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A year ago we adopted a dog, and over the year she and our cat became friends: they play together, they groom each other, they sleep close to each other. Problem is, the cat becomes stressed when the dog is away for more than 2-3 hours: he just wanders around and cries. His usual copings do not work. He tries to eat, but picks at food a little and goes away; I try to play with him, and it works for 2-3 minutes; he comes to me, but again for 2-3 minutes, etc. Is there anything to help him?

When separation anxiety becomes so severe it inhibits daily function (eating, drinking, bathroom), it’s time to talk to a vet. It may seem silly, but cats are absolutely prone to anxiety and depression, and these issues do need to be helped by a vet. Not only in case there is any medical intervention that can help, but also to rule out any other underlying issues that might be causing it (I’m serious, you’d be surprised what a vitamin deficiency can do in a cat).

Consider pheromone diffusers to decrease background anxiety if you haven’t already incorporated them.

If you’re able to (you’ll probably need some form of help from a friend or family member for this), consider longer periods of separation occasionally so your cat can eventually get more accustomed to being without the dog. I understand that it may be difficult to arrange, but slowly exposing the cat to longer and longer periods without his best friend will help him grow more used to living without him, if only for a short period of time.

Even really upsetting or anxiety-inducing stimuli (or lack of stimuli in this case), can be generally eased into by slow, careful exposure. So while having the dog taken away for short periods of time as often as you can manage it may be a pain, you’ll be able to help him develop his own coping mechanisms, and he’ll frankly get used to there being time spent away from the dog. Use that time alone to do whatever it takes. Even if he only plays for a few minutes, go for it. Use this period of time to give him his FAVORITE treat, even if he only has a few bites of it.

And again, I DEFINITELY understand all of that is easier said than done, it’s why I recommended the vet visit first. In situations where he may be stressed, offering him something that will calm him down while the dog is gone may actually encourage him to be calm in the future without continued help. So medication or something along those lines might only be a temporary thing that can help get him over this hurdle into understanding that time spent without his buddy can be okay.

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Garmarna | Den Bortsålda (Sold Away) | Vittrad (Withered) (1994)

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I have an indoors cat, but lately I started to think about taking him outside, supervised and in harness. He is very eager to explore outside world, and often tries to run out of the door when we open it. But even these accidental adventures are dangerous because we live in the city center. So my idea is to let him explore but in a controlled way. Is it a good idea and how should I start? He is about 6 years old and has been outdoors before only in stressful situations.

Sometimes leash walking isn’t the safest option because of where people are located. A lot of times it’s cities, or areas with otherwise heavy traffic. Other times it’s because the dog culture in their area is such that leash laws aren’t really enforced so there are a lot of dogs just out without a leash (PLEASE leash your animals when you walk them, PLEASE).

In those situations, I usually recommend pet-safe travel bags. It allows a cat to experience the stimuli of being outside, but without the threat of busy streets, other animals, or any other harmful surroundings. You don’t have to go full on pet stroller (I mean you absolutely CAN if you want to and are able to, I just realize it’s not an option for everyone).

Make sure the bag is rated to hold a cat, or animals in general. They’ll need space, ventilation, and typically a harder, more secure bottom. There’s honestly all kinds out there, so you can search around and find something that meets your cat’s needs, along with your own. Just check the weight limit and size suggestions. A lot of times certain companies will label cat things as “one size fits all” and that is WILDLY untrue. If you can get a size suggestion, you’re usually pretty good.

I also suggest these instead of your standard carrier because they’re typically made with ease of carrying in mind. Not everyone can lift a carrier. These bags come in backpack form, over the shoulder bag form, all sorts of hard and soft covers, too.

Whatever you choose, make sure the cat is comfortable with the bag and being inside of it before taking him out. Leave the bag out for him to get used to, encourage him to eat some treats in there, or even small meals. The most important thing is leaving the bag accessible to the cat so he can grow accustomed to it. Try zipping him in securely and carrying around your home for a little while. Slowly expose him to being in the carrier while he’s in the comfort of his own home before bringing him out. But once you start taking him outside, he’ll associate that bag with going out. He’ll know he can go outside when he’s in the carrier, so long as going outside remains positive, he’ll be more inclined to deal with being in a bag.

The trick is slowly expanding your options instead of just going “okay get in the bag, we’re going to the park”. The longer it takes, the more secure he’s going to feel with it. It might take him two months to be able to go outside and feel comfortable with it, but then again it’ll mean he’s more confident about going out when he finally does.

And you can use that carrier as a way-point. If you have a safe area near you, you can still bring a harness and leash, get him to this area, and allow him to walk around a little before going back. It’s all up to both of your comfort levels. He may be content with you just sitting outside your front door and sniffing the air.