How to prepare your cat for post-lockdown and your absence

Changes in routine: a source of stress for cats

All cat guardians know that cats are highly sensitive to routine. Cats often struggle to adapt to a move, sometimes have difficulty accepting a new partner in their guardian’s life, and they all have their little habits—like meowing in the kitchen at 5:10 p.m. because they know mealtime is near.

At first, the lockdown already had consequences on the well-being of some cats, as it happened overnight, abruptly changing their routine. For other cats, lockdown increased their daily enrichment. Indeed, with their guardian staying home, they were more available to play or cuddle with them during breaks.

The return to in-person work after lockdown has been gradual, thus avoiding the kind of radical change cats hate. Nevertheless, it means much less presence at home, changes in schedule and routine, and obviously, less availability for the cat. New behaviors unpleasant for humans—like more frequent or even nighttime meowing, destruction, or inappropriate elimination—may appear.

To help a cat prepare for this major change, it’s possible to anticipate the new rhythm the guardian will adopt and maintain as many consistent reference points as possible:

• Gradually reduce the attention and interaction given to the cat during the hours when the guardian will be away;

• Maintain or create a stable routine for mealtimes if the cat is fed at set times;

• Organize and stick to play sessions, ideally morning and evening, during the times the guardian will be home in the future;

• Offer daily training sessions at a time when the guardian will consistently be available, giving the cat a new reference point.

End of remote work: my kitten will be alone

All cat guardians know that cats are highly sensitive to routine. Cats often struggle to adapt to a move, sometimes have difficulty accepting a new partner in their guardian’s life, and they all have their little habits—like meowing in the kitchen at 5:10 p.m. because they know mealtime is near.

At first, the lockdown already had consequences on the well-being of some cats, as it happened overnight, abruptly changing their routine. For other cats, lockdown increased their daily enrichment. Indeed, with their guardian staying home, they were more available to play or cuddle with them during breaks.

The return to in-person work after lockdown has been gradual, thus avoiding the kind of radical change cats hate. Nevertheless, it means much less presence at home, changes in schedule and routine, and obviously, less availability for the cat. New behaviors unpleasant for humans—like more frequent or even nighttime meowing, destruction, or inappropriate elimination—may appear.

To help a cat prepare for this major change, it’s possible to anticipate the new rhythm the guardian will adopt and maintain as many consistent reference points as possible:

• Gradually reduce the attention and interaction given to the cat during the hours when the guardian will be away;

• Maintain or create a stable routine for mealtimes if the cat is fed at set times;

• Organize and stick to play sessions, ideally morning and evening, during the times the guardian will be home in the future;

• Offer daily training sessions at a time when the guardian will consistently be available, giving the cat a new reference point.

My cat is urinating outside the litter box

All cat guardians know that cats are highly sensitive to routine. Cats often struggle to adapt to a move, sometimes have difficulty accepting a new partner in their guardian’s life, and they all have their little habits—like meowing in the kitchen at 5:10 p.m. because they know mealtime is near.

At first, the lockdown already had consequences on the well-being of some cats, as it happened overnight, abruptly changing their routine. For other cats, lockdown increased their daily enrichment. Indeed, with their guardian staying home, they were more available to play or cuddle with them during breaks.