Signs of Stress

Signs of Stress

Are you wondering if you cat is stressed? Telltale signs of a stressed out cat can be numerous but are usually easy to discern. Here is an article to help you distinguish the signs and give you advice on how to remedy the situation.

Telltale signs of a cat who is stressed.

How to quickly tell if you cat is feeling anxious? All you need to do is take note of the following signs:

Your cat is scratching your furniture, carpets and doors
Your cat is marking their territory by urination
Your cat is showing signs of aggression

Stress tells that are harder to decipher

Unfortunately, being able to tell when a cat is stressed can be a difficult thing to do. Some signs to help you out are:

Your cat is suffering from eating problems (anorexia where your animal will eat less or nothing at all or bulimia where your cat will gorge themselves and then vomit)

Your cat is exhibiting lower levels of activity (does not play as much and sleeps more)

Your cat is showing less interest for their regular activities (they don’t seek out cuddles as much, are less interested in being pet and isolate themselves)

Note: When in doubt, you can always call your veterinarian for advice on what to look out for and what to do once you’ve spotted the signs of stress,

What to do when your cat is stressed?

Your cat is stressed? Let’s see what we can do. Zoom in on a couple solutions.

Identifying the causes

The first thing to do is to identify why your feline partner might be stressed. Stress is usually tied to a change in their environment (absence or loss of a loved one, a new arrival into the home, a change in décor or furnishings, unusual sounds etc…). It can also be tied to boredom (inactivity) or can be a response to a punishment. It’s important to remember that if you yourself are stressed, your cat can feel it.

Reorganize your living space and enrich your pet’s environment. Set up some elevated resting spots for your pet to be able to survey their territory from a distance. If you have recently changed litter brands, you might need to switch back to the original brand your cat is used to. Buy small toys that will get your cat moving (balls, feathers or even balled-up paper). Hide food in secret locations to get your cat searching or get one of those mobile food dispensers that releases food as your animal plays with it.

If symptoms persist, contact your veterinarian.

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