Does My Cat Have Separation Anxiety Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. When someone is home, does your cat also show unusual hiding, vocalizing, pacing, or clinginess?
No; these behaviors have not appeared while someone is home.
One of these behaviors appears occasionally and resolves quickly.
One or more behaviors occur frequently even when company is available.
The behavior is intense while someone is home and includes panic-like movement, panting, drooling, or inability to settle.
2. Which best describes your cat’s litter-box behavior in connection with being left alone?
They continue to use their accessible, clean litter box as usual.
There has been one isolated accident following an absence.
Accidents have happened more than once during or shortly after absences.
They repeatedly urinate or defecate on doors, bedding, or other specific areas during absences despite having suitable boxes.
3. How does being alone appear to affect your cat’s eating?
They eat their usual amount on their normal schedule.
They sometimes delay eating until someone returns but then eat normally.
They regularly skip most food offered during a typical absence.
They have gone about 24 hours without eating, become weak, or shown another marked physical change.
4. Which environmental situation best describes the period when the behavior began?
No meaningful household or environmental disruption coincided with the change.
A minor routine change, new scent, or temporary noise may have contributed.
A move, schedule upheaval, new household member or animal, construction, or persistent outside-cat activity coincided with it.
There has been direct aggression, injury, entrapment, sustained intimidation, or blocked access to food, water, litter, or a secure resting place.
5. How does your cat compare during two similar periods—one when someone is home and one when everyone is away?
They appear comfortable in both situations, with no concerning difference.
They are slightly less settled when nobody is home.
Concerning behavior is clearly more frequent or prolonged when nobody is home.
Intense distress behavior appears during absences but not while someone is home.
6. If concerning behavior occurs during absences, how is it related to the length of time you are gone?
Routine departures have not been followed by concerning behavior.
It has appeared mainly after unusually long absences.
It occurs during ordinary absences but seems stronger when I am gone longer.
It begins almost immediately or becomes intense even during a short absence.
7. What typically happens when you return after your cat has been alone?
They continue their activity or greet me calmly.
They seek a little more contact than usual, then settle.
They remain unusually clingy, vocal, withdrawn, or restless for an extended period.
They appear extremely agitated or exhausted, pant, drool, or cannot settle after the reunion.
8. What recent litter-box or urination changes have you noticed, regardless of whether anyone is home?
No change in frequency, location, posture, or apparent comfort.
There has been one new accident or a small temporary change in routine without visible discomfort.
There are repeated accidents, frequent box visits, straining, or signs of discomfort.
My cat is unable to pass urine, cries while trying, passes blood, or appears acutely distressed.
9. What happens when you leave but another familiar person remains with your cat?
My cat remains relaxed and follows their usual routine.
They notice my departure and seem mildly unsettled, but soon resume normal activity.
They show sustained unease but are substantially calmer than when left alone.
They become intensely distressed when one particular person leaves, even with another familiar person present.
10. During the 15 minutes before you leave, how does your cat usually respond to departure cues such as picking up keys or putting on shoes?
Their routine remains much the same, or they calmly watch without changing behavior.
They follow me or seek contact briefly, then return to another activity.
They persistently shadow me, vocalize, hide, or have difficulty settling.
They become frantic, try to block or escape through the door, or risk injuring themselves.
11. Based on recordings, neighbor reports, or what you hear after leaving, how does your cat vocalize while alone?
No unusual vocalizing has been observed or reported.
They meow briefly around the time of departure, then stop.
They vocalize repeatedly or for extended stretches during the absence.
They vocalize almost continuously or alongside panting, drooling, or frantic movement.
12. What evidence of scratching, chewing, or escape attempts do you find after an absence?
There is no unusual damage or evidence of escape attempts.
There is occasional light scratching near an exit without damage or injury.
There is repeated damage around doors or windows, or objects are knocked over during restless activity.
There has been a forceful escape attempt, broken claws or teeth, bleeding, entrapment, or another injury.
13. How has your cat’s appetite, drinking, or weight changed recently?
These appear stable and typical for my cat.
There was a mild, short-lived change affecting one or two meals.
The change has lasted several days, keeps returning, or is accompanied by noticeable weight change.
My cat has not eaten for about 24 hours, is rapidly losing weight, or appears weak or dehydrated.
14. If you have observed your cat while alone, which movement or grooming pattern best fits?
They rest, explore, play, and groom in their usual pattern.
They briefly pace or groom more than usual before settling.
They spend prolonged periods pacing, repeatedly checking exits, or overgrooming.
Their pacing is frantic, or licking, biting, or pulling fur has damaged their skin.
15. Apart from departure-related behavior, what physical signs have you observed?
No new physical signs or reduction in normal activity.
A subtle change such as slightly less play, more sleep, or occasional hiding.
Persistent pain-like behavior, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, limping, or a major drop in activity.
Collapse, seizure, breathing difficulty, severe injury, repeated vomiting, or another acute physical crisis.