Separation Anxiety in Kitty Cats
December 9, 2008 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Pets
It’s real, but not extremely well studied.
Symptoms of separation anxiety:
Inappropriate elimination
Chewing and scratching problems
An overly eager greeting
Excessive grooming
Loud vocalization
Vomiting (often during owner’s absence)
Many of those symptoms also have medical causes, so get your cat checked out by a vet before diagnosing.
The number one piece of advice you’ll hear about avoiding separation anxiety is to ignore your cat for about 15 minutes before leaving and another 15 minutes after returning.
Darn, that’s very difficult, especially when a cute cat is waiting on your greeting. However, immediately gushing over kitty will only reward him for your return.
Other suggestions for avoiding separation anxiety in cats:
• Get kitty a playmate if possible
• Make sure your cat has plenty of toys, rotating them to keep interest
• Hide treats around your place for the hunt (just don’t forget about them)
• Ask your vet if your kitty needs to take anti-anxiety meds until the situation improves
• Contact a certified animal behavior consultant
Have you dealt with a separation anxiety problem with your cat?
(Images via stock.xchng.)
