What's wrong with my cat?
Every day when I come home, I find that my cat hasn't eaten much of its food and hasn't gone to the litter box much. When it sees its human come home, it gets incredibly excited, rubbing against them and turning its belly up.
Are these behaviors in cats caused by anxiety when their owners are not home?
Let's step into the world of empty-nest cats and see how to alleviate their anxiety!
Is it because of separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety was first discovered in human infants. It's very common in dogs, but what about cats?
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety refers to the anxiety experienced when leaving close family members or friends. This anxiety is a normal emotion and not a pathological condition.
However, if this emotion develops further, causing the animal great distress and resulting in pathological behavioral changes, it becomes "separation anxiety disorder".
Do cats experience separation anxiety?
Regarding the question of whether cats experience separation anxiety, there are currently many conflicting opinions:
Some people believe that when conducting behavioral problem surveys on cats, 19% (136 out of 719 cats) only exhibited a range of symptoms similar to those experienced by dogs when separated from their close people/companions.
The relevant evidence is Stefanie Schwartz’s 2002 article, “Separation anxiety syndrome in cats: 136 cases (1991–2000),” published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Some argue that cats don't seem to derive their sense of security from being with their owners, and they don't experience pain when their owners leave. Cats care about the resources their owners provide, and so-called "separation anxiety" is caused by boredom and stress.
The relevant evidence is Alice Potter et al.'s article "Domestic Cats (Felis silvestris catus) Do Not Show Signs of Secure Attachment to Their Owners" published in PLOS ONE in 2015.
Do cats experience separation anxiety?
Even the answer regarding snail rice noodles cannot be given accurately.
However, it is a real phenomenon that some cats exhibit behavioral changes after their owners leave home.
Regardless of whether it's due to separation anxiety, if a cat exhibits unusual behavioral changes after its owner leaves home, we need to be alert and make adjustments to the environment.
What changes should we be wary of?
abnormal changes
If you suspect your cat may be exhibiting behavioral changes, it's best to install a security camera at home to confirm. Also, keep a log of any behavioral changes your cat makes. Pay special attention to the following:
Urinating in inappropriate places
Defecation in inappropriate locations
Excessive vocalization (crying, meowing)
vandalism
Excessive grooming
Vomit
His eyes followed his owner the whole time, and he was very excited when his owner came home.
It refuses to eat or drink when its owner is not home.
Before drawing conclusions about these behavioral changes in your cat, be sure to bring your behavior log and go to the vet to rule out any medical conditions. Consult the vet before making a decision.
These problems have indeed occurred, what should we do?
What can parents do?
While there's no definitive answer to whether cats experience separation anxiety, there are similar approaches to addressing this behavioral issue.
Reduce the sense of ritual when leaving
Do you say a dramatic goodbye to your cat every time you leave the house?
"Mimi, I'm going to work. Be good at home, okay? I'll be off work soon, don't be scared." And then give an exaggerated hug?
This actually makes cats feel stressed and anxious, rather than comforted. For the cat, it's like: "Every day, the moment my human takes out their keys/wallet/coat and approaches the door, they seem like a completely different person."
So when you go out, try to be as calm as possible, just like when you go downstairs to pick up a package in 5 minutes, without making a long preparation.
Similarly, you should remain calm and not get too excited when you get home.
Environmental enrichment
Enrichment, in layman's terms, means providing cats with an environment where they can play, relax, and feel safe.
Cats usually like to stay in high places and enjoy the feeling of being in control. You need to provide them with a relatively high platform so that they can stay there feeling safe.
Give your cat a hiding place where you and other animals won't go, so that it can go there undisturbed when it feels nervous.
Prepare some toys and food dispensers, and hide some treats around the house so that your cat can enjoy the fun of searching and hunting.
If you live on a relatively low floor (too high and it's too windy, there are no birds, and securing it is also a problem), you can install a bird feeder outside your window. This will attract birds and give your cat a surprise.
Feline pheromones and soothing classical music can also make cats feel at ease.
Limited supply
When you are at home, you can put away your cat's favorite food and toys and give them to your cat when you leave home.
However, be careful to give wet food in small amounts to prevent it from spoiling.
Toys should be carefully inspected to ensure they do not contain any small parts that could pose a safety hazard.
When cats exhibit behavioral problems due to stress, they are often also suffering themselves. As their owners, a gentle and calm attitude is more effective in helping them improve their abnormal behavior than yelling, shouting, or crying in sympathy.
This time, let's join the Buddhist army in the name of cats!
