences
 
While it’s easy to assign bad behavior to separation anxiety, there are some cat behaviors that happen for other reasons, too, and a good pet owner should be able to figure them out.  A cat’s life revolves around sleeping, eating and using the litter box.  Domestic cats who don’t have to hunt for their food still have that instinctual cycle and their behavior mimics those things.  In those cats, playtime followed by food and sleep mimics that natural daily cycle.  If they don’t have ways to carry out that schedule, they get bored and frustrated, which can lead to bad behavior.  Cat owners should make sure their cats have enough toys, climbers to perch on and activities to keep them engaged.  Crinkle balls, catnip mice, stuffed toys, puzzle toys that have hidden food in them and feather toys are all effective ways to keep a cat’s mind alert and behavior on the good side.
 
Since feline separation anxiety is a relatively new area of study, scientists are refining their research and looking at other factors that might impact cat behavior.   As we often say, if something about your cat’s behavior is off or not normal, contact your vet right away.  See if your cat follows his genetically programmed daily routine!
 
CLICK HERE to read more from the CNN Health article

CLICK HERE to read the metrovetchicago.com article.