Unlike children who are left with babysitters, cats cannot give their owners any verbabl feedback of how they coped during their owner's absence. But this article will look at some signs to look out for that will show whether cats do in fact miss their owners and how cats can be helped to cope during this unsettling period in their lives.
Change in Appetite
If you will be leaving your cats with friends to care for, they may notice that the cats do not eat as often or as much as usual. Unless there is an underlying medical cause that could explain this change in your cats' appetite, it is safe to assume that the cats are simply missing you and have gone off their food as they do not feel as secure and as content as usual when you are with them. The best thing that friends can do is to simply encourage the cats to keep eating and to still place food and water in their bowls. This episode should soon subside as the cats adjust to time apart from owners.
Cat Fights
Cats who are left with others to care for may start to act differently during their owner's absence. For example, a docile cat may suddenly start picking fights with his companion cat for no apparent reason. It could be a sign that the cat owner's absence is causing anxiety and insecurity. Do not be too concerned about this. Unless the cat fight looks vicious and one cat is obviously being hurt, try not to intervene.
Clingy Cats
Change in Appetite
If you will be leaving your cats with friends to care for, they may notice that the cats do not eat as often or as much as usual. Unless there is an underlying medical cause that could explain this change in your cats' appetite, it is safe to assume that the cats are simply missing you and have gone off their food as they do not feel as secure and as content as usual when you are with them. The best thing that friends can do is to simply encourage the cats to keep eating and to still place food and water in their bowls. This episode should soon subside as the cats adjust to time apart from owners.
Cat Fights
Cats who are left with others to care for may start to act differently during their owner's absence. For example, a docile cat may suddenly start picking fights with his companion cat for no apparent reason. It could be a sign that the cat owner's absence is causing anxiety and insecurity. Do not be too concerned about this. Unless the cat fight looks vicious and one cat is obviously being hurt, try not to intervene.
Clingy Cats
- Cats can lose their appetite if they are missing their owner(s)
- Cats who become clingy are seeking reassurance
- Make sure that you do not unsettle the cats' routine any further during your absence
Comments
My cats are like Randy's... I come home and get the cold shoulder and it takes a day for them to warm up. My dog is especially fond of this pet parent torture technique.
Great article! :)
They can overgroom sometimes too when they are stressed or missing out on something, a person or a routine. Our Manx grooms the fur right off his butt when he gets stressed! So weird...
My cat will disown me for a day or so when I return home. He refuses to have anything to do with me. Then, once I have been punished, he lives in my lap for a week. Lol.. great article Sophie.
Our cat is mad at us when we return from long vacations.
Great topic. I'm going out of town for a few days. I wonder if my cat will miss me.
Great article! Our cats tend to follow us around right at our heels for the first few hours after we return from a short trip. It's nice to know that they missed us, even if I do feel like we are tripping over them for the first little bit. :)
Sounds like my cats when we go away. we have three, but only one claims me as her owner. She gets mad and pouts for days when I am gone. It is rather hilarous. :)
Great article. This is one reason I hate vacationing. I hate leaving my furry little baby.
Good article!
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