Three key signs of anxiety and stress in cats are behavior changes (hiding, aggression, vocalizing), changes in grooming/litter box habits (over-grooming, inappropriate urination/defecation), and physical signs (flattened ears, dilated pupils, trembling, changes in appetite). These subtle signs often appear in combination and signal a distressed feline needing attention, potentially a vet visit.
Signs of Anxiety in Cats
Other symptoms may include:
Cat Diarrhea: Stress-Related Causes and Natural Remedies Stress, dietary changes, and intestinal parasites commonly cause digestive upset in cats. Stress-induced diarrhea in cats often results from anxiety affecting gut motility. Symptoms include loose stools and occasional urgency.
Use pheromone diffusers, calming collars, or natural supplements like valerian root. Create a safe space for your cat to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Valerian Root
It works by stimulating the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps reduce stress and promote a sense of calm. You can offer valerian root to your cat in various forms, such as dried root, tea, or even as a stuffing for toys.
The 3-3-3 rule for cats moving is a guideline for understanding their adjustment to a new home: 3 days to decompress, where they hide and feel overwhelmed; 3 weeks to learn routines, starting to explore and get comfortable; and 3 months to truly feel at home, revealing their full personality and bonding with the family. It's a helpful reminder for new owners to be patient and provide space for their cat's natural settling-in process.
Runny or Soft Consistency Cat Poop
Runny or soft cat poop (or diarrhea) is a sign that your cat's digestive system is irritated. This can be due to the following: Diet changes – when done too abruptly, this can cause diarrhea. Stress – this can interfere with normal digestion.
The biggest source of stress for cats is often something new in their environment or routine. A move to a new house, a new baby or pet, weird new noises (like from neighborhood construction), or even unfamiliar guests in the house may trigger your cat. Some cats may be thrown by a change in your workday routine.
Five common warning signs of anxiety include excessive worry or feeling on edge, physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and irritability or restlessness, often accompanied by an urge to avoid anxiety triggers. These signs can impact daily functioning, leading to fatigue, stomach issues, or trouble relaxing.
A big event or a buildup of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety — for example, a death in the family, work stress or ongoing worry about finances. Personality. People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are. Other mental health disorders.
Diagnosing anxiety in cats
Your veterinarian will diagnose anxiety based on your description of your cat's behavior, and potentially after running diagnostic tests such as bloodwork and urine tests to rule out any medical causes of your cat's behavior.
If your cat is feeling stressed, they may show subtle signs in their behaviour, such as:
Tricyclic antidepressants
Antidepressants may be a good option if your cat has anxiety without any specific trigger. Many antidepressants take a few weeks to work for cats, and you need to give your cat these medications every day. But they provide longer-term relief than medications like benzodiazepines or gabapentin.
Cat behavior red flags signal potential medical or emotional issues, including sudden changes in eating/drinking, litter box problems, excessive vocalization, increased hiding, aggression, lethargy, or changes in grooming (like overgrooming or stopping). Because cats hide illness well, any significant deviation from their normal routine, such as increased thirst, appetite changes, or unusual hiding, warrants an urgent vet visit to rule out serious underlying conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or pain.
Give your cat some space
Ensuring your cat always has space to escape from the chaos is a good way to reduce their stress. A quiet spot somewhere high up is ideal. Try a cardboard box on a sturdy shelf or our Hide & Sleep® cat hide, designed by Cats Protection experts.
Urination or defecation (pooping) outside the litter box falls into two categories: toileting and marking. Toileting often indicates an underlying medical condition or incomplete litter box training. Marking, or middening, occurs when a cat uses feces instead of urine to make a statement or communicate.
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
Below are some of the best essential oils for calming cats:
When a cat rubs up against your ankles, or even your face, they are using their scent glands to spread pheromones onto you. Rubbing their head or face against you is generally a sign of affection, while their paw pads are used to mark their territory and say, 'you are mine'.
Let the cat make contact first
Use the '3-second rule': touch for 3 seconds, then pause to see if the cat wants more.
Cats are incredibly sensitive to their environment. Major changes such as switching owners and households can be dramatic and very stressful. Cats are aware of even the smallest changes in your household.