5 Signs Your Cat Is Lonely

We all used to think that cats are the animal equivalent to loners. Kind of bullheaded, a bit peculiar, but also interesting. However, the idea that cats are lone wolfs is a myth! Cats can even suffer from depression, just like us humans. This is why you should be aware of 5 signs that tell you if your cat is lonely.

If you only have one feline roommate, it doesn't necessarily mean that it experiences loneliness. Some cats are very focused on their human so that they don't need an animal companion.

If cats are lonely, though, they develop certain behavioral patterns:

1. Your Cat is More Clingy Than Usual

A lonely cat is a clingy cat. If it doesn't leave your side, follows you around with its eyes, and even accompanies you to the bathroom, you know that something is wrong. It has become increasingly vocal on top of that? Yeah, you should definitely spend more time with your cat. Additionally, if you notice aggressive behavior after you were gone for a short while, your cat is telling you that it's lonely.

The clinginess can be annoying for you which doesn't help the whole dynamic between you and your cat. How about adopting another cat?

2. Aggressiveness

If your cat doesn't only display aggressive behavior when you return home, but pugnacity is its general mood, your cat is probably lonely. It's angry and bored and thus destroys your furniture, pees on your bed, and seemingly does anything to upset you. It doesn't have bad intentions, though! Your cat only tells you that it wants to spend more time with you.

However, if your cat is aggressive towards you and starts attacking you, you should consult your vet. Exaggerated aggression can indicate that your cat is in pain, has parasites or even a tumor.

3. Your Cat is Hyperactive

Have you noticed a restlessness in your cat's behavior? That probably means it's extremely bored. If you have a young cat, it could be due to its age - young cats need a lot more attention and entertainment than old ones.

Especially indoor cats that used to be allowed outside often experience restlessness. Over the first few months of their new indoor-only life, they have excessive energy and don't know where to put it. So your furniture has to suffer.

If this is a new symptom, though, it could be that your kitty suffers from hyperthyroidism or rolling skin disease.

4. Your Cat Pees Outside the Litter Box

If your cat pees anyywhere but in its litter box, you should definitely take it to the vet.

Cats that pee outside their litter box might suffer from an inflammation of the bladder. However, the uncontrolled peeing could also point to emotional distress. Especially when it starts relieving itself on your clothes...

Bear in mind: Never, never punish your cat for peeing outside the litter box. It's not trying to get on your nerves, it merely asks for your attention. Cats are very clean animals, so they don't like peeing in their own home either.

5. Your Cat Might be Depressed

Cats sleep up to 16 hours a day! If your four-legged friend sleeps even more than that, though, and it has stopped playing with you and its toys altogether, it might experience loneliness. If you don't intervene in your cat's loneliness early on, it can turn into depression.

You'll definitely notice if that's the case: your cat will stop cleaning itself and eat very little.

Loving cat owners want their felines to be happy and healthy. Be sure to help your cat if you notice any of these behavioral signs.