Do cats miss their owners? Signs your cat misses you

While for dog lovers, it’s often easy to tell how our furry pals are feeling (wagging tails, face licks and enthusiastic bounding - ahem), it can be a much bigger challenge to gauge those of our feline friends. Cats are subtler creatures and while going about their sometimes independent lives, it can be difficult for pet parents to know how they’re really feeling behind those stealthy, elegant exteriors. So it begs the question - do cats miss their owners when they go on vacation? And how do you begin to tell if your cat is missing you? Well here we’re exploring exactly that - signs your cat’s been missing you (that your house sitter can keep an eye out for), along with ways you can combat feline separation anxiety - let’s get into it.

Do cats miss their owners? Here are the signs…

1. Affection when you get home
2. Extra purring when you get home
3. Unusually ‘bad’ behavior
4. Physical illness
5. Agitation
6. Depression
7. Restlessness
8. Jumpy behavior
9. Hiding
10. Reduced appetite

Affection when you get home

When you next return home from a longer trip away than usual, pay close attention to how your kitty acts around you. While a dog’s reaction to the return of their pet parent can be a little ‘in your face’ (in the best way possible, of course), your feline friend’s reaction will be a whole lot more subtle. So, if you come home to a kitty rubbing their face against your leg and following you indoors, outdoors and even to the toilet, you can bet they’ve missed your company!

Extra purring when you get home

When you leave your kitty for hours at a time, what noises and movements do they make when you return home? Well next time, keep an eye out for your cat’s reaction and you might notice extra purring and stretching - they’re sure signs they’re happy you’re home. And if your feline friend is making these efforts to show they’re happy to see you, be sure to give them some TLC right back!

Unusually ‘bad’ behavior

If your kitty is missing your company, they might turn to destructive behaviors to pass the time. These include toileting outside of their little box, knocking objects over and scratching at furniture more than usual - all signs they’re feeling pretty unhappy. So, do cats miss their owners if they’re behaving ‘badly’? Not always - it’s important to keep an eye out for other signs of separation anxiety and to note how long they’ve been separated from you for. Context is key here, and any major changes in behavior should always be discussed with your veterinarian.

Physical illness

You’re probably familiar with the phrase ‘sick with worry’ - well unfortunately, when our feline friends are seriously missing us, they can get physically sick as well as feeling pretty down mentally. If your cat isn’t used to your absence, the stress they’re under may cause them to be physically sick, or to have diarrhea. While you won’t be able to predict whether this nasty symptom will occur, there are ways you can combat separation anxiety in cats - scroll down for a few suggestions.

Agitation

As a fellow feline lover, you’ll know that our kitty’s behaviors are pretty subtle, so it can sometimes take a keen eye to notice behavior changes. So, if you’re welcoming a pet sitter to care for your furry family while you’re away, ask them to watch out for signs of agitation like crying, unfriendly behavior, extended alone time, or maybe even clinginess to anyone they know better.

Depression

If a furry family member is seriously missing their pet parent, there’s a chance that feline depression will develop. Signs to look out for include a combination of lethargy, loss of appetite, no longer grooming themselves, excessive meowing, tucked tales and laid-back ears. So, do cats miss their owners if they’ve got any one of these symptoms? Not necessarily - it’s important to look out for all of these behaviors, alongside advice from a veterinarian and a diagnosis if the symptoms persist.

Restlessness

If your cat is missing you while you’re away, they can become restless. The signs to look out for include aggression towards people and other pets, more vocalization than usual and changes to their eating habits.

Jumpy behavior

While our kitty pals are more often than not cool, calm and collected, jumpy behavior is a sign that your cat is missing you, and may even have separation anxiety. More on edge and watchful than usual, they’re likely to become scared and startled by noises and human behaviors that they usually wouldn’t flinch at. While our feline friends won’t be huge fans of loud noises in general, the time to worry is when they’re startled by noises they’re most likely used to hearing (like the sound of sirens and people walking past their home).

Hiding

Some cats may tuck themselves away if they’re feeling scared or unhappy - tight spaces help them to feel safe and out of harm’s way, so it’s a way of coping if they’re missing pet parents. But do all cats miss their owners if they seem to be sneaking off? Not at all - you should observe your kitty’s (or ask your pet sitter to observe while you’re away) behaviors that go alongside the hiding. There’s a high chance they’re simply being playful, or enjoying their much-needed ‘me time’!

Reduced appetite

Sadly, feline separation anxiety can lead to a reduced appetite, which can - in some cases - become dangerous. While a reduced appetite is a sign they’re missing pet parents, it’s important to keep an eye on any other unusual behaviors, as a lack of appetite can also be a sign of poisoning or toxicity of some kind. If you’re worried, get advice from a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Ways to combat feline separation anxiety

1. Welcome a loving pet sitters
2. Toys
3. Get them used to time apart
4. Create consistent routine
5. Have your home comforts intact
6. Avoid big goodbyes
7. Don’t leave for long initially

Welcome a loving pet sitter

One of the best ways to make sure your fluffy best friend isn’t left lonely is to welcome a loving cat sitter, naturally. Better than being fed by neighbors and left to fend for themselves, a kitty sitter can give them the TLC they need while you’re away. By far, it’s the best way to stop your cat feeling lonely, and to keep them company if you know they sometimes suffer from separation anxiety.

Toys

Sometimes, your cat is simply missing you due to a lack of mental stimulation. While we know that our feline friends are fence-hopping experts and often social butterflies, it can help to invest in toys that’ll keep them occupied at home. Think scratching posts, cat trees, perches and catnip-stuffed bundles.

Get them used to time apart

While cats love their ‘me time’, they won’t appreciate going from having round-the-clock company from you to none at all. So, while welcoming a pet sitter is always recommended for your trips away, build up to that by making sure your cat has enough time alone while they’re growing up. This will help them to understand how to entertain themselves and that they’re safe when not in your company.

Routine

One of the best ways to stop your cat missing you while you’re away is to establish a routine they’re completely used to before you go. That way, you can discuss this on your sit handover with your sitter, and your kitty can feel safe in a routine they’re used to.

Home comforts intact

A bit like having a fixed routine that pet sitters can keep going while you’re away, your feline friends will also appreciate having the home comforts they’re used to laid out in the way they expect. Think food, treats and play time.

Avoid big goodbyes

When you leave the house for a trip away from your furry best friend, we’d recommend you avoid huge goodbyes. While it can feel great for us humans to give our felines a big snuggle before we go, the unusual behavior can make our pets feel uneasy and may set-off separation anxiety prematurely.

Don’t leave for long initially

If you’re worried about your kitty showing signs of separation anxiety, one of the best ways you can gauge their reaction to your absence is to gradually build up the length of your trips. That way, they’re not away from you (and feeling sad) for too long, and you can take appropriate action to help them feel more secure for next time.

Related article: International Friendship Day: Meet My Pet Best Friend

23 weird and wonderful strange cat behaviors explained

While we cat lovers can all agree that kitties are seriously interesting and elegant creatures, there’s also a whole lot to be said for their often unexpected and sometimes wacky behaviors. So to help you understand odd feline phenomena (and by default, your own feline family member) a little more, head to our blog where we explain 23 weird cat behaviors.