What should I do if I have a cat with separation anxiety? I will be going to college in the fall and I will have to live on campus. They do not allow pets but do allow Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals, which the cat is not. I talked to the college and they already told me that she will need to be registered as an ESA, but I do not know if I need her for that purpose. What would you recommend?
You have time to work with kitty to get her desensitized to your being gone. Doing this will make her life emotionally healthier and will be necessary for you to be able to function at school without worrying about her.
There are many good resources available to help you with this process. Search on ‘cat separation anxiety’ for some options.
Cats often bond closely with one of their humans and are indifferent to the other two legged members of the family. Since someone else is going to be taking care of kitty when you’re at college, now is a good time for that person to start feeding her and playing with her. Encourage kitty to bond with other people who will be remaining in your house.
Look into the certification, she may need you for emotional support after all.
- Get a webcam (e.g., Nest) and set it up so you can look at your kitty
- Facetime with your kitty