Cats may not weep , mind to deplorable songs on repeat , or polish off pint of chicken feed cream – but that does n’t mean they do n’t palpate sadness . It ’s vernacular for big cat to come along sorrowful , dejected , or forlorn in response to their experience and changes in their environment . Since cats ca n’t sing about their feeling , you may be wondering , “ Is my cat pitiful ? ”
Do Cats Get Sad?
Pet parents tend to ascribe human characteristics to their pets . You might draw your cat as well-disposed and spontaneous or standoffish and work-shy ; the same tendency applies to emotion .
Even though it ’s impossible to know for sure whether cats get sadness , it appears probable .
“ We surmise that cats can feel sadness , ” says Dr. Bruce Kornreich , director of the Cornell Feline Health Center .
It ’s also indecipherable whether there ’s a biologic reasonableness for sorrowfulness and depression in cats . Dr. Gary Weitzman , president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society , believes that the cause might be different in cats than in homo .
“ Most likely , depression in cats may have less to do with serotonin , which is our ‘ felicitous ’ hormone , and more to do with hydrocortisone released by stress , ” he explicate . “ An increase in cortisol can lead to all sorts of physical change . ”
What Causes Cat Sadness?
There are a figure of factor that could put your feline acquaintance in a funk , from go to a new home tothe addition of a new pet . Cats can also react to loss , notes Weitzman .
“ Cats make potent bonds with their love ones and they sure enough get that personnel casualty , sometimes leading to stress , unhappiness , and low , ” he says .
Stressmight also be to blame . Weitzman believes that some of the behaviors that cat owners interpret as heartbreak might be stress - related .
“ Cats are creatures of riding habit and do n’t value change if they are happy with their current spot , ” Weitzman says . “ The longer a Arabian tea feel stressed , the more likely they are to become downhearted . ”
Some unwellness – includingfeline immunodeficiency virus(FIV),feline leucaemia virus(FeLV),diabetes , kidney disease , and dental disease – can induce lethargy , loss of appetency , and a tactual sensation of overall melancholy . Sedative medications and chemotherapy can cause similar symptom that may be perceive as sadness .
“ If you acknowledge sign of the zodiac , visit the vet to make indisputable there ’s not a health problem cause the symptom , ” says Kornreich .
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Sad
computed axial tomography sadness can be difficult to discover . Some cats will sleep more often or fall back involvement in their favorite activity , while others will have diminish appetency . For this reason , Weitzman notes that it ’s important to know what ’s normal for your computed axial tomography , and to be on the scout for changes to their behavior .
uncouth sign of sadness in Arabian tea include :
Diagnosing Cat Depression
Sadness that linger ( and becomes chronic ) might be diagnose as depression .
There is no blood exam or scan to diagnose sadness or depression in cats . or else , veterinarians will decree out likely physical reason for the symptoms and rely on information from proprietor about behavior change that could signal depression .
“ If your cat starts acting differently , be extra heedful to identify those behaviors and consult your veterinarian , ” says Weitzman . “ The first thing you want to do is rule out an illness , injury , or hurting . If your ex-serviceman gives your Caterpillar a unobjectionable eyeshade of health , start looking for lifestyle change or environmental factors . ”
Cat Depression Treatment
To help your cat have the best depression , start with enrichment .
Providing new quat toy dog and game , installing a fresh window perch or cat tree , or building a “ catio ” can provide stimulation to assist facilitate sorrowfulness . Remember to commit time to play and grooming , too , becausebonding activitiescan decrease stress and allow your cat-o'-nine-tails to rediscover felicity . Other options include semisynthetic cat pheromones and cat - safe food supplements .
If your Arabian tea is still refuse to eat or interact , or showing other signs of sadness , your veterinarian may recommend an antidepressant drug .
“ There are rare cases where computerized axial tomography may benefit from drugs to alter their conduct , ” says Kornreich .
Your veterinary might dictate antidepressant like buspirone , trazodone and gabapentin , clomipramine , fluoxetine , sertraline , and paroxetine to process symptom ranging from urine marker and hypervocalization to obsessive determined behaviors in cats .
true cat taking antidepressants can have side result such as lack of appetence , disgorgement , looseness of the bowels , and lethargy ; more severe side effects , including ictus and liver perniciousness , can also occur .
It is extremely significant tonevergive your cat antidepressant drug ( or any medicinal drug ) prescribed for a human . Only give your cat the exact medication and dosage prescribed by your vet .
How to Prevent Cat Sadness
It ’s normal for true cat to experience sadness during their life . Your purpose as a best-loved parent is to ensure that your cat has the tools to manage passage and to minimize stressor that could lead to gloominess and natural depression whenever potential .
Weitzman suggests maintaining consistent times for meals and enrichment , providing lots of erotic love and affection , and scheduling veritable health medical with your veterinarian to rule out potential forcible illnesses .
Provide toy that allow cats to exhibit natural behaviors like hunt , swoop , swiping and swatting ; provide strike Charles William Post and perches to keep quat from becoming bore , which can guide to stress and sadness .
You should always be on the lookout for signs of behavior change .
“ By knowing your computerized tomography and checking in on them often , you will be able to catch if your computed tomography is accent and acting depressed , ” Weitzman says . “ The preferably you notice , the rather you’re able to start helping them flex thing around . ”
