Many owners of cats notice that sometimes their pet does not leave them for a minute and literally follows on their heels. This is called separation anxiety. Until recently, experts thought that only dogs were susceptible to this, but recent studies have confirmed that representatives of the feline family can also develop such a fear.
After all, cats are social animals and can become strongly attached to both humans and other pet. Let’s learn more about what separation anxiety is, what is the cause of this problem, and how to solve it.
Signs of separation anxiety in cats
Feline fear of separation appears only when the pet is being separated from a person or other animals to which the cat is strongly attached. As a result, the cat will do everything possible to stay near the owner as much as possible, which answers the question: Why is the cat chasing me?
If your pet notices that you are about to leave the house, then he will get angry, hide or simply stand between you and the door. Upon the return of the owner, the cat will literally go crazy with happiness.
Separation syndrome is as easy in cats as it is in dogs. So, the pet will give a loud voice and can even make a pile or puddle near the door or on things that belong to its owner. In some cases, subtle signs may indicate the development of separation anxiety. For example, if a cat is left alone, then she stops eating or she vomits.
The rarest symptom is excessive licking to the point that bald spots appear on the pet’s body.
Why does a cat follow her mistress?
It is impossible to accurately answer the question: experts assume that in this situation, genetic factors play an important role, as well as the environment. So, if a kitten was left an orphan early or was taken away from its mother, then it has a predisposition to the development of such a disease.
If you suspect this kind of deviation in your pet, then the most optimal solution would be to contact your veterinarian and in the future conduct a full examination of the cat’s health. After all, the main task is to make sure that all this did not arise due to health problems.
For example, if a cat constantly and furiously licks itself, then she may be allergic to a particular product. The specialist will be able to recommend that you do a urinalysis, blood test, thyroid hormone test, biochemistry, and also carry out a blood pressure test.
How to cure separation anxiety?
The most effective therapy for cats is to ignore the pet for 10 minutes before and after you leave the house. The cat can be distracted by any interesting toy. So, an excellent solution would be to order a toy with goodies inside, which will get enough sleep when playing with it.
Try to distract your pet by hiding goodies in different corners of the apartment. In addition, all toys your cat loves should be taken out before you leave and hidden after you return home.
Make the environment as interesting and fun as possible. Set up a comfortable place from where you can look out the window or at the birds, and also order a scratching post or some kind of entertaining climbing frame.
Let’s sum up
A cat is a social animal that requires attention to itself and will not tolerate separation from its owner or a pet to which it has become attached. To prevent fear, make your pet’s life as rich, interesting and caring as possible.
