January 17, 2025
Written By: Becca Hopkins
As pet owners, we might choose to take some time off to settle new pets into the household. Making sure your pet feels happy, comfortable, and well-adjusted at home is a big deal.
But when it comes to going back to work, what happens next?
Since cats and dogs are creatures of habit, this routine change can lead to feelings of stress and separation anxiety. (Although, let’s be honest: some cats might believe absence makes the heart grow fonder.)
Whether you're a remote employee returning to the office, a parent returning from maternity or paternity leave, you're starting a new job, or you'll just be out of the house more, it's important to watch for signs of stress so you can help support your pet before small problems grow into big issues.
How to notice signs of separation anxiety in pets
Not all pets who experience stress when you leave the house have true separation anxiety, and separation-related behaviors are typically more common in dogs than in cats.
Unlike other types of stress, separation anxiety is a true, deep fear not unlike a phobia. Just like arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or glossophobia (fear of public speaking), separation anxiety can't be fixed overnight!
Your pet's stress may be caused by boredom, frustration or general anxiety, underlying health issues, pain or discomfort, gastrointestinal challenges, or a variety of factors other than separation anxiety.
While you and your pets adjust to the new schedule, you don’t want to have to worry about the safety or happiness of your pets, or come home to torn-up couch cushions and messes on the carpet.
Keep an eye out for some signs of stress and separation anxiety in dogs and cats, like:
- Frequent barking, howling, or crying
- Accidents inside or peeing outside of the litter box
- Panting, pacing, and drooling
- Trying to escape a room or crate
- Excessive licking or chewing of feet, tails, etc.
- Scratching at walls or doors or digging the floor
- Aggressive, frantic, or panicked behavior
How to help your pet feel more comfortable home alone
If you've noticed some of the signs above, don't panic!
Separation-related behaviors can feel overwhelming, but it is possible to see positive change with time, patience, consistency, and—sometimes—professional help. You are not alone. Thousands of pets suffer from this issue.
We'll address how to identify pet separation anxiety vs. other types of stress below, but here are 5 steps that you can take right now to help your pet adjust to back-to-work or lifestyle changes and make life easier for both of you!
1. Provide plenty of healthy exercise
Make sure that your pet is getting plenty of healthy, appropriate exercise for their breed and age. Many pets get into trouble when left alone because they're bored, frustrated, or have a ton of pent-up energy.
The best type of exercise for dogs and cats depends on a lot—including their personal preferences—but finding the right balance of physical and mental exercise can go a long way in helping your pet feel comfortable alone at home.
Fun exercises include:
- Playing hide-and-seek games
- Chasing a toy or flirt pole
- Using meals to let your cat "hunt" for their food
- Playing with friendly, age-appropriate dogs
Just remember not to train a super-athlete! If you're constantly trying to physically exhaust your pet, you'll just build up their stamina. That's why mental exercise is just as important as physical.
2. Give them enrichment to keep them busy
For dogs who show stress behaviors when left alone because of boredom or frustration, providing enrichment to help satisfy natural behaviors like sniffing, digging, chewing, chasing, and playing can help soothe their busy mind while you're away.
Some enrichment items, like lick mats, stuffable food toys, puzzle toys, and snuffle mats may be dangerous to leave unattended. When in doubt, remove all non-edible items that your pet may be able to ingest before you leave the house
Enrichment games for dogs include:
- Hide treats and let them seek them out
- Go for a long, slow walk to let them sniff and browse
- Train a fun new trick
- Freeze wet food or dog-friendly peanut butter for a long-lasting, calming treat
Enrichment options for cats include:
- Hide dry food or treats in an empty cardboard box
- Sprinkle catnip onto their scratching post
- Allow access to windows to bird-watch
- Play chase games to let them stalk, hunt, and pounce
3. Try calming supplements
Getting back into the swing of things is stressful enough! You don’t want to have to worry about how your pet is doing at home. Fortunately, veterinarian-formulated Calm & Confident calming supplements can help your pet relax and soothe their stress.
Calm & Confident formulas have been clinically tested to help reduce stress-related behaviors like pacing and crying in as little as 30 minutes, with results lasting for up to 8 hours!
- Long Lasting Calm & Confident is designed to support calm all day long
- Senior Calm & Confident soothes stress and supports brain health & cognition
- Veterinary Strength Calm & Confident provides extra support with L-Tryptophan, and is available for both dogs and cats
- Max Veterinary Strength Calm & Confident combines five powerful ingredients for maximum calming abilities
Give your pet the recommended number of Calm & Confident chews 30 minutes before leaving, so you can enjoy peace of mind throughout the day.
4. Establish a comfortable routine
Some pets, like people, thrive with a consistent routine! If you walk your dog first thing every morning, then try to keep that timing as consistent as possible. By following a routine each morning, you’ll help your pet adjust to these changes and give them an idea of what to expect every day.
An inconsistent or varied schedule can make some pets feel anxious or stressed and lead to unwanted or even dangerous behaviors. You'll also want to practice being calm, positive, and quiet as you're preparing to leave, to set your pet up for success. Don't get them riled up right before you walk out the door!
However, if you notice that your pet is starting to anticipate your departure and starting to stress earlier and earlier, you may need to consult a professional for help in making a different plan.
5. Try reducing distractions
If your pet's stress is being caused by outside distractions, disturbances, and triggers like the mailman, passing cars, joggers, or the sounds of the neighborhood, there are some ways to make your home a quieter, calmer place for your pet:
- Play white noise or classical music to help drown out outside noises
- Install privacy film over low windows to reduce visual triggers
- Close blinds or curtains to create a cozy atmosphere for your pet
- Make sure your pet has a calm, quiet, comfortable place they can go to feel safe
6. Practice leaving and coming back
If you only ever leave at the same time, or you leave very rarely, it can be stressful for your pet when you leave at an unusual time.
For some pets, it can be helpful to practice leaving for a very short period of time. Start with leaving for less than a minute and slowly working your way up to longer periods of time. Use treats, enrichment toys, and gentle positive reinforcement to calmly reward your pet. This may help them understand that you aren't leaving forever, and help soothe some of their stress.
Now, if your pet has true separation anxiety and a deep fear of being left alone, even a minute alone may feel unbearable to them. If that's what you're experiencing with your pet, read on.
What if my pet's separation anxiety isn't improving?
If the tips above start to show results, it's possible that your pet isn't experiencing true separation anxiety—which is great news for you both!
However, if your pet is exercised, enriched, comfortable, and on a routine that meets their needs and they're still struggling to be alone, it might be more than just everyday stress. And you might need to call in a little extra help.
Find a separation anxiety expert who can help
While many pet trainers may offer assistance for separation anxiety, working with a true specialist can make a world of difference.
A Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer brings extensive, science-backed training experience and a comprehensive background in animal behavior. Training plans should be highly individualized to your unique dog, home, and schedule.
These trainers can even offer virtual separation anxiety training sessions with a professional who understands exactly what you're going through, so you can work on helping your pet from the comfort of home.
Some pets and their owners may benefit from working with an American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) certified vet behaviorist. These highly experienced specialists bring a wealth of knowledge and advanced training that can really help pets conquer their separation anxiety.
Veterinary behaviorists can also recommend and prescribe medication, which can be a crucial tool in helping to manage separation anxiety.
If you're struggling with pet separation anxiety, know that you're not alone. It can be one of the most difficult things to manage, but here is help. We hope that these tips and resources can help you take some of the stress out of leaving your pet at home while you work.
If you have concerns about your pet's well-being or behavior, it's always a good start to talk to your trusted veterinary team.
