Pawfect Manners | Separation Anxiety in Cats

When you think of cats, separation anxiety is probably the last thing you'd expect them to have. If you think about it, it's actually surprising we don't see more separation anxiety diagnosed in cats, especially indoor cats. Their entire world may revolve around one person and one small environment. So when their person leaves, anxiety may occur.

One reason we may not recognize separation anxiety in our cats, is that they are very good at hiding symptoms, or perhaps they simply have symptoms we don't recognize as being related to anxiety.

A few possible signs that a cat is suffering from separation anxiety include:

Urinating outside the litter box: in one study, three-quarters of the cats that peed outside the litter box did so exclusively on the pet parent's bed
Defecating outside the litter box
Excessive vocalization: some cats also carry a favorite toy in their mouths while yowling or crying
Destroying things: more common in male cats
Excessive grooming: more common in female cats
Hyper-attachment to their caregiver: seeking constant contact when they are together

If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, the first thing to do is take them to your vet to rule out health problems. Pain and illness can also cause one or more of these signs. Once health concerns have been addressed, any behavioral issues can be dealt with.

Here are several articles that talk about separation anxiety in cats.

They're Not Loners: Cats Can Have Separation Anxiety, Too

8 Signs of Separation Anxiety in Cats And What to Do About Them

Can Cats Have Separation Anxiety?