Cats Suffer From Separation Anxiety When Away From Their Owners

As per a study published in the journal PLoS One, more than 1 in 10 cats display behavioral issues when separated from their owners. The study was based on a questionnaire survey done by scientists from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (Brazil, South America) on 223 cats belonging to 130 owners.

The behavior of all the enrolled domestic cats used for the analysis was minutely observed. The owners were asked to provide information pertaining to the cat's behavior when their owner is absent, their interaction with their pets, and the living environment of the cats.

The analysis showed that 13.5% of the cats displayed at least one of the traits associated with separation-related problems. Destructive behavior was most commonly observed (20 cats). Furthermore, a few other behavioral traits of the cats were observed. These included excessive vocalization (19 cats), urination in inappropriate places (18 cats), anxiety and agitation (11 cats), aggressive behavior (11 cats), and inappropriate defecation (7 cats). Depression and apathy characterized by lack of energy and loss of interest were observed in 16 cats with separation-related problems.

The researchers noted that the cats with behavioral issues seem to come from households with no women or not more than one woman living there. Also, the lack of access to toys and absence of other pets in the house added to the behavioral issues. The data also revealed that the cats who resided in households with owners aged 18 to 35 years showed similar behavioral issues.

This study provides information about behavioral issues associated with a sampled population of domestic cats facing separation-related issues and the steps taken by the owners to manage them. However, the researchers believe that more studies are required for better understanding of the relationship between cats and their owners. Their questionnaire can be a starting point in this endeavor to conduct future research.

Source:

Amy Barrett. "One in 10 pet cats has separation anxiety." https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/one-in-10-pet-cats-has-separation-anxiety 

Published April 16, 2020. Accessed March 16, 2022.