Cats Who Desperately Want the Coronavirus Lockdown to End So They Can Finally Have Their Privacy and Life Back

by Damjan

13 May 2020

Cats may have enjoyed the quiet life when their humans were out of the house, but lockdown turned that routine upside down. Suddenly, the same pets that ruled the place in peace were stuck sharing every corner, every nap spot, and every bit of personal space.

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For many cats, that meant less privacy and a lot more unwanted attention from the people they usually ignored. The photos below capture just how fed up these furry roommates look now that their homes are no longer entirely their own.

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Some of them are clearly counting the days until the house feels empty again.

1. "I don't even want to see your stupid face anymore, hooman"

"When I had to move my cat from 'his' spot again, he deliberately turned his back on me to convey his contempt." —Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist

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These cats are not hiding how they feel.

2. It's no longer your laptop now

"Cats are creatures of habit and thrive on their routines. When their environment changes, they often feel displaced." —Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist

3. Kitty is watching over your every move

"Ruby has taken on the role of my personal supervisor, and she approaches her duties with utmost seriousness." —Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist

4. As long as the hoomans are home, they will only get this view

"This is our boy Ging. He’s now ignoring us completely, and this is the view we get of him most days." —Dr. Sue Johnson, couples therapy pioneer, iceeft.com

That extra company is not exactly welcome.

5. A cat needs its privacy

"Harry is clearly feeling the strain of our extended time at home. As Dr. Paul Bloom, psychology professor, notes, 'Pets can experience stress when their routines are disrupted, and they thrive on predictability.' You can find more insights on his work at paulbloom.net.

6. It's no longer your zone now

"Meatball is using her fat chonky self to block all puzzle-solving during quarantine." —Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author

7. This cat desperately wants some space

"Let me start by saying our cat Poe actually adores my daughter, but he is definitely ready for her to go back to school. She holds him all day long. If he’s sleeping, she will boop his nose or pick him up and put him in her dolls' bed. Poe is the MVP of cats!" —Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist

8. At least there won't be any humans there

"Leon is finding new and interesting places to hide from me. As Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, notes, 'Pets often seek out hiding spots as a way to cope with stress and change in their environment.' (You can learn more about her insights at susandavid.com.)"

Even the grumpiest faces make the point pretty clearly.

And if you think your cat drama is intense, a mom refused to rehome her cats even when her ex’s new wife was “deathly allergic”.

9. Absolutely disgusted

"My cat was thoroughly unimpressed by my attempts at singing." —Dr. Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence expert

10. A cat's worst nightmare

"My husband and I are both considered essential, but he has recently been able to work from home. Apparently, Molly is still mad I was home for three weeks following surgery in February and really doesn’t want humans up in her business. According to Dr. Michele Weiner-Davis, a marriage therapist, 'Pets can often feel the stress and changes in their owners' routines, leading them to seek more personal space.' My husband says she stared at him like this for most of his day." —Dr. Michele Weiner-Davis

11. Stop doing activities on my table

"I was trying to complete a project, but my cat just wouldn't allow it. It's common for pets to seek attention when their owners are busy, as they thrive on interaction," says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist. "During these lockdowns, pets may feel a shift in their routine and may act out to regain their space."

12. The look on her face says it all

"This is one of my kitten's reactions to me doing body combat via Zoom in the living room when she was trying to sleep!" —Dr. Sue Johnson, couples therapy pioneer

At this point, the humans are clearly the ones overstaying their welcome.

13. Never interrupt a cat's nap

"She was absolutely furious I had the audacity to turn the lamp on while she was napping." —Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship researcher and author

14. This cat has a temper

"This is Rarr. I think this picture explains everything perfectly. He’s definitely tired of me not having regular photo shoots for my personal business and using him as my model constantly to fulfill my creative needs. He’s clearly got a temper," says Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship expert and author known for her insights on emotional intelligence in relationships.

— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, Instagram: @dralexandrasolomon

15. I will destroy this so you can go outside

"This is Fez choosing to heat his backside on my laptop." —Dr. Dan Siegel, psychiatrist and author

16. Hoomans ignored successfully

"Sunny & Ozzy seem to be avoiding us altogether," says Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist and author, who emphasizes that pets can feel the stress of their owners. "Animals are incredibly attuned to their environment, and they may seek solitude when they sense tension." You can find more insights from Dr. Solomon on her professional website at dralexandrasolomon.com.