PREPARING YOUR FELINE FRIENDS
It’s a common misconception that cats are “loners” who prefer solitude. Many cats are very social with their humans and tend to do best with consistent and predictable routines! Some cats may be just fine with the change, but others may experience separation anxiety.
- Schedule a veterinary visit if you observe common behaviors stemming from separation anxiety, like excessive vocalization, house soiling, changes in appetite, over-grooming, destructive behavior, or excessive “neediness” to rule out a medical condition.
- Create a play and feeding routine that can be maintained even if your schedule changes.
- If your cat exhibits signs of stress before you leave the home or right after coming back home, remain calm. Once the cat settles, offer rewards as a reinforcement for calm behavior.
- Provide cats with an enriched environment that includes toys, puzzle feeders, and access to vertical space that offers outside views for window gazing.
- You may also consider synthetic pheromones like Feliway to help alleviate situational stress.
Visit our Cat Resources for more information on addressing tricky cat behaviors. For more enrichment ideas, visit Fundamentally Feline and Food Puzzles for Cats.