Cats aren’t as indifferent to owners as they seem: Study shows they get separation anxiety when we leave them alone just like dogs
- Researchers surveyed 130 cat owners from Brazil about their furry friends
- One in ten cats were reported to exhibit problematic behaviours when left alone
- These included aggressiveness, depression and inappropriate defecation
- Anxiety is more likely to occur in single-pet households and those with no toys
Cats aren’t as indifferent to their owners as they might seem — and can even get separation anxiety when left alone, just like dogs do, a study has found.
More than one in ten cats exhibit behavioural issues when apart from their humans — with such often seen in single-pet households and those with no cat toys.
Furthermore, cats appear more likely to have separation issues if living in a house with no women, two women or young adult owners.
Reported behavioural problems include aggressiveness, depression, excessive vocalisation and both inappropriate defecation and urination.
The researchers conclude that, despite their aloof reputation, cats’ social nature means that they can develop bonds with with owners.
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Cats aren’t as indifferent to their owners as they might seem — and can even get separation anxiety when left alone, just like dogs do, a study has found
‘This study provides information about behavioural signs consistent with separation-related problems (SRP) in a sampled population of domestic cats,’ said paper author Daiana de Souza Machado, of Brazil’s Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora.
The investigation, she added, is also offering insights ‘about the management practices used by [the cats’] owners.’
‘The questionnaire identified that about 13 per cent of cats may have signs consistent with SRP according to their owners’ reports, and therefore, it could be a promising tool for future research investigating SRP in cats.’
In their study. the team developed a questionnaire for cat owners that required them to provide basic information about their cat.
They were asked to describe what behaviours their cat showed signs of exhibiting when they were absent, as well as detailing both how they interact with their cat and the cat’s living environment.
In total, 130 respondents from the city of Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais, Brazil, who owned at least one adult cat, completed the surveys — covering at total of 223 felines.
The researchers found that 13.5 per cent of cats (30 out of 223) met at least one of the criteria for having separation-related problems.
More than one in ten cats exhibit behavioural issues when apart from their humans — which such often seen in single-pet households and those with no cat toys. Furthermore, cats appear more likely to have separation issues if living with no women, two women or young adults
The questionnaire also indicated that 20 out of the 30 cats exhibited destructive behaviour and other problematic behaviours or mental states.
These included excessive vocalisation (19 out of 30 cats), inappropriate urination (18 cats), depression–apathy (16 cats), aggressiveness (11 cats), agitation–anxiety (11 cats) and inappropriate defecation (7 cats).
They also found that separation-related behavioural changes appeared mainly in households with no women (or more than one), households with owners aged 18 to 35 years, single-pet households and households with no cat toys.
The researchers conclude that, despite their aloof reputation, cats’ social nature means that they can develop bonds with with owners
The researcher’s findings may help owners to identifying ways to reduce their furry friends’ separation issues — such as by providing more toys and addressing other environmental factors.
Concluding their paper, the team said that — despite the common belief that cats are happy being left alone for long periods of time — pet cats develop bonds with their owners, meaning their behaviour ultimately changes when they are separated.
The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
