Why Does My Cat Cry When I Leave? Possible Causes & Solutions

January 25, 2024

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While cats are sometimes thought of to not be terribly enthusiastic about folks, they’re delicate, loving creatures that change into deeply hooked up to these they share their lives with. Companion cats develop bonds with their people who resemble these shaped between infants and their caregivers, so it is sensible that some have problem when their supply of affection, affection, and safety is unavailable.

Because the presence of their favourite individual additionally helps cats handle anxiousness, some discover being left alone merely overwhelming. Cats that cry when their favourite individual leaves residence are sometimes affected by separation anxiousness.

What Does Separation Anxiety Look Like in Cats?

Cats with separation anxiousness typically pee and poop outdoors of the litter field and spend plenty of time crying and yowling. They can also groom themselves excessively and have interaction in damaging habits when experiencing anxiousness because of being left alone.

Female cats usually tend to reveal their misery by means of grooming points, and males are sometimes extra inclined to change into damaging. Many cats that develop separation anxiousness wish to spend plenty of time with their favourite individual and observe them from place to position to get their human companion’s consideration.

Sad Cat Image Credit By: g3gg0, pixabay

Are There Factors That Predispose Cats to Develop the Condition?

A number of traits seem to extend the chance of cats creating the situation, together with being solely pets and routine adjustments corresponding to shifting or being adopted by a brand new household. Many cats change into distressed when their favourite individual has a schedule change because of a brand new job or longer commute.

It’s additionally extra generally seen in feminine cats and people which are solely indoor pets. Kittens that have been hand-raised or orphaned generally develop into cats with anxiousness points when left alone. Since cats are masters at hiding indicators of sickness, behavioral adjustments are sometimes the one clues that one thing could also be off, so seek the advice of your veterinarian to make sure there’s no underlying bodily situation which may be inflicting the habits.

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Are There Ways to Help Cats With The Condition?

There are a number of methods to encourage cats to be completely happy, wholesome, and mellow, which might generally assist handle stress and anxiousness. There are additionally choices, corresponding to working with a behavioral therapist, which may be useful in significantly advanced conditions.

1. Activities

Enrichment actions can preserve cats busy when left alone, which can lower the stress they really feel just by giving them one thing else to deal with. Soft music designed particularly for cats might assist present a chilled atmosphere and one thing to maintain pets firm because the day goes by.

Puzzle feeders that require cats to work for his or her treats can preserve them occupied with one thing they love (snacks) lengthy sufficient for them to neglect to be upset that you just’re leaving.

Tortoiseshell Cat playing on the cat tree Image Credit: socreative media, Shutterstock

2. Keep Things Mellow

Help your cat really feel comfy once you depart and are available residence by making the actions round your departures and arrivals non-events. Giving cats one thing to do when you’re preparing might distract their consideration from anticipating the stress of being left alone.

3. Reward What You Want to See

Punishment by no means works with cats, and it may well improve their stress, which can exacerbate the issue. Because cats are so delicate and enthusiastic about pleasing their favourite folks, rewarding what you need to see is usually the important thing to getting them to maneuver in most well-liked instructions.

Consider giving your cat reward and treats once you “catch” them hanging out by themselves and in any other case behaving confidently once you’re residence. You may also give them treats and cuddles after they keep calm once you come residence.

4. Create Routine

Cats generally change into burdened when their favourite individual’s routine adjustments, and so they’re unavailable to offer love when pets have come to count on cuddles and enjoyable.

Try to create and stick to a routine so your cat can spend their day understanding they’ll have cuddle time proper earlier than mattress or after the dishes are put away.

cat playing toy on the floor Image Credit: Lukasz Pawel Szczepanski, Shutterstock

5. Relaxation

You could possibly train your cat to remain relaxed throughout your departures, partially by frequently giving them reward and treats once you see them being mellow. Start small and reward them after they’re hanging out and seem relaxed.

Eventually, up the ante and introduce a cat mattress that your cat can start to affiliate with being cool and laid again. Once your cat has the hold of being good and relaxed whereas hanging out in mattress, follow leaving and rewarding them for remaining calm of their mattress as you exit the room.

6. Professional Help

If you’ve tried all the things and nonetheless can’t appear to make progress in the case of with the ability to depart your cat alone, think about reaching out for assist! Your veterinarian could possibly present steering on behavioral modification methods, and so they may also consider whether or not medicine could also be useful in your cat’s particular state of affairs. There are additionally veterinary behavioral therapists who can assist.

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Conclusion

Cats that change into upset and cry when their favourite folks depart could also be affected by separation anxiousness. Separation anxiousness typically causes cats to remove outdoors of the litter field, groom themselves to the purpose of extra, and have interaction in damaging habits.

Solo indoor cats and those who have been weaned early can develop the types of intense attachments that result in separation anxiousness. While a veterinarian ought to at all times consider cats to rule out different causes for the habits, just a few issues might enhance the state of affairs, corresponding to offering enjoyable issues on your cat to do and implementing routines, which frequently will increase cats’ sense of consolation.

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