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Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
The stereotypical image of a cat as aloof and uncaring is one which has been perpetuated throughout media, anecdotes, and writing, resulting in a long-standing belief that dogs are man’s best friend, and cats simply don’t care.
Nothing might be farther from the reality. And the disservice this has done cats, is immense. Why, you ask?
Separation Anxiety in Cats: Is It Really a “Thing”?
Well, feline medicine has often taken a step back from canine medicine. For a very long time, actually, much of the veterinary career’s lifetime, cats have been treated as dogs. But, we now know this is solely not true. Cats suffer their very own unique diseases: hyperthyroidism, urinary blockages, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, and feline coronavirus, to call a couple of. To not say that cats don’t also suffer from a number of the same diseases as dogs (or perhaps I should say dogs suffer from the identical diseases as cats!).
Partially, this inappropriate perception of aloofness is probably going why separation anxiety in cats has been poorly recognized until recent years. And still isn’t well spoken about. Comparably, in dogs, and even humans, it’s a reasonably well-known entity.
So, what’s separation anxiety? To know that, first you might want to understand how attachment occurs in the primary place. Attachment begins when the offspring stays near its mother during youth. Partially, this aids survival, though other functions are also possible, similar to bonding, and socialization.
As veterinary students, we learned about separation anxiety in dogs, and the causes, the behavioural modification to correct it, and the medical treatments available. When it got here to cats, as with most behaviors, we simply didn’t discuss it. Dogs were man’s best friends… cats were just… cats.
In practice, we still don’t often make the diagnosis of feline separation anxiety. I often joke about how Pancake sleeps 26 hours a day, but in fact, how do cats feel when owners leave? What about extremely bonded cats? Cats, greater than dogs, usually tend to be raised as orphans, often called bottle babies, meaning that they often form intense bonds with their early carers, in alternative of their mother.
If anything, you could possibly say that Pancake and Tiller is perhaps in need of a little bit of separation!
Separation Anxiety In Theory vs Practice
I’ve actually worked with many patients who’re quick to be described as upset when their owner leaves for a visit, and behave in a different way upon return. My very own cats are very similar to this—hiding after they see the travel bags come out, and never sleeping of their normal spots. Just as I’m heading out the door, Pancake is notorious for doing a “you possibly can’t touch me” and sitting slightly below the kitchen table, just out of reach. Whereas Tiller retreats to under the bed. On a traditional day, they’d simply be asleep on the sofa, and the bed, respectively. So, actually, they exhibit some mild forms of hysteria, though not enough to be classed as pathological.
Latest technology has also helped to make the behavior of cats more apparent, as we now have cameras for in-home use, to trace what cats are doing, after we are usually not around. Some even dispense treats.
What Behaviors Are Recognized For Cats With Separation Anxiety?
Minimal research has been done on the subject, but studies have checked out owner-based questionnaires, to define the difficulty. One study of 136 cats reported behaviors may be quite varied, including things similar to the next:
- Inappropriate urination and defecation
- Excessive vocalization
- Destructiveness
- Psychogenic grooming
Another interesting findings also got here from this particular study: female cats were more likely than males to defecate outside the box and to partake in overgrooming, whereas males were more more likely to perform destructive behaviors. Inappropriate urination 75% of the time was done on the owner’s bed.
Due to this fact, separation anxiety only occurs, by definition, when prolonged, inappropriate physical responses occur to the physical departure of the cat’s owner. In case your cat sits on the window and cries while you leave for a minute or two, then goes back to bed, it’s not more likely to be considered separation anxiety.
If You Suspect Separation Anxiety In Your Cat, What Are Your Options?
The very first thing to try to do is to get a video or videos of the behavior. This will help your vet confirm the suspicions.
- Home cameras will help to document this.
- Concentrate on other household changes as well, and note these for discussion together with your vet
- Schedule an appointment together with your vet; know that for some behavioral issues, further referral to a feline behaviorist could also be advised. When booking any behavioral appointment, ask if there may be any additional paperwork to fill out, as many vets can have questionnaires to fill out ahead of time. And do mention the particular behavior that you simply are concerned about, as sometimes additional appointment time is required for behavioral issues.
- Know that bloodwork and other diagnostics could also be done to rule out other concerns. For instance, the hyperactivity, and sometimes overgrooming, that may occur with hyperthyroidism can sometimes mimic some components of other issues. Testing will help to rule this out.
- Know that behavioral issues may be difficult to treat, and usually, the longer it has been occurring, the harder it could be to treat. Sometimes, issues can’t be fully resolved, though other times, they’ll.
- Be realistic about your expectations: what do you need to occur to the behavior? Are you willing and capable of medicate your cat every day? Twice every day? Follow up with routine bloodwork, if needed? Knowing this will help your vet or behaviorist to search out one of the best options for you and your cat.
- Have you ever tried anything already for the difficulty, similar to pheromone diffusers?
Ultimately, cats are usually not small dogs—but that doesn’t mean they don’t have similar issues that crop up, either. As an owner, you’re best capable of recognize these issues, and advocate in your cat!