Many pet owners have reported seeing changes in their pets during the winter months. A cat might eat more or change their active hours. A dog may be less inclined to get up from a nap to greet you as days grow shorter. This made us wonder: Do pets get SAD too?
“Since we can’t talk to our animal subjects and determine if they are depressed, we have to rely upon ‘depressive-like behaviors,’ such as increased huddling and decreased locomotion,” says Dr. Joe Turk, a veterinarian at Animal Care Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan. “While SAD is not a recognized disease or condition in dogs or cats, it is certainly possible.”
While Turk says most of his patients don’t notice a seasonal difference in their pet’s behavior, he has heard a few concerns over wintertime. However, veterinarians can’t be sure it’s related to SAD. Beyond a change in daylight being a cause, he says, “other possibilities include temperature fluctuations, activity level/exercise changes, seasonal allergies or even a decrease in available prey and hunting activity.”
It’s also possible wintertime behavior changes are actually our pets reacting more to us than the weather. “Since many of our companion animals are so in tune with their people’s moods, it is also possible that people with SAD may be more likely to have pets that also exhibit concomitant depressive behavior,” he said.
Before you brush off a winter behavior change as no big deal, Turk recommends speaking to your vet, particularly with cats. “Cats are masters at hiding signs of illness, and sometimes minor behavioral changes may be indicative of a serious physical problem,” he said. If your pet’s seasonal issues continue, Turk recommends providing a good place for them to lay in the sun, a few new toys, puzzle feeders and incorporating more play into your animal’s routine.
