Cats may lose their appetite or be sick occasionally or behave in a way that owners have never seen before, such as spraying urine against the wall indoors or behaving aggressively. The sooner you realise that your cat could be experiencing stress, the sooner you can resolve the problem.
Think food puzzles to engage minds and bodies, vertical space for climbing and surveying their domain, scratching posts, safe outdoor access (like a catio), window perches and interactive play. “Play is an important part of relieving stress,” Delgado says. “It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.”
Cats can also become stressed if they don't have access to the resources they need. This includes food and water bowls, litter trays, scratching posts and a comfortable place to sleep. This can be a problem if there is more than one cat in the household, or in a busy home with lots of people about.
Forehead: Very anxious cats are often extremely tight in this area, which is often linked to the appearance of wide, staring eyes and tension around the base of the ears.
When frightened, some cats may hide, try to appear smaller, pull their ears back and be immobile. Other cats may show signs of agitation or aggression, such as dilated pupils, arched back, pilo-erection (hair standing on end), and hissing.
If your cat has anxiety, you may notice pacing or restlessness, hiding, decreased appetite, vocalization, hypervigilance, trembling, salivation, and excessive grooming.
Spraying and urinating outside the litter box are traditional stress symptoms for cats, even after they've been neutered or spayed. A howling cat that meows excessively may be a sign of stress, as can eating less or sleeping more. Excessive grooming and scratching can be stress-induced.
Playing with your cat and providing them with interactive toys, such as wand toys and puzzle toys, can also reduce anxiety. Over-the-counter calming products, such as pheromones and supplements, may help reduce anxiety but should be discussed with a veterinarian first.
Signs of a Depressed Cat
Changes in body language, including ears held back, tucked tail, and hairs standing on end. Meowing more or less than usual or making low-pitched, mournful meows. Lack of energy or a decrease in activity level.
One option is to purchase a cat tree. Calming herbs such as Valerian and Chamomile. These herbs are common stress relievers for both pets and pet parents alike. CBD: The anecdotal evidence supporting its use for cats with anxiety is quite compelling.
If you notice your cat seems anxious, try shutting the curtains and putting on some music or the TV so they can relax somewhere safe and cosy, especially if your cat is scared of things you can't control or loud noises like fireworks. Always stay calm.
Given that catnip can have a calming, soothing effect, it can be used to: help reduce a cat's stress and anxiety when going to the vet, help reduce stress when traveling, help with urinary issues (note that stress is a major contributing factor to urinary obstruction in cats!).
Stressful Situation 1: Changes to Your Home
Here are some changes that often cause cats to stress: Rearranging or purchasing new furniture. Renovations and remodelling. Clutter and mess.
Cats Can Purr When Stressed
This is similar to how people can soothe themselves by laughing or crying. You can tell if your cat is stress purring by picking up on their other cues — are they otherwise content, or are they fidgety, agitated and on edge? If so, they might just need a little alone-time in a quiet room.
Key takeaway. Panic attacks and anxiety in cats can occur as a result of illness or disease, psychological triggers, and pain. Recognizing symptoms of cat panic attacks and using medication, therapy, and training to treat them is the best course of action for cat owners.
Howling, crying, hiding, and otherwise acting in a way that is out of character for your pet should alert you that something may be seriously wrong. Changes in litter box habits, particularly in male cats, can indicate a serious health problem.
Over grooming. Increased vocalisation. Not wanting to go outside anymore. Scratching furniture – although many cats do this, an increase or scratching in a new place could suggest a rise in stress.
A yowl is a long, drawn-out meow that indicates worry, discomfort, territorial concerns, or mating issues. If your cat is continuously yowling, there may be a medical problem that warrants a visit to your vet. If your kitty has not been spayed or neutered, yowling may indicate the search for a mate.
Because of the potentially stimulating and sedative effects of this herb, it is not recommended to offer catnip to cats that are: prone to seizures. on sedative medications.
So, what exactly does catnip do to cats? It's thought to mimic feline pheromones, which cause a euphoric reaction. The blissful high of catnip doesn't last very long, oftentimes less than 30 minutes. Your cat might get nutty for about ten or fifteen minutes and then wander away for a nap.