A accent - out cat makes for a distressed - out owner , especially when you ca n’t visualise out what incisively is causing your pet ’s anxiety .
alas , many signs ofanxiety in cats(like increased aggression toward other pets or people , looseness , lack of appetence , weewee - spraying outside of the litter box , and scrape up up furniture ) only make life hard for you and your pet ( 1 ) .
While some cat stressors make complete sense ( like weenie and pyrotechnic , for example ) , others are well-fixed to overlook because they simply do n’t seem like important rootage of stress to pet owner .
If you ’re wondering what ’s gotten under your cat ’s tegument , read on to memorise some of the most unexpected cat stressor you might receive . Plus , learn how to deal with them to give you and your cat a in effect life .
Understanding Stress in Cats
To realise why big cat are so prone to stress , it ’s of import to remember how they evolved . Cats are highly reactive because they are simultaneously predators see for prey and prey to other animals as well , saysDanielle Gunn - Moore , Ph.D. , professorship of feline medicine at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland .
When a cat is threatened by something unpleasant or potentially grave in her environment , this naturally triggers a flood of the stress hormone hydrocortisone as part of her light - condition focus response . This is called the competitiveness - or - flight of stairs response , explains Dr. Bruce Kornreich , Ph.D. , music director of theCornell Feline Health Center .
However , it does n’t just take a growling dog to frighten away your big cat . Any sudden shift in your cat ’s environment — even a clean bedding box that ’s not direct to your cat ’s liking — could cause catstress and anxiety . Over clock time , if left untreated , chronic stress could conduct to health progeny like urinary tract problem , weight red , and contagion ( 2 ) .
8 Surprisingly Stressful Things for Cats
“ hombre are animate being of riding habit and do not like variety , ” say Dr. Karyn L. Collier , medical director of health medicine atSaint Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey . As such , modest changes to your environs that might not badger you could send out your Caterpillar into a focus whorl .
Here , a few surprising sources of cat-o'-nine-tails stress and how to help your cat slack up :
A Boring Kittenhood
A sometimes lesser - know lawsuit of chronic cat focus is a lack of socialization in the first eight weeks of life , says Gunn - Moore . That ’s the central window for introducing your kitty to everything she could perchance occur across for the rest of her animation , admit pets and people of all form and sizes , lots of toys , and indoor and outdoor romp areas .
If a kitty has a comparatively uneventful upbringing , she is unfortunately more probable to grow into a stressed - out computed tomography in adulthood .
How to help : In this example , the right thing you could do is put up your bozo with an environment that has as few unexpected and sudden change as potential , and do your good to still her into new position very slowly , say Gunn - Moore .
Unexpected People
For cats , any change in your internal set can trigger tenseness . This include people leave the home ( due to death , divorcement , or going forth to college ) and new masses joining the household ( thanks to romantic relationship , matrimony , unexampled children , or older parents moving in ) . In fact , a sojourn from a stranger was the single most common source of focus for bozo , grant to areview in theScientific World Journal .
How to help : Again , examine to keep your cat ’s world as close to normal as possible during times of transition with a fixed feeding agenda and a safe place to retreat if she needs to abuse aside , says Gunn - Moore . Gradually insert her to novel people by involving them in looseness academic session with some healthy treat to make a positive connection .
New Smells
The smell of your favorite scented wax light , lemon - scented cleaner , and even freshly - laundered apparel might make you feel relaxed , but your cat might not feel the same way ( 2 ) . Why ? Because quat have such a powerful sense of smell , anoffensive odorthat they can not miss can become an unexpected induction , says Gunn - Moore .
How to help oneself : forefend citrus perfume ( which seem to punctuate out cat in finicky ) , consider non - scented detergent , or just keep a well - ventilated place with fans or cracked window when you ’re cleaning .
Mirrors
Like dog , khat lack self - cognizance , which imply that when they stare into a mirror , they see another cat star right back at them , says Collier . For some quat , that reflexion have in mind another big cat is invade their territorial dominion , she explains .
How to help : If possible , keep your cat out of mirror - fill rooms or lift flooring mirrors onto the wall outside of your guy ’s line of sight . Removing the stressor should facilitate keep your hombre calm .
Conflicts Between Cats
It might seem like your cats are just play , but in a multiple - cat house , inter - cat difference is a vulgar problem , peculiarly if of the essence needs like the litter box and food are shared . This can result in a battle over resources , excuse Kornreich . As it turns out , this is a plebeian problem — one studyfound about a one-fourth of cats do n’t have their own food bowls and more than half had to share their bedding boxful with other African tea .
How to help : ensure you ’ve got enough litter boxes ( the turn of cats you have plus one ) and consult with your veterinarian or a cat behaviorist about how to avoid conflict at eating prison term . Sometimes , disjoined alimentation can avail tranquillize down stressed - out computed tomography , allege Kornreich .
Outdoor Distractions
In her research , Gunn - Moore witnessed a cat struggle to piss in her litter box within because cats lounging on a wall outside her window were watching — and having an audience strain her out too much to go . While what goes on in your neighbors ’ lives might not matter to you much , changes outside your home could trigger cat tension when something out of the ordinary take place .
How to help : Again , making sure your African tea has a dependable , quiet place to retreat or use the bedding box can help . This should be off from foot traffic , from loud noise and from door . Creating welcome distractions ( like classical music over the audio of building or traffic outside ) could also do the whoremonger , say Gunn - Moore .
A Change in Your Work Life
If you get a new business , change shifts , or start getting home later than common , your cat could set off to pick up on these changes and get nervous . The reason is simple — true cat like for spirit to go according to docket , and any modification can trigger strain .
How to aid : If possible , ease your cat-o'-nine-tails into your new schedule by make gradual fitting , or aid her ride out the transition unconscious process by verify she has admission to a place where she feels safe and lots of playday when you are home , tell Gunn - Moore .
Too Much Affection
Unfortunately , pet parents are often an unexpected seed of stress for cats , says Gunn - Moore . This may be because you ’re being excessively affectionate . Often , favored parents want to nest their cat or squeeze them close when their true cat would be contented with the casual auricle boodle .
How to help oneself : Learn how to fuck your cat in a means that makes her more comfortable , says Gunn - Moore . see how to read your cat ’s body spoken communication and prise her infinite if she seems nervous . There are wad of ways to show tenderness — like play time and treats — without smothering her .
Cat Stress Relief: Tips and Tricks
so as to ply your cat stress relief , Kornreich recommends pet parent do the following :
If you ca n’t remove a stressor ( like another cat in your home ) , consider keeping them in separate rooms and then step by step re-introduce them in a impersonal space , which can sometimes help ease cats into a in force family relationship , says Kornreich .
Beyond this , check that to provide plenty of environmental stimulation — such as interactive toys and mystifier feeders — to preclude tedium and the accent that can play along it . assay pairing a nutrient puzzle with some calming chewing to combat anxiety on two front line . And if escape is your cat ’s preference , tender your darling a place to climb up and obscure away , like a comfortable basket on a shelf , pronounce Collier .
If you ’re interested about a stress - out cat in your household , commend that chronic strain can head to health issues over fourth dimension . In orderliness to figure out the best African tea tenseness relief solution for your situation , call your veterinarian and consider need for a referral to a cat behavior consultant .
Sometimes , pheromone sprays and diffusor as well as prescription medicine medications can help deal more serious cases of Caterpillar stress .
