Cat Separation Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and How To Help

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Cats have a reputation for being aloof and not particularly attached to their humans, but there is both anecdotal and scientific evidence that cats can get lonely and, just like humans, feel nervous or upset. We’re taking a look at cat separation anxiety, what it looks like, and what pet parents can do about it.

Signs of Separation Anxiety

“Separation anxiety is a recognized disorder in cats,” says Dr. Amy Attas, veterinarian, founder of City Pets. “It is a stress response observed when a cat is separated from a person or people with whom they are strongly bonded.”

What that looks like can vary from cat to cat. “Just having one or two symptoms doesn’t mean your cat has [separation anxiety],” explains Lauren Parsch, Cat Behavior Consultant.

True separation anxiety typically manifests as a combination of symptoms that you can observe both when you’re home and when you’re away.

Symptoms of separation anxiety when you’re home

• Extreme attachment. Your cat doesn’t want to leave your side and keeps coming for strokes and cuddles.
• Destructive scratching. Cats often destructively scratch to de-stress and leave visual and scent markers, which helps them feel calmer.
• Overgrooming. Your cat might excessively groom when you’re about to leave or as you get home.
• Anxious behaviors at departure time. These might include nervousness, hiding, blocking the door, or crying when you’re going to leave.
• Urinating or defecating away from the litter tray. Your cat may pee or poop on clothing, bedding, or furniture.
• Eating food too fast. Speed-eating, especially to the point of regurgitation, can indicate anxiety.

Symptoms of separation anxiety when you’re away

• Being louder than normal. This can involve yowling, meowing, or crying.
• Awaiting your return. Rather than engaging in its own activities, the cat remains at the front door the entire time.
• Engaging in destructive behaviors. The cat may scratch destructively on doors or windows. A normally well-behaved cat may also start destroying furniture.
• Changes in eating and drinking habits. You might notice that your cat doesn’t eat or drink when left alone.

iStock/Elitsa Deykova

Is It Separation Anxiety or Something Else?

Mikel Delgado, Rover’s resident cat expert, says there are several health issues that can look similar to separation anxiety. That’s one reason that it’s so important to make the vet your first stop—you’ll want to rule out underlying health problems.

For example, some cats urinate outside the litter box or overgroom due to general cat anxiety.

A cat might also have a urinary tract infection, allergies, or even skin issues that are causing discomfort.

Vomiting can be a symptom of stress, but a barfing cat could have eaten something they shouldn’t, or there might be an underlying health issue at play.

Why Separation Anxiety Happens

Cats develop separation anxiety for many reasons, and it can occur at any time in their lives. There’s no one-size-fits-all cause. There are, however, some general trends. A cat’s risk for developing separation anxiety goes up if the cat:

• exclusively lives indoors
• lives with only one person
• is the only pet in the household
• was taken from their mother too early
• was bottle-raised as a kitten
• lacks stimulation or socialization
• moved to a new home and/or got a new owner
• experienced a disruption in their routine

How To Help a Cat With Separation Anxiety

Helping a cat with their separation anxiety involves both a long-term strategy and some short-term fixes. Here’s what you can do.

Short-term solutions

According to Delgado, the best things you can do to make your cat more comfortable in the moment are:

• adding physical exercise through playtime
• increasing mental stimulation via sensory enrichment, solo toys, bird watching opportunities, things to scratch, and food puzzles
• asking a cat sitter to come by while you’re away (if your cat enjoys the attention of others)

Long-term environmental changes

One of the best things you can do in the long-term is adjust your cat’s living space. “A cat with separation anxiety feels like the world is an unsafe place when their human isn’t around,” explains Parsch. “Therefore, creating a sense of safety for them in their environment…is a great first step on the path to helping them.”

Here’s what you can do:

• increase the number of cozy hiding places with tunnels and cat caves
• add a feline pheromone diffuser, which has a calming effect on many cats
• leave the television or music on to calm your cat when you go out
• create a routine and stick with it by playing with them and feeding them at the same time each day (typically with play followed by food, to mimic a cat’s natural rhythm)

iStock/101cats

Medications

“In severe cases, veterinary intervention and medication may be necessary,” says Delgado.

Some of the medications most commonly prescribed for cat separation anxiety are:

• Fluoxetine
• Sertraline
• Alprazolam
• Clomipramine
• Amitriptyline

A long-term medication regimen requires additional veterinary care and regular blood tests. “The medications used take time to achieve a therapeutic blood level,” explains Attas.

Over-the-counter options

There are special diets, treats, and natural supplements that may ease anxiety symptoms in cats, and plenty of options are available. These products will ideally contain:

• Pheromones. Cats naturally produce these chemicals to communicate and make a space feel more familiar. Many room sprays replicate these pheromones to relax kitties and help them feel safe.
• Theanine. An amino acid that has been shown to lower stress-related behaviors in cats. Find it in gummies and chewable tablets.

Always consult your vet before giving your cat any over-the-counter supplements or medications.

Would a Second Cat Help?

Delgado says a second cat may help some cats with separation anxiety, but others may find it very stressful.

“I never recommend getting a cat solely as a companion to a resident cat because cat introductions can be slow and challenging, and it does not necessarily address the cat’s relationship with the human in the household, which is usually the source of the separation anxiety,” she says.

Unless the human is interested in having an additional cat—and has the time, space, and resources to have multiple cats and introduce them properly—it’s not a great idea.

“Further, with rare exceptions, I don’t usually recommend getting a new cat where there are already behavior problems in the home,” says Delgado.

How To Prevent Separation Anxiety

Even if your cat isn’t showing signs of separation anxiety, you can still engage in practices that encourage a healthy attachment style—and could potentially prevent issues from developing in the future.

• Enrich the environment. Add a window perch with a great view, or scatter some toys around the house.
• Make departures low-key. Rather than having an obvious leaving-the-house routine, switch things up so the signs are harder for your cat to identify.
• Encourage sleep while you’re out. Play with your cat in the morning, with an interactive toy, before you go to work. Try to tire them out, then feed them breakfast. Feeding right after play time will make them much more likely to go to sleep afterward.
• Buy a Wi-Fi camera. A good pet camera will let you can keep an eye on your kitty while you’re out and monitor for anxious behaviors.
• Encourage socialization. Especially if your cat is used to staying indoors, building a catio or using a cat leash or a cat backpack are great options for encouraging ventures further afield.
• Hire a sitter. If you work long days, consider hiring a cat sitter. This will maintain a presence in the house, keep your cat’s routine in check, and help prevent them from feeling lonely.

With some patience, compassion, and the right strategies, symptoms of separation anxiety can improve, bringing relief to both your kitty and you.