When we think about separation anxiety, we usually imagine a dog that does not know or wants to be alone and that to try to calm down, it chews on furniture or throws things in the absence of its family. But cats are not very different from them: too need to be accompanied most of the time.
This disorder usually appears more in kittens that have been raised artificially, that is, those that were orphaned before reaching weaning age (more or less one month of age), although any cat can suffer from it at some point.
A divorce or loss can be a hard blow for the feline, so much so that it would astonish those who claim that it is a solitary animal. No, folks, no, it's not always like this. It does not matter if it has never had contact with humans: the cat that lives on the street can also establish a strong bond with others of its kind. Of course, these stray cats (called feral) in the face of a loss are not going to destroy anything, but they are going to go through the stages of mourning.
What if this feline has lived with people? If any of them disappear from your life, or if you spend less time with the animal, then you will have to give it a lot of love so that it does not feel alone and to avoid anxiety.
The symptoms of this disorder are as follows: depression, vomiting, scratching furniture, toileting off the tray (in bed or in your favorite person's clothes), compulsive licking, meowing, or misbehavior.
It cannot be completely cured, but you can do several things to make it more comfortable when it has to be alone:
- Put a scratching tree (or several) near a window, or place several shelves at different heights with small stuffed animals hooked on a string.
- Buy a measuring ball and fill it with food so he has to hit her and get his prize.
- Leave the television on, tuning into a nature channel. The sounds of the animals coming out will keep you distracted.
- Play relaxing music. This way, you will be calmer.
- Leave toys around the house and move them daily so you always find something new.
And if he still doesn't improve, take him to the vet for treatment.