My cat seems sad. Can cats really suffer from anxiety or depression?

True separation anxiety is not horribly common in cats. But the signs would that your cat shows distress when left alone or separated from you (or other people she's attached to). You might be self-inflicted trauma, excessive vocalization, urinated or defecating inappropriate places, lack of appetite, withdraw, over grooming or (less commonly) destructive behaviors. She might be hyper focused on you when you are around or vocalize/follow you when you prepare to go. It's important to check for a medical reason for any of the symptoms you're seeing (for example, if there are litter box issues, it could be separation anxiety, or could be related to illness or cystitis or many other causes). Generally, videotaping what she does when you're not home is helpful in diagnosis, and then a full blood panel (CBC, blood chemistry, urinalysis, fecal test) and exam to check for medical issues. I hope that gives you some idea about if your kitty is effected and how to proceed! Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He may have separation anxiety and that may explain it. I would recommend a product called Feliway which may help with episodes of distress or separation anxiety and is not a medication per se but it helps them feel more at ease. Best of luck!

Symptoms of anxiety can include hiding, aggression, extreme vocalization, lethargy, changes in appetite, not using the litter box, and excessive grooming. Keep in mind, however, that these symptoms can also be due to a medical illness. For example, a change in appetite could be due to a systemic illness, which lethargy could be due to injury, and not using the litter box could be due to feline idiopathic cystitis. Because of that, the only way to prove your cat has anxiety is to take her into the vet. Medical causes for certain behaviors need to be ruled out first before diagnosing a cat with anxiety, and only a vet can do that. Best of luck.

Sake is such a handsome boy! Yes, cats can have problems with anxiety, and you can try a few things to help him. You can get Feliway, this is a pheromone diffuser that can help cat with anxiety. You can pair it with a calming collar that also releases pheromones when in contact with his skin. Finally, you can take him into the vet to see if anti-anxiety drugs may be for him. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

That can be normal, but can also be a sign of separation anxiety! Cats, just like dogs, can become very anxious when away from their favorite people. I'm including an article about separation anxiety that may help! https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/separation-anxiety-1/

Feliway pheromone plug ins, sprays or collars, as well as VetriScience Composure liquid given daily may help with her depression. Both are available online without a prescription. Introducing new toys, catnip and even a new cat under close supervision (after making sure that the new cat doesn’t have intestinal parasites, fleas, FeLV/FIV or other transmissible diseases and won’t get get your cat pregnant) may help as well! Good luck!

There are calming supplements and diets which can be very helpful, as well as pheromone and comfort zone diffusers which can help cats adapt to such situations. A full health check and possibly blood panel should be considered to rule out medical causes especially if there is any weight loss or altered thirst