When a human leaves our home, we pretty much always know what’s going on - they’ll leave (maybe they’re going to work or popping to the shops) and at some point, they’ll come back again. But for our pets, it’s harder to understand why their favourite human has left and whether they’re ever going to return. Here’s how to soothe your pet if they get worried every time you leave without them.

Separation anxiety is when your cat or dog gets anxious when you leave and they’re left alone. Although it’s normal for your pets to whine or fuss a little when you leave home without them, separation anxiety is more intense than that. It tends to last the entire time you’re gone and can be damaging to your pet (and possibly your home!).

Although separation anxiety happens when you leave your pet alone, it can be triggered by many things, including:

• • • A fear of noises. If your pet is afraid of certain noises, being alone can heighten their anxiety.
    • Not enough exercise, playtime and bonding with their pet parent. All these things help your pet feel happy, settled and comfortable in their relationship with you which means they’re more likely to be confident that you’re going to come back.
    • Being exposed to stressful situations during their early weeks (2 to 8 weeks old). This is especially common among cats or dogs who were orphaned or weaned too early.
    • Changes in their routine or lifestyle, like moving to a new home, when a family member leaves or when a family member starts a new job with more time away from home like working full time in the office.
    • Genetic disposition. Some cats and dogs are simply more likely to develop separation anxiety.

If you spot these common signs when you’re preparing to leave home or if your pet is home alone, your cat or dog could be experiencing separation anxiety:

• • • Excessive vocalisation, including meowing, whining and barking. As well as when you’re preparing to leave, your pet will keep up the noise throughout your absence.
    • Having toilet accidents even though they’re fully house trained and never go to the toilet inside when you’re home.
    • Destructive behaviours, like chewing, clawing, biting or damaging furniture, carpets and walls.
    • Plus, cats might eat more (or less), vomit, or excessively groom themselves.
    • Dogs might drool a lot or pace.

Although these signs might suggest that your pet has separation anxiety, they might also be signs of an underlying health condition. It’s best to take them to the vet first to rule out any medical problems if you spot any of these symptoms.

Alongside visiting your vet who can help you design a treatment plan that’s best for your pet, try these tips to keep your cat or dog relaxed and happy when they’re home alone.

• • • Try to distract them. Keep your cat or dog soothed and not stressed out when they’re alone by distracting them. Try popping on the TV or playing some music.
    • Make a safe space for them. Cats enjoy being up high, so consider a tall cat scratcher with a high perch for them or a hammock. Your dog’s crate should be their own private sanctuary - a quiet, calm spot that’s all theirs. Fill it with soft, cosy blankets and their favourite toys and treats so they can relax while you’re out.
    • Treat them to treats. Leave some tempting treats for your pet to find. You could hide them around your home, including in cardboard boxes or rolls, or inside toys. This gives your pet something fun to do.
    • Rotate their toys. Every time you leave, offer an exciting new toy. Rotate their toys so every day there’s something new and interesting to discover.
    • Practise alone time. Rather than leaving your pet alone for hours from the get-go, work up to longer absences. Start short, really short - think a few seconds of leaving them alone in their safe space. When you come back in, ignore them until you remove them from their safe space a few minutes later, if they’re calm. The goal is to have a calm and relaxed pet when you leave and immediately come back. Once that’s happened, you can slowly increase the time you’re gone. From a few seconds more up to minutes at a time.
    • Look for a dog walker, pet sitter or doggy daycare. If your pet doesn’t settle when they’re alone, no matter what you try, think about hiring a dog walker or pet sitter or putting your pup into daycare.

Tried all these tips and your cat or dog just won’t relax or is hurting themselves or damaging your home while you’re not there? It’s time to see your vet. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.