Separation Anxiety in Cats and How to Resolve It

Just like human beings get excited at times and dogs, cats suffer from the same condition. The lockdown has been the moment for pets to bond with their owners, but there will be a huge difference in their lives when the owners go back to work after the pandemic is over. Separation anxiety is normal in all pets, and it’s normal for cats to show signs of separation anxiety. Statistically, all cats love predictability, familiarity, and care; hence this becomes an issue that leads to them getting anxiety problems.

However, not all cats suffer from separation anxiety; the most affected cats are those with little mental and physical stimulations. You may have noticed that some cats have low self-esteem or don’t have confidence in how they walk or behave.

The condition also affects certain breeds of cats; not all cats suffer from the issue. The affected breed is the cats that tend to bond closely with people. Other breeds that seem to be humanly oriented also get separation anxiety from time to time.

Changes Happen in Cats

Cats get affected at times and start vomiting after eating, but some experience loss of appetite. Just like stressed humans find it hard to eat anything until they relieve their stress, cats starve themselves when they undergo separation anxiety. Others get indigestion issues whereby you may notice the cat has mild diarrhea and hasn’t eaten anything rotten.

The cat’s routine changes will take a huge turn, and you may fail to recognize the cat at times. The big changes and abnormal signs are expected as long as the cat is going through separation anxiety. The cats may naturally heal from the separation anxiety eventually, but some cats go through the condition for a longer time, and they need medical attention.

However, there are several natural ways of treating a cat that’s going through separation anxiety. There is nothing to worry about as a cat owner because the condition fades away over time.

How Do You Know If Your Cat Has Separation Anxiety (Signs And Symptoms)?

The problem comes in when you fail to tell that a cat is undergoing separation anxiety and end up giving it many unnecessary treatments. As a cat owner, you need to be aware of possible issues in your cats after a person they have been fond of leaves. For instance, when a family member dies, and the cat cannot see them near anymore, the cat suffers from separation anxiety.

Also, when the owner travels or gets a work transfer, the cat shows signs of serious separation anxiety. These are some instances when a cat may show signs of separation anxiety, but you may never know what it’s attached to, so it’s vital to monitor your cat. Cats can get attached to things we don’t expect to give them attachment issues.

These are the common signs of a cat that’s suffering from separation anxiety;

• A cat that sits sadly by the window alone

Separation anxiety can make a normally jovial cat seclude itself and show sad behaviors. Mostly a sad cat may sit by the window alone, mourning the loss of its owner. The behavioral change can indicate serious separation anxiety issues, so you should try to cheer up the cat as the owner.

A sad cat can be engaged in fun games by the owner or distracting it with a voice note. If the person who has left the house is still alive, ask them to send a voice note to soothe the cat. The cat tends to believe that the person isn’t far off, and the anxiety reduces.

• Behavioral problems

A cat with separation anxiety acts funny and abnormal behaviors in cats are normal. An abnormal cat may show signs of urinating anywhere, especially on the owners’ bed. You may think that the cat is trying to get back at you for something, but it’s just going through separation anxiety. They feel soothed through the weird character, and this is a sign that your cat is missing someone.

• Loud and Excessive meowing

A cat that’s undergoing separation anxiety shows signs of meowing anyhow and loudly. The meows may make you think that the cat has a psychological issue or an illness. In a real sense, it’s just in its feelings and missing someone or something. Cats don’t know how to deal with emotional issues; hence they depict signs through excessive or loud meows.

• Soiling the house

A cat undergoing separation anxiety acts as if it has forgotten the litter box, and it can urinate or pee anywhere. Once the cat heals or gets over it, you will notice that it starts to act normal again.

• Excessive self-grooms through licking its paws or coat

A cat with separation anxiety starts grooming its skin every time, and it’s evident through the licking of the skin. Once you notice this weird behaviour in your cat, you can easily tell that it has separation anxiety.

• Starvation

Just like emotionally unstable human beings lose appetite, cats also starve themselves or overeat when they have separation anxiety.

• Clinginess

An emotionally hurt cat or a cat undergoing separation anxiety shows signs of getting clingy to the family members. The cat sometimes can start getting clingy to the extent of annoying the owner, but you should easily tell that the cat is undergoing anxiety issues.

• Cats with separation anxiety issue diarrhea a lot and Vomiting

Isolation is common among cats with separation anxiety, and they tend to seclude themselves. They stay away from other cats and avoid family members.

You need to understand your Cats Separation Anxiety causes before figuring out how to treat the cat. Most cats with a history of early weaning show signs of separation anxiety. However, to some cats, it’s a genetic disorder just like cats, depression goes way back to the parents. If it’s a genetic disorder, you can do nothing as the owner shows love to the cat. Others have many triggers like a change of stimuli, a move, a vacation, death, or a new baby.

As the cat owner, beware because separation anxiety may be due to an underlying health issue. Don’t make a diagnosis or treatment without checking on the cats’ health. Vets know what to check, so take the cat to a professional because the cat may be suffering from illnesses like allergies, hyperthyroidism, skin issues, parasites infestation, and UTI.

Natural remedies for cat anxiety

As a cat owner, you don’t need to worry about rectifying your cats’ condition. There are natural remedies for treating cat anxiety. These include;

• Catnip

When your cat shows signs of separation anxiety, you don’t need to worry about the reliving treatment! Catnip helps in rectifying the situation also within a short time. Your cat goes back to being the cute, calm pet you knew before the condition.

• Valerian

Among all herbs, this helps cats, and it serves the same purpose as catnip. It also acts as a remedy for insomnia in cats. The cat calms easily and chills within a few minutes, or it falls asleep.

• Chamomile

Human beings take chamomile in the form of tea for stress relief, but the tea also helps cats. If your cat has separation anxiety, you can give it the tea, and the results will be incredible. The cat will get better faster because the tea can modify the nervous system functions.

Conclusion

Your cat may get separation anxiety if it was separated from its mother at an early age, and just like human beings, you will notice that your cat isn’t okay. Some kids who get separated from their mothers at an early age suffer from mental issues or become introverts. The same applies to cats as they start acting awkwardly, and you can notice that your cat isn’t okay.

The behavior can easily be spotted as the cat will commonly show destructive acts. Like human beings, cats sometimes cannot handle situations well; hence, they start showing anger issues through destructive actions. The cat may start acting at times abnormal and start to poo anywhere else except in the litter box as usual.

Cats get aggressive normally, but when they are going through separation anxiety, they start showing extreme anger levels. These are common destructive behaviors, but there are common signs of cats dealing with separation anxiety explained later.

Learn more at https://www.catownersdigest.com