Yelling at suitcases - does your pet have separation anxiety?

[Patiod]

Our cat is, like most felines, supremely indifferent to our comings and goings. I travel a lot, and she enjoys playing suitcase-games while I pack, but she generally ignores my departure, knowing the S.O. will be home to take care of her.

This weekend, though we got a last-minute invitation to use a friend's beachouse, and rushed home after work on Friday to pack. I quickly threw some things in a suitcase, she played her suitcase games (cat in suitcase, cat ON suitcase, cat getting hair on all the clothes), but then we surprised her by leaving together. Our last view was her peering down at use through the railings.

My S.O. went back on Saturday to handle a few things and pick up items we forgot in our rush. The cat was fine until he threw another suitcase on the bed, and then he said that she let out a weird, deep howl that he'd never heard before. He's not sentimental about her, but he said "it was like she realized I was leaving too."

And she was as clingy as all get out when we returned last night.

How does your pet react to you going on vacation? Does he/she know you're leaving?

[IndyOp]

1. When my mother was sick, I wound up leaving my two cats in the

apartment for weeks at a time (a nice petsitter who visited twice daily to tend to their needs). They were definitely like velcro between trips and for, even, about a month when I was finally settled back in town.

They played with my suitcase when I returned but not so much when I was packing. They looked anxious when I was packing - no doubt, but I did not see any behavior directed toward my suitcases or other objects that indicated I was leaving.

You have a unique kitty! :-)

[demnan]

2. Mine always want to climb into the suitcases

but I haven't traveled in years, not since the business trip where Pad Thai left a turd by the door for me to discover on my return. And I had an almost live in neighbor at the time who loved my cats. Mine not only suffer separation anxiety I am told they do not eat while I'm away.

[meow2u3]

4. So does mine

Boots will climb into a suitcase when I fill it up with out-of-season clothing because he thinks I'll leave without him.

He doesn't know that when I leave home for an extended period of time, I take him with me. Needless to say, he doesn't care much for a cat carrier, either.

[NMDemDist2]

3. my dogs know when the suitcases come out something's up

since my furkids could be brain surgeons or rocket scientists except for the lack of thumbs, when the suitcases come out, they get depressed

we traveled over the holidays and had a house sitter for 5 days and when we got home I was lazy and didn't unpack and stow the suitcases for a few days

they didn't settle down til the cases were safely stowed back in garage. while the cases were in the house they freaked and clung every time i left the house

[haele]

5. Mine have traveled with me, so the suitcase isn't so bad...

Especially since I tend to leave it out, just as I leave their travel carrier out for them to play in when they aren't traveling in it. It's only when I put it on the bed that they start getting worried.
And once I pack, I need to keep it from the one cat; he'll pee on it whenever it's packed if he can.

They hate suitcases on the bed.

Haele

[newsguyatl]

6. oh most definitely!

my cats instinctively know when i come downstairs dressed with keys, briefcase in hand that i'm leaving.. sometimes i just need to come downstairs with clothes and shoes and they know...

they both start meowing and pacing lots.... nikko, my older cat, will always tap me on the shoulder (sitting on the counter) as i try to leave the kitchen -- as if to say, "hey, wait! where are you going? don't forget about me!"

[ccjlld]

7. Tucker always knows

We are heading off on an overnight trip. He saw the suitcase this morning and started yowling. This is his attempt to get taken with us.