My cat has recently been staying up all night, pacing the halls and meowing to the point where it sounds painful. No matter what I do she keeps this up for hours (six hours last night). I've tried holding her so she knows shes not alone, kenneling her, keeping her awake all day, but nothing has worked at all. She's been doing this for about a month now, which is how long my husbands been a way on a business trip. Is this seperation anxioty and how do I fix it?
2007-02-03 20:08:16 · 9 answers · asked by Hito 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Yes, of course they can.
Cats don't like change of any sort.
Perhaps give her something like a sweatshirt that belongs to your Husband.
It may still have his scent on it and that may comfort her.
2007-02-04 02:45:31 · answer #1 · answered by gracieandlizzie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats definitely get separation anxiEty.
However, it usually only lasts for a little while, and technically, there is no separation since you are with you are with her and paying attention to her. If you let her sleep in the bed with you, there is no reason she should be doing this, so either:
A) She likes your husband better (but for most cats, it doesn't matter which person it is, as long as someone is home)
or
B) There is a much bigger problem; she may be sick and in pain.
I would recommend taking her to the vet.
2007-02-04 04:48:34 · answer #2 · answered by Reserved 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats do get separation anxiety. It certainly does sound like that is what your cat is experiencing.
Do all you can to comfort her - if her family attachment is to your husband and she misses him - can you let her sleep with some of his old clothes that he doesn't use anymore? put some in her kennel or make her bed out of some old shirts, socks or a blanket that has his smells.
Get her a new cat toy and treats - take time to play daily and brush her. Take her to the vet for a check up.
2007-02-04 04:34:57 · answer #3 · answered by birdwatcher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gosh yes!!
I got my kitty when she was about 5 months old. She was a stray. She is about 8 months old now. And she wants to be EVERYWHERE that we are. If I go to another room, she follows. If I go to the bathroom, she slides under the door, and sits there and stares at you! It's unnerving!! lol
If we leave the house, it bothers her, but she does not retaliate or get destructive.
If your kitty gets antsy at night and wants to prowl, she obviously has alot of energy. You have to go against her clock, and make a new timetable for her. Keep her up all day.....play hard with her. We use those lasers for ours to chase. Cats have lots of energy, but only in short bursts. Got to wear her out!
Then....get a good sized animal carrier, and kennel her every night when you go to bed. Give her a kitty treat and let her know that the confinement isn't for punishment. Then go to bed. The kitty's timeclock will change. She will do more in the daytime, and then sleep at night. Put something inside her kennel that smells like you. She will relax.
When I go to work, my girlfriend says that our kitty gets upset a bit, and cries a little. I work nightshift, so when I come back in the morning, she is usually waiting for me at the door like clockwork.
When my girlfriend goes to work, she doesn't really get upset about it, but she does get excited when she comes home.
Your kitty will learn that when you leave, you will always come back. It just takes time to get them to grasp that. And your kitty will be able to sleep more and more at night, if you work with her. Eventually she will be like most cats, they sleep alot.
Best wishes!!
2007-02-04 04:27:28 · answer #4 · answered by C J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh dear yes they do. My cat meows if my b/f leaves his sight.He acts like a little child. We took him on a couple of road trips and everytime my b/f got out to pump gas he would meow until he could find him outside. He would set at the window and just watch him. He crawls into bed with us everynight and snuggles, then leaves when he feels like it.
2007-02-04 11:22:04 · answer #5 · answered by Joan G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had cats that you would swear had seperation anxiety, but I have also had cats that would do this howling at night for seemingly no reason although never for a month straight. Think your gonna have to go to a vet on this one.
2007-02-04 04:17:51 · answer #6 · answered by gnomes31 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. My cats do the same when I'm away (someone was here when I was away). They will cry and howl when they can't find me in the house. When I leave for overnight, I will return to a destroyed house. Things will be knocked off shelves and broken, cat vomit everywhere, etc. The best thing to do is to give her one of your husband's t-shirts, unwashed to smell and lay on if she will. It should calm her.
2007-02-04 04:34:03 · answer #7 · answered by RBRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats can get separation anxiety. I would talk to a vet in your area about this occurance. However, it should go away over time.
2007-02-04 04:16:56 · answer #8 · answered by Jay S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dog did it when my brother went away to iraq and he would patti alot and make sounds that were just horridly to listen to and know you could do nothing um it sounds like your doing every thing you can to comfort her but i would take her to the vet to make sure its not something else like a bladder infection cats get those alot and they are very painful hope that helped
2007-02-04 04:26:41 · answer #9 · answered by sarah_see_123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋