Do cats miss their owners when left alone at home?

They look forward to the moment when they return home and will be greeted with joyful meows. And the fluffy purrs will rub against your legs and purr, demanding attention or food. All their behavior seems to say that the cats are bored and are very glad to see you.

But do cats really miss their owners? There is an opinion that all this is just our imagination, and cats only have a consumer attitude towards us. They tolerate loneliness well and are even happy at some point in our absence.

Moreover, everything actually looks like we are getting in their way. Therefore, they do not mind being alone. Oddly enough, cats feel like masters of the situation and our square meters. And a cat sitting on the windowsill is not a symbol of longing for the owner, in anticipation of whom he looked with all his eyes. So don't delude yourself.

Quarantine and cats

During the lockdown period, there were a lot of cute cat memes going around the internet. They say that furry pets are so accustomed to their owners being constantly away from home that they were extremely surprised when they stopped going to work and spent all their time with them.

When the quarantine ended and everything returned to normal, many cat owners noticed how the behavior of their cats had changed. Returning home from work, they saw how the cats did not leave them a single step, constantly trying to tell about something, rubbing against their legs, looking devotedly into their eyes, in a word, in every possible way demonstrating their joy at the person’s return home. They, who quickly got used to the constant presence of people nearby during self-isolation, again found it difficult to get used to forced loneliness.

What to do if your cat is bored alone at home

If you are really concerned about this issue, you are often not at home and you feel sorry for your pet, solving the problem is simple. Get another pet. It’s better to have a cat too; you’ll have to walk the dog, which is not relevant if you don’t have time. But you should understand that animals may not get along. This happens rarely.

If you have a boy, it is better to take a girl, and vice versa. Individuals of different sexes quickly find contact. You don’t have to worry about having to spend money on maintaining one more animal. Do not think about whether the cat is bored alone at home and solve the problem, this is the only way.

Signs that a cat misses its owner

Scientists have found that cats, like people, are very different in character.

Each pet is an individual with a capital “P”. Among cats, of course, there are touchy-feely cats that do not need constant human attention and affection. They calmly tolerate separation and do not worry about the absence of their owners. But most purrs still become very attached to people and become sad if they have to sit alone for a long time.

A cat misses its owner if he:

• Meows a lot. A long, plaintive meow for no apparent reason may indicate that the cat lacks affection and care. Try to give your pet time, show attention - and he will repay you with love and a satisfied purr.
• Chases the owner throughout the house. A cat that doesn’t give you access hints with all its appearance: notice me, stroke me, play with me.
• He often licks himself. When a cat constantly licks its fur, this may indicate nervous tension.

There was a case when a cat was so worried about being separated from its owner that it bit off the fur until bald spots formed on its sides. The alarmed owner took the pet to the veterinarian, where it turned out that the cat’s behavior indicated his worries due to the owner’s long absence. She began taking the cat with her to work, and the pet calmed down.

• Excessively active. If you come home from work and your cat is running around the house like crazy, destroying everything in its path, this is probably how it attracts your attention. Don't scold, try to switch his attention to something else. However, the joy of meeting you can also be expressed in this way.
• Loses appetite. When you are at home, the cat eats with appetite, but when you are not there, he does not touch the bowl? Everything is obvious: he really misses you. Try not to stay for long, spend more time with the cat, gradually he will get used to his owner’s absences, and his appetite will be restored.

Are cats bored without you or are they having fun?

They say that cats behave like children in the absence of their owner. They climb into exactly those places where they are forbidden to climb in the presence of an adult. They are primarily interested in those things that are strictly forbidden to touch. Therefore, after returning home, adults often find the same mess both after the cats and after their beloved children spent time on their own.

Returning home, you can find complete chaos and disorder, which consists of things and cereals thrown out of cupboards, broken dishes and tattered books. One can only guess how these furry creatures behaved in our absence.

The kindest and most patient owners regard this mess as fair revenge on the owners from their pets for their long absence. After all, they don’t organize such a pogrom in front of them. But there is a situation when an urgent departure, which seemed not to be part of our plans, is inevitable.

Research by American scientists

Scientists from Oregon were able to prove that cats become no less attached to their owners than dogs. About 80 kittens and their owners took part in the experiment.

Small pets were separated from their owners for a short period of time and placed in an unfamiliar place. When the owner returned, the animals' reactions were checked using special instruments.

It turned out that the babies experienced severe stress when they were separated from their owners, but after being reunited with them, they rejoiced and expressed strong positive emotions.

What do scientific studies say?

Skeptics claim that cats are not capable of loving their owner and quickly forget about him. An experiment was conducted where several animals were left in an unfamiliar environment with their owners, and the other part of the pets were left with strangers. Having compared the behavior of cats from one and another group, scientists came to the conclusion that the behavior did not change, just cats without owners meowed more, which supposedly proves independence and lack of attachment to the owner.

If you place a cat in an unfamiliar room, it will explore and become stressed.

However, such scientific studies do not fully prove that cats do not miss or yearn for their owner. Domestic cats are shy and easily stressed. In an unfamiliar environment, the cat is busy exploring the room, smells, sounds. Meowing can mean confusion or fear. Stress suppresses positive emotions, so the experimental pet forgets about everything and is very worried.

How to help your cat cope with stress

Do you have to spend a lot of time outside the house, and your cat is forced to hang around four walls in splendid isolation for days? Here are some tips to help her cope with stress:

1. When you come home, be sure to pay attention to your cat. When she runs up to greet you, crouch down to her level, pet her, and talk to her in a calm, friendly tone.
2. Play with your cat, come up with joint activities. Physical activity is a great way to cope with stress, the cat will switch gears and the sadness will go away.
3. Pamper your pet with gifts from time to time. A house with manholes, a cat teaser from a pet store or another interesting little thing will delight the cat and improve its mood.

HYGIENE PRODUCTS

Sometimes an animal may not only feel sad when alone, but also experience irritation due to a dirty tray. Some cats flatly refuse to relieve themselves until the owner cleans the latrine. Sometimes they have to endure for several hours at a time.

In this case, be sure to purchase an additional tray. Let it take up a little more space, but the pet will feel comfortable.

For a cat that has to sit at home alone for a long time, you can buy a special interactive scratcher. This accessory is created to satisfy the animal’s natural needs for tactile sensations. Products may have massage inserts for the face and neck, a rubber tip for training teeth and gums, as well as a special acupuncture mat.

The pleasant touch of the massage attachments has a calming and relaxing effect. Many owners who bought such scratchers noted an improvement in their pet’s behavior and well-being within a few days.

Don’t forget about the scratching post, which is a vertical bar or column. The accessory should be placed in places where a domestic predator is used to sharpening its claws, for example, in front of the leg of a sofa or chair. A daily cat ritual also promotes relaxation and stress relief.

What needs to be done to prevent your domestic cat from getting bored alone?

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Many animal owners have faced and continue to face this everyday situation, when all household members go about their business in different directions, and the pet is left alone for a long time. Of course, you are worried about what your pet might be doing all this time when left to its own devices. You probably won't be surprised to learn that boredom is a very bad motivator for animals, including cats. It is fraught with a transition to a whole range of aggressive behavior patterns - aggression, territory marking, etc. If you suddenly come home and find your new shoes torn to shreds, know: this is also out of boredom!

Views from the windows of your apartment. One simple but effective way to prevent destructive behavior in your cat is to give her the opportunity to spend time on the windowsills, where she can have a good look at what is happening there, outside the window. You should, of course, choose windows where the view is more interesting. It’s great if the window sill is large, and you can arrange a bedding or crib there; even better is to purchase and place a so-called cat tree, they are sold in large pet stores. Domesticated cats have moved from the rank of kings of the jungle to the rank of majordomos. And they would prefer to rule the house from as high as possible. This is nature. Plus, you need to satisfy the eternal passion of cats for sniffing and examining - give them this opportunity. A cat tree has all the benefits: it can be quite tall and include additional secret corners that cats adore. And one more tip: place something outside the window that constantly attracts the attention of your pet: a bird feeder, a mobile, a weather vane, a pinwheel, etc.

There is also a way to diversify a cat’s leisure time, as they say, with little blood: when leaving to do your business, close the doors to all rooms. Then, one by one, day after day, give your pet access to one of them. The effect of novelty will work, and the cat will be happy to discover this room again.

Bring some wildlife into your home. Perhaps, such a decision will benefit everyone, if only the dimensions of your apartment allow it. Think over and arrange a mini-lawn at home, buy decorative trees, you can go even further and arrange an indoor garden, fill it with toys for your pet. If this is not possible, bring home something from the street more often, even if it is at least a couple of branches. New smells will always attract a cat. Just don’t forget to change the “exposure” from time to time - the cat will quickly get used to it and lose interest.

Toys are a joy! Cats don't play cards or video games; you understand, they need slightly different toys - ones that jingle, ring, sparkle, roll and roll, and they need to be presented in a variety of ways. Soft toys and toys with bells inside are also good options so they can be touched and explored. Cats need to come up with something new. The right toy should be long-lasting - in order to play and, as they say, not break the bank.

It is not at all necessary to spend impressive amounts of money on toys. Use your imagination more often: make a hole in an old shoebox, put some rags in there - and you’ve got a new interesting toy. Surely there are ping-pong balls, even an old holey sock - and that might do. Important condition: reward the cat after each game. Let her associate toys only with pleasure!

And now - go hunting! Even in a cat, pampered by home comfort and attention, there lives a predator and hunter, as it is inherent in nature. Use natural instincts and let your pet play hunter. Before you leave for work, hide a few of your cat's favorite treats so she can find them and reward herself for her hard work! If you're interested in our advice about your home lawn, you can grow catnip (cat grass) on it and use it as a play element (in toys). However, we advise you to use the “hidden treat” method carefully: your pet runs the risk of quickly gaining excess weight. Don't forget about obesity prevention.

Original publication: How to Keep an Indoor Cat From Being Bored. Author: Elizabeth Anderson Lopez. Source and photo:

The peace ends when the kitten starts to get bored

Author Ekaterina Sorokovaya

Updated: 10/24/2018 20:31 Published: 10/20/2018 14:00

Zoosphere » Interesting

Cats are the most popular pet. They can be seen in funny videos on YouTube, in TV commercials, and their furry faces look at us from banners on the street. But we still forget something about cats! Namely, how impatient and curious they can be. Or maybe they're just lonely?

A moment of fame for Sparky's 9 lives

Sparky the cat has taken the internet by storm with his curly mustache. But few people will answer the question: “How did he get them?”

This happened in the UK. Sparky walked around until he came across a transformer box. Being a curious cat, he decided to check its contents. As a result, Sparky received an electric shock of 11,000 volts.

But unfortunate events of this kind would not be written about in the Daily Mail. So it's worth noting that Sparky remained healthy. What he remembers from this experience is a curled mustache, no eyebrows, and Internet popularity due to his funny appearance.

Smoky's car service

Before you go on a long trip, you need to make sure that the car is in good working order. It is necessary to check the tank for the presence of gasoline or the mechanisms under the hood for the absence of cats.

This has already happened to a UK delivery man. One day he needed to go to the southern part of England. The journey was long, about 1000 km. And apparently the curious cat Smokey was very concerned about making sure the delivery van was in good working order. And so I climbed into the engine compartment between the bumper and headlights to check.

Not noticing the presence of a passenger, the man went to deliver parcels. Until at one of the stops I noticed Smokey’s fluffy tail.

We managed to get the cat out by completely dismantling the front part of the van. After that, Smokey was taken to the veterinarian to recover after a long journey.

“The pipes must be clean!” - said the cat from Yorkshire

Who said that only men can be chimney sweeps? Even a cat can do this activity! This was proven by an example of a cat from Yorkshire. She decided to wipe the school chimney with her fur.

However, the consequences were not in favor of the chimney sweep. Instead of getting out, the cat got stuck in a narrow part of the chimney.

A group of firefighters and rescuers had to save the animal. The first, using a heat indicator, found the location of the cat in the chimney, and the second began to dismantle it brick by brick so that the structure did not fall on the animal.

As a result, the cat was saved, the chimney was repaired, and the school students continued the school day, because no one else disturbed them, neither the cat’s meowing nor the rescue service equipment.

How to understand the behavior of cats?

The list of similar cases with animals is endless. After all, the main reason for their curiosity is boredom.

There are several basic behavioral patterns in cats when they are bored:

1. Frequent licking of fur does not mean that the cat has fleas. This way he can occupy time in his boring “schedule”;

2. Fights with the owner mean that the pet produces “adult” hormones, which make it more irritable;

3. Purring is not only a signal of sympathy. It may also mean that the cat needs attention from its owner.

Looking for ways to release their energy or attract the attention of their owners, cats often find themselves in situations that threaten their lives. Therefore, the owner should pay more attention to the pet by playing with it, brushing its fur or feeding it delicious food. And then you can be sure that the pet will definitely not run away in search of adventure.

Photo: m.fotostrana.ru