SEPARATION ANXIETY: IT'S WELL-KNOWN AMONG DOGS, BUT CATS SUFFER IT, TOO.
When you come home from work, is it to find that your cat has peed on the bed, yowled so desolately all day that the neighbors inquire a little nervously about her well-being, or scratched to ribbons the chair that you just had reupholstered with that expensive fabric? Don't chalk it up to spite. Your cat may be suffering from a condition that almost no one associates with the feline species: separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is more commonly associated with dogs, but despite their reputation for independence, cats can develop it as well, especially if they were orphaned as kittens or weaned too early. These cats may express their anxiety in destructive ways, such as scratching furniture.
Older cats can develop separation anxiety in the wake of a divorce or death in the family. They are often more attached to people than they are given credit for, and cats who lose owners this way may pace and cry in search of them.
Other signs of separation anxiety include depression, sulking, fighting with other cats, refusing to eat, not using the litter box, spraying urine on the owner's clothing and compulsive grooming behaviors, such as licking or pulling at hair until it comes out.
Why do cats do these things? It makes them feel better. Take spraying urine on your bedding or clothing -- please! Your belongings carry your scent, and applying her own scent to them makes your cat feel more secure, almost as if you're there. It's a compliment of sorts, even if it's one you'd rather not receive.
Are you doomed to life with a bald, angry cat who doesn't want you to leave the house? You might not be able to cure your cat's separation anxiety, but you can probably manage it successfully by enriching the environment and offering more playtime and attention.
To keep your cat's mind off your absence, make being home more interesting for him. Leave out a puzzle toy filled with a meal's worth of kibble. The time spent releasing the food from the toy is time not spent being destructive. And most cats tend to settle down after the first half-hour that you're gone.
Rotate favorite interactive toys so your cat doesn't have a chance to get bored. Put them out only when you're going to be away from home.
Give your cat some screen time -- TV screen, that is. Turn on the TV to a nature channel or play a DVD made for cats. The sights and sounds of birds, fish, squirrels and other animals can help hold a cat's interest.
Offer a room with a view -- and a gym. Install a window perch so your cat can watch the squirrels outside, and place a tall cat tree in an interesting spot so he can get some exercise climbing up and down it.
Provide live entertainment in the form of a bird feeder set in front of the window or an aquarium placed where your cat can see it but not access it.
If possible, build an enclosure in your yard that your cat can access from indoors. A chance to laze in the sun and roll in the grass is relaxing for everyone, including cats.
Give your cat a favorite treat when you leave, not when you come home.
Spend a few minutes once or twice a day playing with or petting your cat. If your cat knows he'll get attention when you're home, he's less likely to be anxious when you're gone.
If all else fails, consult a veterinary behaviorist. She may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication that can help your cat stay calm.
Q&A
Pets' bodily responses
to euthanasia differ
Q: We recently had to euthanize our dog Daisy. Luckily, our veterinarian was kind enough to come to our house so Daisy wouldn't be stressed by riding in the car and being at a hospital during her final moments. Everything went well until the second shot, which our vet said would stop her heart. After this fluid went into her vein, she stretched out and opened her mouth in an unsettling way. I've seen euthanasia performed before, and it was peaceful. Could you tell me what went wrong with Daisy? -- via Facebook
A: I'm sorry not only for the loss of your beloved pet, but also because you didn't experience it as we'd ideally want you to –– as the gentle, serene experience it was for her.
Let me explain: When we administer the injections that hasten the deaths of our patients, we're effectively administering overdoses of medications designed to anesthetize them fully before their heartbeat and respiration ceases and their brain function comes to an end.
The extremely swift effect of the medications, whether they're administered as one injection or two (the two-injection protocol is currently the most common approach), is such that animals are almost certainly unconscious before any of the signs you observed transpired.
But depending on the effects of these medications on individual animals' bodies, some animals may occasionally flail, appear to breathe, stiffen or even vocalize.
We understand that it's difficult for pet owners to perceive these signs as anything but distress, which is why we go to great lengths to minimize them. Nonetheless, you can rest assured that modern euthanasia methods ensure a peaceful death, despite your unfortunate experience. -- Dr. Patty Khuly, DrPattyKhuly.com
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker
THE BUZZ
New program helps pets
of domestic violence victims
-- The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is pioneering a program that provides up to 30 days of care for the pets of women seeking protection from domestic violence at two local shelters, according to a report in ScienceDaily.com. Student volunteers care for the pets and arrange visits between the women and their pets. The program was developed in response to a recent study showing that 34 percent of women had delayed leaving an abuser out of concern for their pets. In other communities, shelter personnel and veterinarians can help by asking women if they need help placing pets and alerting clients to safe-haven programs and emergency resources for pets.
-- AP journalist Rachel D'Oro reports that Stubbs, the honorary feline mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, is recovering slowly from an Aug. 31 attack by a loose dog. The 16-year-old orange cat suffered a deep gash on his side, a fractured sternum and a punctured lung. Stubbs, who was elected 15 years ago to represent the town, has received many get-well wishes from the more than 29,000 fans of his Facebook page.
-- Researchers at Germany's University of Gottingen Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Chronix Biomedical have published a study in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE identifying important similarities and differences between human and canine breast tumors, according to a report in Medical News Today. The finding has potential benefits for people and dogs with breast cancer. A blood marker that indicates the presence of residual cancer cells after treatment could be a minimally invasive and cost-effective diagnostic way for veterinarians and physicians to identify patients who need further treatment after surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.