Because you let your cat alone during the day to go to work you worry about whether a single cat is unhappy? In fact, you feel guilty about leave your cat alone at home and you ask this type of question:
- Does my cat experience anxiety when I leave him alone during the day?
- Am I missing my cat?
- Is my cat sad when I leave him?
- Are cats bored?
- Do cats have a sense of time?
We tend to consider cats as solitary, independent animals, which are sufficient on their own and which tolerate the absence of owners during the day. However, in some cases cats can suffer from separation anxiety, feel like they are abandoned and therefore feel miserable when they are alone.
I will therefore tell you below:
- Why can a cat be unhappy when it is alone?
- What are the signs that indicate that he is sad or depressed?
- What are the solutions so that your cat does not suffer from loneliness?
- How to occupy your cat in an apartment and make him play alone?
- My advice for leaving your cat alone during the day.
Is a cat unhappy when it is alone?
No : If you gradually get your cat used to leaving him alone during the day from an early age, he will be completely at ease and absolutely not sad when you leave him alone every day to go to work.
In fact, since cats like habits and routines, if you get them used to being alone, your cat won't feel loneliness or separation anxiety.
Yes in some cases: If your cat has never been alone all day.
In fact, since cats don't like changes, if you haven't gotten him used to being alone and overnight you get away every day leaving him alone at home, then yes your cat may be unhappy.
It is therefore less the fact of being separated from you that will make him unhappy but rather the fact his habits have changed and that it no longer has the same benchmarks on a daily basis. Indeed, if he was used to spending time on your knees, if he was used to going out on the balcony with you, etc… he might be depressed at not being able to follow these rituals of the day.
In addition, the feeling of happiness or unhappiness is specific to humans (see Do cats have feelings or emotions?).
"A recent Scientific Research, published in the journal PLOS ONE, shows that adult cats are not anxious when their master is away. "
See article on Science and Future
Does a cat have the notion of time?
La notion that time is rhythmic is a notion that cats perceive. Indeed, their routine is often coordinated with specific times of the day. For example, your cat systematically wakes you up at 5 am, your cat asks to go out at 17 pm… They have a kind of internal clock which conditions their actions.
On the other hand, it is not sure that they have the notion of the length of time. If they follow their daily routine, which every day is rhythmic as usual, they are happy and are not able to assess the passage of time.
View: How long can you leave a cat alone?
How do you know if a cat is unhappy?
When cats are upset by a change such as leave him alone, when they don't get the attention and stimulation they need, they can develop behavioral problems associated with stress, boredom, loneliness and depression.
It will then be necessary to observe it well to detect if there are signs which reveal that your cat is unhappy.
What are the signs of an unhappy cat?
The signs that a cat is unhappy, sad, or depressed are fairly easy to spot because they are linked to a change in your cat's behavior:
- Cat constantly meowing : If you have noticed that your cat meows nonstop, more than usual, or that her meows sound like complaints;
- Cat that follows you everywhere : If you notice your cat constantly asking for your attention, following you around every room, or sneaking past you;
- Cat attacking you : If your cat seems more aggressive than usual, if he attacks your ankles, if he jumps on you when you are on the sofa ...
- Cat urinating everywhere : if your cat suddenly starts urinating everywhere inside your home (on carpets, on the sofa, on the corners of walls, etc.).
- Cat who no longer grooms or too much : If your cat grooms excessively or does not clean at all.
- Cat who changed his eating habits : If your cat has lost his appetite, he eats much less or refuses food. See my article: Too thin cat
- Cat that does not move : If your cat is lethargic, no longer playing or has become passive, too calm ...
- Cat isolating itself : If your cat no longer comes to your contact, if he stays alone and hidden all the time ...
You have been warned! : Any sudden change in behavior in a cat can be a sign of a medical problem, so speak to a vet about it quickly. check that your cat is not sick.
Leaving a Cat Alone - Solutions Against Loneliness
In order for your cat to feel less alone, he will need to be busy and feel a presence.
By arranging your apartment or your house to allow your cat a great possibility of activities, your cat will be less confronted with the feeling of loneliness and abandonment.
How to adapt its interior to a cat who remains alone during the day?
- Don't leave your cat in the dark (open the shutters or leave the lights on);
- Leave the television or radio on to keep your cat company;
- Film yourself talking to him, singing and playing the video on the TV screen;
- Place empty boxes where your cat can hide;
- Place perches, scratching posts or cat trees for him to jump, climb and let off steam;
- Socks, bells, ribbon, balls of yarn, empty plastic bottles and toys (see below) can distract your cat during your absence;
- Fill a large bowl with cool water;
- Fill its dispenser with croquettes;
- Make sure his litter box is clean;
- If your cat is used to going out, installing a cat flap will allow them to come and go when they want.
Leaving a Cat Alone - Solutions Against Sadness
In order to try and combat these signs of distress and sometimes even depression, it is essential to fill the lack of attention that your cat experiences when she is alone during the day.
For this, you will need to compensate for the evening when you come home from work by paying extra attention to your cat:
- Talk to him,
- Stroke it,
- Play with him,
- Give him a treat,
- Take it out a bit if you have the time,
- Brush it ...
Leaving a Cat Alone - Anxiety Solutions
If your cat is stressed or seems anxious to you as you get ready to go to work, here are 2 tips that will calm your cat down and make him feel more relaxed and less anxious.
- Fight anxiety with pheromones
Synthetic pheromones (available as a spray or diffusers) have a calming power on cats and make them feel less stressed and less anxious.
- Fight anxiety with valerian and lavender
If not, why not use a calming collar which is effective enough to soothe cats and decrease their anxiety and stress.
Based on essential oils, this necklace begins to be effective 1 hour after its implementation. The active ingredients are released continuously throughout the day. Remember to place this collar on your cat 1 hour before your departure and to remove it in the evening when you return.
Leaving a Cat Alone - Solutions Against Boredom
After you leave, even if your cat doesn't necessarily feel abandoned, sad or anxious, it may still get bored if it stays all day on its own. This is particularly the case with hyperactive cats or if your cat is used to playing with you often. See my article: How to occupy a bored cat?
To prevent your cat from getting bored in your absence, leave him as many toys as possible. Indeed, while playing, your cat will be busy but it will also satisfy its natural instinct of feline and will remain in good mental and physical health for longer.
Interactive toys are great for cats that are left alone indoors as they are very entertaining and keep your cat busy for long hours.
Among the best interactive toys, I recommend the KONG Kickeroo. This toy will encourage your cat to play, to try to catch the treats, to nibble it ...
Here is another interactive toy that is incredibly popular with cats! It is a toy that looks like a real fish, which when your cat touches it, starts to move and creeps like a real fish. This type of toy occupies a cat for several hours !!!
