Feline separation anxiety is more common than previously recognized, causing genuine distress in affected cats when left alone, with behavioral and physical signs that owners often misattribute to other causes.
Cats with separation anxiety experience genuine distress during their owners' absence that may be invisible to owners who only see the cat when they return home. Video documentation of separated cats shows pacing, excessive vocalization, and destructive behavior that reveal significant anxiety. The physical manifestations - vomiting, diarrhea, and overgrooming - demonstrate that the psychological stress translates into physiological harm. Because cats have a reputation for independence and aloof self-sufficiency, their anxiety when left alone is often dismissed or unrecognized. The welfare implications are significant: a cat spending 8 to 10 hours daily in an anxious state has substantially reduced quality of life regardless of what the owner observes at home.