Wait, You’re Leaving? Avoiding Pet Separation Anxiety

Where are you going??

If anything brings us joy and comfort-as well as amusement and occasional chaos-it’s been our pets. They can become our constant companions and when the time comes, they may suffer from separation anxiety. When cats and dogs are suddenly left alone, it can trigger some not-so-welcome behaviors like scratching, chewing, excessive barking, or may not want to eat meals. These behaviors could be a sign of separation anxiety or an unhealthy amount of fear or distress when you are gone. Here’s how to smooth the transition for your four-legged BFF.

Practice Leaving Now

Every pet needs to learn to handle their owner’s leaving and coming back, says Carol Harris, CAAAB, a certified applied animal behaviorist. Try going out twice a day for 10-15 minutes. Make sure they are in a safe place away from medications and garbage. “I’m leaving cues” like putting on shoes and grabbing keys and closing window blinds can cause panic before heading out the door. Harris suggests doing this routine several times a day without going out to make it meaningless to them.

Sticking to the Schedule

Three walks a day, snacks at lunch, regular naps - yep, your pet loves and is used to a daily routine. “But dogs and cats, especially cats, are very schedule oriented, Sudden changes can cause stress,” according to Brian Bourguiba, DVM and founder of the Boston Veterinary Clinic. Even if you just have a schedule change, start shifting their feeding and exercise time to reflect it. If your plans include a pet sitter or dog walker, consider easing those in as well before you’re gone for two weeks!

Giving Them Space

As hard as it may be, back off the daytime snuggles and playtime about 2 weeks prior to leaving home.