Velcro Kitties: Pointers for 9 to 5 guardians and their over-attached cats

By Daniel Quagliozzi

For those of us lucky enough to be working these days, a nine to five gig is a blessing, but for our housebound feline room mates, this time of the day can be downright traumatic. The consequence of forming a tight and routine bond with our animals can often be displayed as anxiety when we leave the inner sanctum and decide to leave for the day.

Cats are solitary by nature. They can get along just fine without the company of another cat, although there are many exceptions to the rule. While maintaining a life of independence, they tend to bond strongly with their human caretakers, even when they are paired off. After all, we are EVERYTHING to them! Humans are the providers of love, conversation, physical comfort, food, water and interactive play. Another cat simply can not provide this.


How do you know if your cat is stuck to you like Velcro? My guess is.... you won't even have to ask this question!

Signs Of Feline Separation Anxiety

• Over-attachment to the owner such as following the person to every room of the house (heal chasing).
  

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  Distress as the owner prepares to depart: This can take many forms, but some of the more common reactions are meowing, sulking, apparent depression, slinking away and hiding. (No, seriously it's true!)
  
  




• Vocalization (crying, yowling, meowing) right after the owner has left or even when you are sleeping.
  




• Anorexia – the affected cat is often too anxious to eat when left alone.
  
  




• Inappropriate elimination – often in the form of urine marking. Deposits of urine or feces are often near to the door from which the owner has departed or are on that person’s clothing, bed sheets, or places like bath mats, rugs and behind or under furniture.
  
  









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  Excessive self-grooming. This starts as a displacement behavior but can progress to compulsive self-grooming if unchecked. See: Don't Lose Any Hair Over It
  
  




• Destructive behavior – rare, but some cats may claw and scratch door edges presumably in an attempt to escape their solitude. This can also happen while you are sleeping to get you to wake up and give them attention.
  
  
  


• Exuberant greeting behavior – as if greeting you after you left on a long vacation. ( Where have you been ?!?!?!)

Here come the solutions!

Enriching the cat’s "home alone" environment is the key to success! This can be achieved by means of:

Giving the cat a view of the outside world! Add climbing structures, cat trees, open windows with screens.

Strategically position bird feeders near the windows with a view.

Leave toys all over the house and change it up every now and again. The same defeated mouse that your cat played with two days ago is no longer a challenge. Hide toys in creative places like the peek-a-boo box above.

Putting the day’s ration of dry food in a puzzle toy will keep your cat focused on eating instead of your absence. Although cats with separation anxiety tend not to eat when left alone, hunger is a great motivator when other sources (YOU) are no longer available. Some caveats apply if cats refuse to eat for more than a day or so. Consult your local vet if this turns out to be the case and try to work out some kind of compromise. It can get tricky.

Leave the radio on. The "white noise" effect of the radio drowns out the otherwise perturbing sound of silence. We find that classical music has positive effects on loneliness.

If behavior modification by independence training and environmental enrichment do not work it may be necessary to resort to anti-anxiety medication for the cat for a while. Consult with a veterinarian about the use of drugs like Prozac to help calm an anxious kitty.

Ok, Now go to work and rest assured that kitty is not making long distance calls, ordering pizza or rearranging your apartment while you are away.

Happy Cats, Small Compromises

By Jamey Walker

Do you ever feel like your cat is bored, frustrated, lonely? You leave to go to work and your cat gives you that desperate look. Then you come home and find that your “stuff” is not where it was when you left it. An odd pillow is in the middle of the floor, the garbage has been ransacked, the tattered and clawed up arm of your couch looks extra frayed, the toilet paper is shredded and your prized collection of Beanie Babies are scattered about. It’s like a crime scene that leads back to one very guilty suspect who is rolling at your feet with delight now that you’ve finally come home. Then for the rest of the evening kitty sticks to you like fly paper, even trying to squeeze through the bathroom door when you have to use the toilet (and they often stare at you which can get a bit creepy). Anyway, the point is that your cat is clearly trying to tell you something. So what can you do?

Well,the number one way to keep your cat stimulated is through playtime. Yes, we’ve all heard that one... but it’s true! One trick is to vary the toys that you give to your cat. Avoid giving them all out at one time. Instead select a few toys and switch them out every few days with different ones. And if your cat has a toy that he REALLY loves, it’s wise to put it away after a good play session. This way your cat will anticipate the arrival of this object with extra excitement and as a result get more stimulation out of that play session than they would otherwise.

Set up the space to be as stimulating as possible. Here are some quick ideas on making your home more exciting for your kitty:




Clear out a space near some of the windows and add a ledge (or even a screen for the window as long as it’s securely in place).

Have vertical climbing opportunities for your cat. Cat trees are a good option. In general, they need something sturdy that’s safe for them to climb on and explore.




Add objects for your cat to scratch on. Scratching posts, rug pieces, cardboard boxes, and wood are some great options.

Providing a kitty herb garden for them to chew on can be exciting for some cats. You can find this at most pet stores.




Add home-made toys. Paper bag, crumpled newspaper, wine corks, etc.

If your cat enjoys food and is playful you can think about adding a food puzzle to their day. These are basically toys that allow you put treats or kibble inside. When the cat plays with the toy, some food falls out. It can be a great way to mentally stimulate a cat.

Put on a cat DVD. Some cats really love them! They are specially made to be enticing for cats, with footage of birds, mice, squirrels, etc. Go to http://www.cattv.com/ or purchase a Video catnip dvd at the SFSPCA Maddies Adoption Center!

One last thought: Often, people think that getting another cat will help make their cat less bored or lonely. While it can be stimulating for the right cat, it can also be really stressful for other cats. Not all kitties want a companion, even if they have had previous cat buddies in their lives. Pairing cats can be hard and often depends on the cats individual personalities, the amount of space in the home, and the right introduction process. I advise you to use caution and do some research before making that decision.