Cat has gone really angsty since I was away on Sunday

[LanguidLobster]

I was only gone the day but took my suitcase which she's been frantically clawing at and doing cat screams and refusing to eat since I got back.

I assume something frightened her whilst I was out but obviously as she's a cat she can't tell me.

The wailing banshee is now parked on the closed toilet seat in the bathroom (I had quite a struggle earlier to get her to cease and desist - I just wanted to use the loo but she refused to vacate her spot).

Just leave her to calm down? She's not normally like this and I don't think it's anything physical

She's punishing you.

Our cat does it too. Or at least tries. I just laugh and shrug it off because she is a cat.
I am curious though as to why you can't use the bathroom because the cat is sitting on the closed seat. Is she bigger than you?

Oh I guess maybe as suitcase was bought in 2003 before cat was even born she associates it with being abandoned forever. I only needed to transport some things.

She does need to calm down though, the mournful wailing is too much.

Parent no she's teeny but I didn't really want to just throw her off the lid but she didn't respond to more subtle commands to get off. I really needed the loo though!!

Poor little one. Probably something did frighten her. Have you put the suitcase away so she isn't worried by it? Tempted her with treats? Otherwise just go about your business normally and she'll figure that all is right with the world ten out ten for sitting on the toilet though, kitty.

Subtle commands?

I've never met a cat that obeys any commands at all. They just look at you like you're stupid. They're small. You just grab and move.

Spartacus...you're endorsing her for sitting on the loo lid?? Why you little...

I made a few perfunctory flaps with my hand but she glared at me so I had no choice but to pick her up. I bleach once a week so always try to remember to put the lid down as it's harmful for cats. It's not her bed though.

They just look at you like you're stupid

Yes well, maybe they'd argue it is all a matter of perspective ...

Spartacus...you're endorsing her for sitting on the loo lid?? Why you little...

Honestly, I have to hand it to her. It was a good move.

I wonder what else she has done?

I think your cat is making a point and making you pay for going away.

I went away on a weeks business trip and I tried to talk to my cat via Skype each day that week but all she did was turn around and show me her bum when the sitter tried to show her the iPad. I got the bum treatment when I arrived home too. It lasted about 15 minutes until she allowed me to stroke her.

Does your cat have free access to outside, ie a cat flap, or is she kept indoors?
Because if it’s the latter, your cat has no idea whether you are ever coming back, and she is effectively trapped with no food or water source. Any animal would panic in those circumstances.
As you can’t explain to her in words that you would never do that to her, you need to demonstrate your reliability. You need to put down appropriate amounts of dry food and a water bowl, then let her see you leave with your suitcase. Do this a few times, and always make a loving fuss of her when you come back, just a few hours later.
Eventually she may learn to trust that you will in fact return, and that she has not been abandoned to starve to death. But cats are very independent and don’t trust easily - she may always be stressed and upset by your absences.

Babdoc no she can't access the outside by her own. It's a very enclosed flat and I continually worry about how happy she is. She has supervised strolls outside at present.

She's normally fine when I Ieave her, she must have had a panic attack.

She's still on the loo seat at present though, I will need to use it at some point so I'm going to have to be brutal at some point (by brutal I mean forcibly eject her then keep the door closed thereafter).

I think she's damned clever to make her point by sitting on the loo. She knows that, whatever happens, you're going to need to use it at some point, so it is the one place where her sit-in protest will be noticed.

You may be forgiven in a millennium or two!