Cat with separation anxiety

[Alfredo]

Several months ago we adopted Fluffy from another family. Fluffy is a male, now 7 months old. Last month we had him fixed at our vet's office and she did the procedure and gave him all his shots and a clean bill of health. However, just a few days after he got back home, he started meowing constantly if we're not in the same room as him. He scratches the doors and meows very loud if we go into another room. This is not ordinarily a big problem, but lately he has been meowing very loud outside our bedroom door at night. My wife and I both have sleeping problems and now this is adding to it. Now we are almost at our wits end.

The vet says some cats are like that after they get fixed. She said that since he came from a family of other siblings he may just be needy for company. My wife and I both are at work from 9 to 7 every day and so he is at home alone a lot by himself. For the past couple of weeks we have tried playing with him for 2 hours a day when we get in from work, however, that hasn't changed it one bit. We have tried spraying him with water when he starts up the night meowing, but that doesn't deter him but maybe for about 5 minutes. We have tried safety gates, but he jumps right over them.

The vet suggested either putting him in the bathroom or in pet carrier overnight, but I hate to do that since he's so lonely--but we have to get our sleep. So if that's what it takes then that's what we'll do. Does that seem to be the only answer?

Thank you for your help!


Al

[Traci]

I don't think neutering has anything to do with this change in behavior.

What types of play do you initiate with him? Use interactive toys? Is the evening the only time you can afford quality time with him?

Is he, by chance, hungry? Do you have him on a free-feeding or scheduled feeding?

Since he is damanding your attention (either your time and attention or attention to something in the environment, his needs, etc), it wouldn't be fair to lock him up in a room at night. Try investigating the environment, has anything about it recently changed? Any unusual events occur lately?

Have you ruled out health problems?

[Guest]

Hello,
I read your post about your kitty with separation anxiety. I hate to jump so quickly to the idea of drugs but maybe you kitty would benefit from something that would help take the edge off.
I have a kitty that I've had for 5 years, however she's probably about 7 or 8 years old. She does everything in the book to piss me off (and it works). I just started using Amatriptyline. I rub a tiny bit on the inside of her ears and it gets absorbed into her blood, hopefully, helping to calm her down.
Anyway, you may want to check with your vet about some options like this. It sounds like you're trying to play with her/him, which would be my first suggestion, but if all else fails (as in my situation) try the drugs.
I don't have much experience with it so I can't tell you details. I've just given her her first dose tonight.
Good luck!!

[jason]

She does everything in the book to piss me off (and it works).

what exactly would that be?

what measures/techniques (specifically) have you tried and what was the frequency and duration of each?

[Traci]

Medications shouldn't be approached unless all other options have failed. Most sudden behavioral changes/problems can be rectified if the owner simply commits to the problem and investigates the actual cause (i.e., spraying/marking behavior, agressiveness, etc do not truly fall into the same category as seperation anxiety)

[Alfredo]

We play with him with a hand held lazer as well as with these little sponge ball toys that I bought. He has a ball chaser that goes in circles, as well as my mini trampoline which he likes to play on. When we first got him we bought a 7 foot tall treehouse covered in carpet that he likes. We found an old baby hanger (whatever it's called the thing that hangs in a crib with the little tools and gagets on it). He likes all of these things from how it seems. We also hold him and chase him a little bit as well as pet him that kind of stuff. I wish we had more time in the day, but we both have careers that take us from home.

We have an auto feeder that eats rather well from. I also feed him the canned gormet food that he likes so well.

We looked but nothing has changed about the environement that we can see. no real changes except that he got fixed.

The vet did blood work, tested him for feline leukemia and gave him a clean bill of health.

I know that locking him in the bath is not what he is wanting, but it's either that or medicine at this point. I hate the idea of medicating him, and I'd personally rather put him up for the night just out of earshot. I'm not sure, but it seems as if since he can't be with us when we're sleeping then what's the difference if he's put in his cage or in the bath except that he can't move around as freely? He doesn't show any signs of aggressiveness, no biting, no scratching us, not tearing anything up...he's a good little cat but he just seems to get lonely in a matter of milliseconds.

We've had cats and dogs and just about every other type of animal and this is a first for us.

Thanks for all the help and keep suggestions coming.

[jason]

he's a good little cat but he just seems to get lonely in a matter of milliseconds.

i think you just have a young and very active (thankfully not destructive) kitty in your family. at 7 months, i would not advocate the bathroom/spare bedroom time-outs unless his activities are an agressive "no no" bahavior.

however, dont totally rule the time-outs out, they can help alot and should be used for a while before even considering medication of any kind...just be sure to limit them to less than 4 times a day and no longer than 30 minutes, this is while your up and awake. be sure to provide the essentials in this time-out area as not add additional stress or risk health compications.

as your cat gets older and the "infractions" become more severe then the time-outs can last longer, but not now...i think he is just to young for too much of it.

[Guest]

Just a thought?? Maybe a 2nd cat for company... when we got our 'new' cat she was very lonely in the day and ran around like mad when we got home. We got another cat and she seems to have settled down no problem.

[Guest]

Thanks for the help everyone.

It sounds hard to believe, I'm sure, but this problem is so severe that my wife and I are literally unable to sleep due to the meowing. Saturday I will install a door to the hallway so that the cat cannot get back there to wake us up at night with the endless scratching and meowing. If that's somehow not the answer or if new problems develop, we will up the ante and do more severe measures. We haven't ruled out getting another cat at this point to see if the company helps him.

I think it's a situation of where "you have to be there" to know exactly how frustrating it can be to go without sleep for days on end. We love animals but we have to put it in perspective and do what's best for our personal health.

Thanks anyway.

[Guest]

I had that situation - my cat hated to be separated from me and there was no way I could lock her out of my room. She'd ruin the carpet, doors, etc. I gave in and she slept with me for 15 years

I now have new cat(s). It was just one but got the second for company because it wasn't as completely obnoxious as my original cat, but it was pretty bad. The second cat seemed to do the job....

Funny thing is the 2nd cat is the one that would like to come in the bedroom now, but after a few weeks of locking them together in the spareroom at night it seems to have helped... The 2nd cat lets you know when it's daylight out though