Is your pet following around all day long? You might want to look at these tips to build independence and get your privacy back.
Like many people, my husband and I got a little furry friend during lockdown number one. It wasn’t a pandemic pet per se, we have always wanted one, but pets don’t seem to be something that landlords like to have in their apartments in London, so we could never have one. Moving to a pet-friendly place meant that we were finally able to get a furry baby, and so we did.
We both had animals before, and we loved them, but no cat has ever come closer to be as needy as a baby like this one. This cat is utterly obsessed with me and my husband – to be honest, he’s more obsessed with my husband than with me – and is rarely further than a meter away from either of us.
So, my cat is obsessed with me – but why?
Like any good internet person would do, I turned to Reddit for advice. Some people seem to think that cats are particularly attached to their owners because they don’t see anyone else. But that’s not the case for our cat. He sees my in-laws every day, and he has been free to roam around the garden and beyond – he even has a cat friend that comes over every day – he just doesn’t want to be free.
Only once, when he was smaller, decided to go out of the garden and into the real world, to then scream for help until my husband found him in the alley right next to the house: a real adventurer, this cat.
Don’t get me wrong; I love that he’s such an affectionate cat. It’s relaxing to have him purring next to us while we work and finding him at the end of the bed in the morning. Still, I have been starting to wonder how he will deal with separation anxiety when, eventually, things go back to normal, and we won’t be at home twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. my cat is obsessed with me
Animal specialists at Ruggles have listed ways to prevent separation anxiety with our furry friends.
Practise a routine now
Put a strict routine in place now while you’re still at home and are able to. In order to have them familiar with the daily structure for when you’re back to normal life, this is a key step to follow. If you know that when you go back to normal there may be a drastic change such as less playtime, gradually start to set this in place now.
Schedule
Whatever type of pet you own be sure to set a weekly schedule of all the tasks you have to do for them. If you’re a horse owner this may be visiting the stables, buying food or taking them out. For a dog owner, this may be needing to find time to walk and play with the dog. Be sure to schedule a time every day to ensure you have enough time to cater to your pets’ needs. Try to think of a realistic time frame that will fit your post-lockdown lifestyle.
Habits
Whilst at home we tend to feed and let our animals sleep as and when. However, aim to feed your animal around working hours. Different animals require different care, so think of what works best for your pet and then try to incorporate these habits.
Exercise
Ensure your animal is still receiving the exercise they need. Going back to the workplace and having a jam-packed lifestyle will make it harder to fulfil your animal’s requirements. If you have a dog, ensure you’re taking them for a long enough walk and still playing with them after work. If you have a larger animal such as a horse, ensure you’re still taking them for regular rides/outings and giving them the care they need. With animals like cats, try to play with them when you’re at home to ensure you can still build a bond.
Build independence
Animals become easily attached to their owners; to prevent separation anxiety try giving your pet more freedom and a chance to have alone time even when you are at home. This will also help when you’re not going to be at home as much after lockdown. Spend time in a different room, and try to get your dog into the habit of sleeping on their bed and not on the sofas!
Pictures: Sam Lion / Hoang Loc
