I need some advise on separation anxiety with my 3 year old kitty. Quick history, he was a feral kitty when I adopted him at 9 wks old very malnurished, dehydrated, and was barely 1 pound. So I entered the picture and now have this beautiful, healthy 16 pound big boy. So I assume this is why he has such a strong attachment to me.
I was wondering if there is anything I can do to ease the trauma of me going to work in the morning. I talked to my vet about it and he said that Shadow just loves me and that's why he acts out when I leave.
Well this morning he was probably the worse I've ever seen him. His routine is to grab my feet, lay on my feet, lay in front of the door to block it so I can't get out and just show his angry self (fluffed twitching tail, ears back, deep purring). But this morning as I tried to calm him down, he ended up putting a death grip on my hand and shook his head, ripping the skin on my hand.
It breaks my heart to see him this p-o'd all the time. So are there any tricks out there that I can use to ease the morning torture? I did do some searching on the net about this, but he's not a typical kitty in this respect. He doesn't urinate on the floor, he doesn't tear anything up (except my skin), he doesn't hide from me and I do have a lot of toys for him to play with for distraction. So any further input would be great!
Side note-Debbie & Traci, I'm not sure if you remember me from several years ago. You were both a tremendous help and support to me when I lost my kitty Rascal to cancer. So I'm so glad I found you ladies again.
Separation Anxiety
Hi Barb, of course I remember : )
Just a question, but has this been going on for 3 years, or have you recently just started a new job, or? If it has been recent, I can understand the behavior, as in true seperation.
There are a couple things you can do to prevent him from preventing you from getting to the door. One would be to shake a can of coins, which would probably get him away from the door quickly. Another might be to place special treats or catnip in an area in another room while you make a dash for the door (all kidding aside
I'm sure others might have more suggestions......
Have you considered getting another kitty for a companion? Sometimes two is better than one...
Just a question, but has this been going on for 3 years, or have you recently just started a new job, or? If it has been recent, I can understand the behavior, as in true seperation.
There are a couple things you can do to prevent him from preventing you from getting to the door. One would be to shake a can of coins, which would probably get him away from the door quickly. Another might be to place special treats or catnip in an area in another room while you make a dash for the door (all kidding aside
I'm sure others might have more suggestions......Have you considered getting another kitty for a companion? Sometimes two is better than one...
..........Traci
Hi Traci! Thanks for your response. I do have another kitty, so he does have a buddy. It has been going on for nearly all 3 years. I think it was so much worse today since I was home for a 4 day weekend, and I think he had enough of me leaving after 2 days. This is his pattern. But when he bit me and drew blood, I thought it was time to see if others had any experience with this.
I tried the treats, but he's a finicky kitty, I got some tuna shavings (also known as kitty crack as the owner of the shop told me it was) and he wanted nothing to do with it. The other cat went mad over it, Literally! So treats won't work with him. I will try a can of coins because he is also a very, very skiddish kitty as well, so that might clear the path, but will that help calm him, or make it worse, I don't know.
I tried the treats, but he's a finicky kitty, I got some tuna shavings (also known as kitty crack as the owner of the shop told me it was) and he wanted nothing to do with it. The other cat went mad over it, Literally! So treats won't work with him. I will try a can of coins because he is also a very, very skiddish kitty as well, so that might clear the path, but will that help calm him, or make it worse, I don't know.
-
Auntie Debbie
- The Mod Squad
- Posts: 1258
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2003 5:12 am
- Location: over the rainbow
- Contact:
OMG! Yes I certainly do remember you and Rascal! How have you been????
Sorry your kitty is giving you such concern. I too have Sals who has a bit of separation anxiety when I leave. All I have to do is say Bye-Bye and her little bottom lip quivers. They really can be so touching, can'T they?
A couple of years ago or so, if you reeber, she had that nasty ear infection. Before she started showing some real symptoms or any debris in her ears, her anxiety when I'd leave grew worse and worse. She'd either hide or claim squatter's rights on my purse or just carry on. Her usual routine was to jump on the dining room table for "bye-bye's", I'd pet her and then leave. What I didn't know was that her ears were bothering her. In a nutshel, she exhibited some further bizarre behavior, vet blew me off since she had no debris, finally got debris and several vets and Vestibualr Disease later she was cured and we're back to just regualr bye-bye's.
Moral of the story is that your kitty may have something going on similar to what Sals had going on and is trying to tell you something. Or he could just not want you to go...tough to know what really goes on in their fuzzy little heads sometimes.
When I thought I was just dealing with severe separation anxiety, someone suggested that I present her with treats upon arrival home rather than leaving....so this way she'll be glad to see me go because when I come back she gets treats. This will take some time for your kitty to catch on to.
Here are some links that may be helpful:
http://www.avsands.com/Pets/Cats/catsse ... xmj_av.htm
http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=3341
http://www.furr-angels.com/links_bc_meo ... panxty.htm
http://www.separation-anxiety-and-pets. ... urpet.html
http://www.amcpets.com/neuro6.html
I hope you'll be able to get him a little bit more independant and that there's nothing wrong with him (outside of being your best buddy!)! Stay in touch and kekep us posted, ok?
Sorry your kitty is giving you such concern. I too have Sals who has a bit of separation anxiety when I leave. All I have to do is say Bye-Bye and her little bottom lip quivers. They really can be so touching, can'T they?
A couple of years ago or so, if you reeber, she had that nasty ear infection. Before she started showing some real symptoms or any debris in her ears, her anxiety when I'd leave grew worse and worse. She'd either hide or claim squatter's rights on my purse or just carry on. Her usual routine was to jump on the dining room table for "bye-bye's", I'd pet her and then leave. What I didn't know was that her ears were bothering her. In a nutshel, she exhibited some further bizarre behavior, vet blew me off since she had no debris, finally got debris and several vets and Vestibualr Disease later she was cured and we're back to just regualr bye-bye's.
Moral of the story is that your kitty may have something going on similar to what Sals had going on and is trying to tell you something. Or he could just not want you to go...tough to know what really goes on in their fuzzy little heads sometimes.
When I thought I was just dealing with severe separation anxiety, someone suggested that I present her with treats upon arrival home rather than leaving....so this way she'll be glad to see me go because when I come back she gets treats. This will take some time for your kitty to catch on to.
Here are some links that may be helpful:
http://www.avsands.com/Pets/Cats/catsse ... xmj_av.htm
http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=3341
http://www.furr-angels.com/links_bc_meo ... panxty.htm
http://www.separation-anxiety-and-pets. ... urpet.html
http://www.amcpets.com/neuro6.html
I hope you'll be able to get him a little bit more independant and that there's nothing wrong with him (outside of being your best buddy!)! Stay in touch and kekep us posted, ok?
Kitty kisses,
Debbie
____________________________________
"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
Debbie
____________________________________
"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
My first reaction was there is something bothering this cat beyond you leaving and a vet visit would be in order. But then you talk about your vet knowing about this, so you already have taken him in.
My second thought, is something disturbing has happened to this cat while away from you. What that is, is really anyone's guess, but with ferals, they sometimes have deep abandonment issues, and hate it when the one person who they care about isn't around.
I would do several things for this cat. I would leave on endless play a classical CD while you are gone. Just put it on low, if you can find a CD with just harp music that is the best, it really calms them down. There is also a CD available made by cats who play the guitar called HISS HOP- that works as well to mellow cats. (You think I am kidding? I am not, I just finished writing the article about the gentleman whose ferals play the guitar) The CD has an hypnotic effect on cats...
Other than voting me into a rubber room, what I would also suggest you do is take an old pair of tennis shoes and start wearing them around the house (without socks) Go for a walk in them, get them really sweaty with your scent and stick them in a zip-loc bag. Right before you leave in the morning, take one shoe out and leave it in the middle of the floor for your kitty. He will be able to smell your scent all of the day and remain calmer. just keep wearing the shoes periodically to reinforce the scent.
Good luck!
My second thought, is something disturbing has happened to this cat while away from you. What that is, is really anyone's guess, but with ferals, they sometimes have deep abandonment issues, and hate it when the one person who they care about isn't around.
I would do several things for this cat. I would leave on endless play a classical CD while you are gone. Just put it on low, if you can find a CD with just harp music that is the best, it really calms them down. There is also a CD available made by cats who play the guitar called HISS HOP- that works as well to mellow cats. (You think I am kidding? I am not, I just finished writing the article about the gentleman whose ferals play the guitar) The CD has an hypnotic effect on cats...
Other than voting me into a rubber room, what I would also suggest you do is take an old pair of tennis shoes and start wearing them around the house (without socks) Go for a walk in them, get them really sweaty with your scent and stick them in a zip-loc bag. Right before you leave in the morning, take one shoe out and leave it in the middle of the floor for your kitty. He will be able to smell your scent all of the day and remain calmer. just keep wearing the shoes periodically to reinforce the scent.
Good luck!
The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Thanks Debbie & MA with your replies and suggestions. I've looked at a lot of those links and Shadow throws more of a temper tantrum when I'm leaving rather than exhibit behavioral problems when I'm gone. Usually by Wed or Thurs he's so over me going to work he gets worse. But usually a nudge with my foot, and him attacking my foot back gets me out the door. I'm going to experiment with treats to see which ones he likes. He doesn't like pounce or the other standard kitty treats.
And it has crossed my mind that maybe there is an underlying medical issue, but he's always been like this. It was my vet that indicated it was separation anxiety over a year ago when I described the behavior. He was quite surprised as he had never heard of a cat behaving like this, nor did the other vets in the office. But I got Shadow from them, so they knew his feral history.
Thanks again, I will take all suggestions to see what can make my departure less traumatic for me and him.
And it has crossed my mind that maybe there is an underlying medical issue, but he's always been like this. It was my vet that indicated it was separation anxiety over a year ago when I described the behavior. He was quite surprised as he had never heard of a cat behaving like this, nor did the other vets in the office. But I got Shadow from them, so they knew his feral history.
Thanks again, I will take all suggestions to see what can make my departure less traumatic for me and him.