Cat Separation Anxiety at Night: Kitty Keeping You Up?
Does your cat have a habit of vocalizing at night?
Do you wake up every morning to a living room that looks like a tornado passed through?
Does your cat incessantly paw at your bedroom door right after your head hits the pillow?
If so, you may just be living with a cat who suffers from separation anxiety at night. Don’t worry – it’s a common problem, and there are several ways to address it.
We’ll explain everything you need to know below.
What Is Cat Separation Anxiety?
Cat separation anxiety is the term veterinarians and behaviorists use to describe cats who become anxious or fearful when prevented from being in close contact with their owner.
It can occur in any cat, but it appears most common in cats who’re especially sensitive, have recently experienced a lifestyle change (such as moving to a new home), or are unusually attached to their owners. It also appears to be slightly more common among female cats than their male counterparts.
Cats may experience separation anxiety at any time. It is likely most common when they’re left alone in the home for long periods of time, such as when their owners must go to work or attend school all day. It can also happen when owners leave cats alone while traveling.
However, some cats experience separation anxiety at night – especially when their owners sleep in a different room.
Signs of Cat Separation Anxiety at Night
Each cat is an individual, so the signs of cat separation anxiety at night can differ from one kitty to the next. However, the follow signs are among the most common ones that owners observe:
- Excessive vocalizations
- Pooping or peeing outside of the litterbox
- Producing more hairballs than usual
- Vomiting
- Destructive behavior
- Over-the-top greetings in the morning
- “Clingy” behavior during the day
- Changes in appetite
- General agitation
- Obsessive grooming
7 Ways to Stop Cat Separation Anxiety at Night
If you notice one or more of the signs of separation anxiety discussed above, you’ll want to do what you can to help your kitty feel better. Fortunately, there are a variety of things owners have found helpful in this regard, and most of them are pretty easy and affordable.
1. Make Sure Your Cat Has a Secure and Comfortable Sleeping Area
The lack of a comfortable sleeping location can significantly worsen separation anxiety in cats. In fact, it can have a multiplying effect; in addition to being anxious, your cat also starts suffering from poor sleep, which makes her more anxious, which makes it harder for her to get good sleep, and so on.
In the abstract, this is an easy fix – simply give your cat a better sleeping situation. But in practice, it can require quite a bit of trial and error, as different cats like sleeping in different types of sleeping accommodations.
Be sure to try different pillows and cat beds, but also consider things like providing covered sleeping quarters or placing a bed on top of her cat tree.
3. Provide Your Cat with Toys and Other Forms of Enrichment
Some cats are simply inclined to be more active at night. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you want to make sure she’s not suffering anxiety while she’s in night-owl mode. One of the best ways to do that is to help keep her brain busy and stimulated.
Toys and other types of enrichment (such as cat trees and scratching posts) can be very helpful in this regard. But for your own sanity, be sure to opt for toys that are quiet, if not outright silent.
3. Spend More Time with Your Cat During the Day
One of the easiest ways to address nighttime cat separation anxiety is by providing your furry friend with more attention during the day. This helps reduce her stress levels when the sun is up, which can have carry-over effects that last well into the night.
Additionally, by providing her with more attention during the day, she’s more likely to stay awake while the sun is up. This will help ensure she’s tired at night.
So, think of a few times in your day in which it would be easy to give your cat some more love. TV time on the couch is an obvious opportunity, but you may even find that it’s convenient to set aside 10 minutes of time in the middle of the day to give her some gentle pets and love. First thing in the morning is also a great time – you can scroll on your phone while petting your cat.
4. Provide Her with a Nightlight
Despite descending from thoroughly nocturnal ancestors, modern cats can sometimes feel uneasy in the dark – especially when separated from their human. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest causes of nighttime separation anxiety to fix. Simply purchase a nightlight and place it in an area that’ll give your kitty a better chance to navigate your dark home.
Consider opting for an automatic nightlight, which turns on whenever the light level in your home drops. This way, you won’t ever forget to turn it on and be awoken by the sounds of cat destruction emanating from outside your bedroom door.
5. Eliminate Any Environmental Stressors
Sometimes, environmental factors may exacerbate your cat’s anxiety. These types of triggers can be difficult to identify at times, but when they can be pinpointed and eliminated, you’ll often see rapid changes in your cat’s nightly routine.
Some of the most common environmental triggers are things like other pets, noisy home appliances, and frequent changes to the home.
Noting the timing of your cat’s vocalizations or destructive behaviors can often help you nail down the things that are upsetting her. For example, you may notice that she starts acting out shortly after your neighbors return home every night. Alternatively, you may notice that your ice maker starts to make noise around 2:00 AM, which is right before she starts meowing at the top of her lungs.
6. Leverage Her Hunger
Irresistible food items can often help keep your cat a little calmer when she’s anxious (or at least give her something to focus on). But instead of simply feeding her in a dish like normal, try placing the food or treats inside an interactive, food-storing toy to excite her hunting instincts.
This type of approach is often most helpful for food-motivated felines, but it’s worth trying with any cat. If your cat doesn’t seem to take interest in the interactive toy initially, consider experimenting with other foods or treats until you find something that drives her wild.
7. Seek Professional Help
While the home remedies discussed above will often provide the kind of comfort your cat needs, nighttime anxiety occasionally necessitates the help of a professional. There are basically two options in this regard; you can discuss the issue with your vet or consult a feline behaviorist.
Your vet may find it appropriate to prescribe medications to help your cat feel better, while a behaviorist may be able to identify subtle things that are triggering your cat or recommend less-common solutions that will help.
In Conclusion
Nighttime separation anxiety in cats can be frustrating, but just remember that your cat’s not trying to drive you crazy; she’s just trying to cope with the fear she’s feeling. So, do what you can to make her feel better – it’ll help you both of you enjoy calmer, quieter nights in the future.
Most importantly, keep your cat’s nighttime separation anxiety in mind if you’re forced to leave her home alone while you travel. You will want to make sure that someone is looking after her and helping her cope with the change.
Our professional cat sitters are very familiar with the symptoms of cat separation anxiety and well-versed in the best ways to help soothe frazzled four-footer nerves. Your kitty will still miss you while you’re gone, but she’ll have a loving caretaker in the meantime, and you’ll be able to rest easy, knowing that she’s in the best possible hands.