Natural Alternatives for your Cat's Separation Anxiety

Cat Separation Anxiety: What Is It?

Cat separation anxiety is an ailment in which a cat shows the symptoms of anxiety when they’re separated from their pet owners. Separation anxiety is more typically related to dogs. People usually think cats are independent creatures. They do not worry if their pet owners are there or not. Though, cats do form an extremely close bond with their pet owners. They’re also extremely aware of changes within their environment.

As a cat’s attachment to its pet owner becomes dysfunctional, separation anxiety will become serious. A cat that has separation anxiety might become extremely clingy. They’ll want to be with their pet parent all the time.

A cat that has separation anxiety also may become destructive if left alone. Feline separation anxiety isn’t pleasant for the cat, and it can even cause issues at home for the owner.

Cat Separation Anxiety: What Are The Causes?

The causes of separation anxiety in cats aren’t completely understood. It’s believed that both environment and genetics play a part. It also could be that a health problem is a reason why a feline has become overly attached to their cat owners. Certain family members who have a strong bond with their cat can often trigger certain actions in emotional response that change how they react to anxiety.

Below we list some of the things believed to be the cause of separation anxiety in cats:

Weaned Too Early

Kittens taken from their mom too soon are more likely to show separation anxiety symptoms. Orphaned kittens also are more susceptible to anxiety. Kittens should not be removed from their family for at least 8 weeks following birth.

Genetics

Highly strung breeds, such as Siamese and Burmese cats, are more likely to develop this condition. You cannot change a feline’s genetics. However, exercise and mental stimulation will assist in avoiding anxiety in cats who are predisposed to this condition.

Lack of Stimuli

If a pet is bored, they'll become more attached to their pet parent. It’ll see them as the only method of relieving the boredom. Therefore, when an owner is away, it will not know what to do with itself. This is why it's great to find toys like puzzle feeders that provide mental stimulation when you're away for extended periods.

Environmental Changes 

Cat anxiety may be triggered by changes within their environment. The death of a loved one, moving home, or adding a new pet to the house might make your pet feel unsettled.

Your Anxiety

Felines are much more perceptive than the majority of folks give them credit for. If you’re feeling upset or anxious, your cat will sense this. The more anxious you are, the more anxious your pet will become. Positive behavior often starts with cat owners.

Additional Underlying Health Issues

A pet’s separation anxiety might be a result of an additional health problem. If they’re not feeling well, they’ll want their pet parent to be around. If your pet develops separation anxiety suddenly, it’d be recommended to take your cat to a veterinarian for a check-up.

Cat Separation Anxiety Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of separation anxiety in cats aren’t always as obvious as they are in canines. However, you might see similar indications of destructive behavior. And how they develop separation anxiety is similar.

Signs of Separation Anxiety In Cats include: 

• Exuberant greetings as the pet parents returns
• Indications of distress when the pet parent is getting ready to leave
• Destroying property
• Scratching carpets and furniture
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Soiling the home
• Excessive grooming
• Excessive meowing / excessive vocalization
• Clinginess
• Not using the litter box

One other common separation anxiety symptom in stressed cats is urinating on the pet parent’s bed or clothes. This isn’t vengeful behavior, as some folks believe. It’s more likely that it’s a self-soothing behavior made to assist the owner in finding their way back home.

If your cat shows signs of anxiety, try not to fret because there are lots of ways to help.

Cat Separation Anxiety Natural Treatment

If your pet gets diagnosed with this condition, there are many things your vet might suggest as treatment. There are measures to take at home to minimize your cat’s nervousness, and in serious cases, the vet might prescribe anti-anxiety meds. There also are many natural remedies to use to treat anxiety in your cat. One of these includes CBD for separation anxiety.

Below we list some of the typical natural treatments utilized to treat this condition:

Catnip

It may seem counterintuitive to offer your pet an herb you know will excite it. However, catnip may be utilized as a natural cat anxiety treatment. If you provide your feline some catnip 15 minutes before going out, all of the excitement is going to wear your cat out, leaving them calm when you leave.

Chamomile

A lot of humans consume chamomile tea to assist them in relaxing. The same calming effect chamomile has on humans will also work on cats. Rather than giving your pet tea, though, it’s possible to scatter some dried chamomile flowers around your house.

Valerian 

Valerian is one other herb that works similarly to catnip. After your pet has calmed down, it’ll likely go to sleep for a little while. Valerian creates euphoria in felines. It’ll leave your cat feeling calm and relaxed after the euphoria dies down.

CBD For This Condition

CBD oil is another natural alternative that may help prevent separation anxiety. Most folks find that it’s more efficient than any of the herbal remedies. It’s a natural substance that comes from the hemp plant. CBD is safe to give cats and won’t get the cat "high".

Research on animals and humans has discovered that it can improve wellbeing as it may have a powerful anti-anxiety effect. As CBD interacts with brain receptors, it re-balances the levels of serotonin in the body. CBD works in the same way as pharmaceutical anti-anxiety meds do, yet with much milder side effects.

CBD oil for feline separation has become highly popular with pet parents. Particularly the ones who do not want to offer their cats strong prescription medications. It’s possible to purchase CBD oil for felines in multiple forms. CBD oil drops or CBD cat treats are an excellent method of delivering necessary cannabidiol to your pet. CBD has been shown to be very effective, as well as easy to administer. 

Cat Separation Anxiety Prevention

In addition to natural remedies such as CBD oil for separation anxiety, there also are some simple steps to take at home to make your cat's environment a calming place.

More Playtime

Boredom often is where separation anxiety in felines starts. If you play with your kitty more often when you’re at home, it’s possible to encourage your kitten to play more on its own when you’re gone. Try to introduce new cat toys and encourage her to play with them.

Cat Scratching Post and Trees 

Making your kitty’s environment more interesting also will help. When you place a cat tree next to a window, cats can entertain themselves by watching what’s going on outdoors. Scratching posts should occupy your pet’s time, and they’ll additionally stop her from scratching the furniture.

Behavior Modification

You also can work on desensitizing your pet to your leaving the house. There’ll often be a trigger for a cat beginning to become anxious. It might be you putting on your shoes, picking up your car keys, or grabbing your coat. If you look as if you’re getting ready to leave a couple of times a day, yet you do not leave, your cat gradually will become less sensitive to those triggers.

Offer Distractions for Your Pet

Be certain that your pet has plenty to do while you’re out. You might leave new cat toys for your pet to play with, or you can leave a puzzle feeder to keep your cat occupied. Be certain that your pet can get to a window they’re able to see out of. Leaving the television or radio on also can help.

Within some serious separation anxiety cases, you might require the assistance of a vet. In many cases, though, CBD oil for this condition along with some of the measures like the ones above will make your cat feel much happier and relaxed when you leave them on their own.

How Much CBD Oil to Give your Cat

In recent years, most folks have found that CBD oil may offer the perfect natural option for helping their anxious cat. It is non-toxic, safe, and has several possible therapeutic benefits. CBD studies have shown its potential to decrease inflammation, alleviate pain, lower anxiety, as well as control seizures. However, with all the available data, it is difficult to find any information on exactly how much CBD oil to give your cat as every case is different.

There aren’t any official guidelines on how much of it to give to cats, and various products have various CBD concentrations. Therefore, if you aren’t sure how to correctly dose your cat, please continue reading. Below we list some vital guidelines to follow on CBD oil dosages for pets.

CBD: What Is It?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one several compounds referred to as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are discovered in the hemp plant. They react with the cannabinoid receptors in human beings and animals, generating a broad array of effects. THC, which is an additional cannabinoid, generates the "high" that’s related to smoking cannabis. CBD doesn’t cause a high, yet it has been shown to have most of the same therapeutic effects and more.

CBD Oil For Cats: What Are The Possible Benefits?

CBD has many benefits for humans and cats alike. As the compound interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, it helps the body’s process of homeostasis. Homeostasis is the mechanism that keeps the body in a natural balanced state. The following includes some of the well-known therapeutic effects of CBD separation anxiety cats treatment.

Pain and Inflammation

As CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptors, it’ll work in improving the inflammation and pain receptors by blocking the signals sent from the body. It has the effect of decreasing chronic inflammation and managing pain.

Anxiety and Depression 

Anxiety and depression are both caused by brain chemical imbalances. CBD studies have shown that it can correct that imbalance, decreasing the severity of anxiety and depression.

Seizures

CBD may be used in the treatment of seizures in cats that are brought on by epilepsy and additional conditions. They’re caused by the erratic firing of neurons inside the brain. CBD calms this erratic firing, reducing the severity and frequency of seizures.

Cancer Cell Growth

There have been several studies that have shown CBD can helpf manage cancer, notably the side effects from it and the conventional treatments for it.

Studies into CBD's therapeutic effects are still in their early stages. Early research results, though, imply that the above-mentioned are some possible therapeutic CBD Oil properties. CDB oil also is used in the management of arthritis, pancreatitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

What is The Right CBD Oil Dosage for Felines?

While giving the correct CBD dosage to your cat, it is vital to keep in mind that every animal is different in size. The majority of CBD products for pets are going to have their own suggested dosages. The dosage is going to depend upon the CBD's concentration in the product and the weight of the cat, as well as the condition CBD is being given for.

It's always good to seek veterinary advice. Veterinary medicine usually suggests starting with a lower dosage and observing the results. Slowly increase the dosage if you aren’t satisfied with the prior results.

An excellent starting point would be 2 milligrams for every 10 pounds of body weight given one to two times/day or as necessary for anxiety in cats. Gradually raise the dosage by an increase of 1 milligram each week until satisfied, if you are not satisfied with your results. We suggest not to go over the max of 5 milligrams for every 10 pounds of body weight. Five milligrams for every 10 pounds of body weight would be at the higher end of our suggested pet CBD dosage levels.

To know if your cat is still experiencing separation anxiety after CBD, you can set a recorder up like a phone and leave the house for several minutes.

How Much CBD Oil For Cats Who Experience Separation Anxiety Syndrome

Whatever delivery method you pick, begin with low CBD doses. Gradually increase the dosage, while monitoring the effects of CBD on your cat until you reach the perfect amount for them.

Different felines will react differently to it. Just as different humans react differently to supplements. If the information offered with the CBD product you bought isn’t clear, you can do the math to find out how much CBD to offer your pet by using our suggested dosage above. How frequently you give your pet CBD treats also matters.

For more information please feel free to get in touch with Innovet Pet Products right away!

Sources:

CBD and Anxiety

CBD Decreases Anxiety And Depression

CBD Helps Reduces Anxiety

CBD Application Has Therapeutic Potential

Evidence of CBD

Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.

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The Innovet Team

Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.

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