Potential causes that may result in a stressed cat are wide and varied. Cat anxiety may be caused by pain or illness, exposure to something toxic or infectious diseases that affect the nervous system. A psychological trigger may be to blame, like a traumatic experience, lack of proper socialization or a history of abuse or neglect.
An aging brain can also cause anxiety, especially in senior cats experiencing memory problems or dementia. Joint pain in older cats can also be a source of anxious behaviors, such as hiding or failing to use the litter box. Other potential causes of cat anxiety can include new or moved furniture, new pet or baby in the home, or even a new home.
One of the most common forms of cat anxiety is separation anxiety, in which your cat becomes anxious and stressed when you leave their sight or when they are left home alone. This is especially prevalent among cats with a history of abandonment or who have been rehomed or passed from owner to owner, according to PetMD. Obsessive compulsive disorder OCD , characterized by exaggerated, repetitive behaviors, can also affect cats. Causes of OCD in cats aren't really known, and as such it's generally characterized as a mental disorder, although it can be initiated by stress, says PetMD.
Pet parents may unwittingly reinforce OCD behaviors by trying to soothe their cats or giving them attention while they're doing the unwanted behavior. It should also be noted that some breeds are genetically predisposed to certain obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Siamese and other Asian breeds are particularly known for these types of behaviors. An anxious kitty isn't too difficult to spot.
PetMD identifies the following signs and symptoms of general cat anxiety:. Other symptoms include a loss or reduction of appetite, weight loss, excessive vocalization, lethargy and restlessness, says PetMD. OCD can be identified by excessive, repetitive behaviors such as eating, sucking or chewing on fabric, obsessive grooming, repetitive meowing or yowling, and constant pacing.
In a case of separation anxiety , your cat will likely be fine as long as you're around, but may begin acting anxious when they can sense that you're about to leave. The first thing you need to know in order to help your anxious cat is that you should never punish or scold them for their anxious behavior. This will only increase negative associations and fear and make things worse instead of better. The goal should be to help them feel safe and relaxed in their surroundings.
Once you've identified anxious behaviors in your cat, the first step is to make an appointment with your veterinarian to either diagnose or rule out any underlying health issues or toxins that might be causing your kitty stress. Because cats tend to hide their pain, this is not something that is likely to be obvious, and may require a thorough series of blood panels and other tests.
If it turns out that your cat is suffering from pain or a medical issue, treating the issue may be all that's required to eliminate the anxious behavior and help your kitty get back to their normal self.
On the other hand, if your vet rules out a physical problem as the cause, this may mean that the issue is psychological. If this is the case, your vet should be able to advise you on a course of treatment. In addition to prescribing anti-anxiety medication to help keep your kitty calm, your vet may recommend a board certified veterinary behaviorist or trainer who can help both you and your cat through behavioral conditioning and counter-conditioning.
Behavioral conditioning involves identifying fear triggers in your kitty's life and either desensitizing her to these triggers through repeated, safe exposure, or removing them from their environment. Counter-conditioning, which is similar, involves training your cat to replace a negative behavior with a positive one, while forming positive associations with the new behavior.
For example, if your cat is anxious when they can sense you're about to leave, train them to go lie down and reward them when they do with a treat or a favorite toy. In time, they'll associate your leaving with this positive reward and learn to be okay with it.
The overall goal of this training and conditioning is to teach your cat that they're safe and that it's okay to relax. Untreated anxiety won't get better on its own, and will likely become worse over time, with undesirable behaviors becoming more pronounced.
It might seem like your cats are just playing, but in a multiple-cat household, inter-cat conflict is a common problem, especially if essential needs like the litter box and food are shared. This can result in a battle over resources, explains Kornreich.
Sometimes, separate feedings can help calm down stressed-out cats, says Kornreich. In her research, Gunn-Moore witnessed a cat struggle to pee in her litter box inside because cats lounging on a wall outside her window were watching—and having an audience stressed her out too much to go. How to help : Again, making sure your cat has a safe, quiet place to retire or use the litter box can help. This should be away from foot traffic, from loud noises and from doors.
Creating welcome distractions like classical music over the sound of construction or traffic outside could also do the trick, says Gunn-Moore. If you get a new job, change shifts, or start getting home later than usual, your cat could start to pick up on these changes and get nervous.
The reason is simple—cats like for life to go according to schedule, and any change can trigger stress. How to help : If possible, ease your cat into your new schedule by making gradual adjustments, or help her ride out the transition process by making sure she has access to a place where she feels safe and lots of playtime when you are home, says Gunn-Moore. Unfortunately, pet parents are often an unexpected source of stress for cats, says Gunn-Moore.
Often, pet parents want to nuzzle their cats or squeeze them close when their cats would be content with the occasional ear scratch. How to help : Learn how to love your cat in a way that makes her more comfortable, says Gunn-Moore. Especially if intruder cats are not vaccinated, they may also spread disease to your cat when they come into your home. Whilst many cats like to be fussed and stroked for long periods of time, no two cats are the same, and some cats may find too much stroking, or being stroked in certain places, uncomfortable and stressful.
Some cats may be very quick to tell you what they like by meowing for more or pawing at you when you stop stroking them and what they dislike by swiping at you or biting you , but others may be much subtler in communicating how they feel.
Many cats may simply tolerate being stroked or handled even though they are not enjoying it, and often it is these cats that are becoming the most stressed from the handling they experience. It is really important that your cat always has the option to remove themselves from the interaction if they choose.
This means you should never physically restrain your cat when you are stroking them, or pet them when they are trapped within a hiding space. This will help them to feel more relaxed and in control when they interact with you. As cats have evolved as an independent solitary species, being able to make their own decisions is important to cats so giving them choice and control over what they do, how, when, and with who is key to reducing stress for your cat.
Depending on how much noise and disturbance this may bring to the home, and how sensitive your cat is, it may be better for your cat to stay with a friend or in a good cattery during this period. If the disturbance in the home is likely to be minimal or can be restricted to certain rooms, parts of the home or times of the day, your cat may be able to remain in the home, but will benefit from the following:. Cats feel safe when they are surrounded by familiar things.
Unpredictability can be quite stressful for cats so, if your routines change, try to keep your interactions with your cat as consistent and predictable as possible, for example, making sure you still feed them at the same time and play and interact with them in the same way. Not only do cats feel safe when they are surrounded by familiar things, they like their home and routines to be predictable and consistent as this helps them to feel more in control of their environment.
Very friendly and bold cats may see visitors as something pleasurable and exciting whilst more nervous or sensitive cats may become worried by the presence of unfamiliar people in the home. Ensuring your cat always has the means to escape and hide or get up high will help to make them feel safer in these situations. If your cat is sensitive or shy then it may be helpful to follow these guidelines As cats have evolved as independent solitary hunters responsible for their own survival, feeling safe is essential to cats so having lots of options and choices of places to hide e.
Not only can intruder cats attempting to come into your home be stressful for your cat, but their presence outside and especially in your garden or outside space can also be a source of stress. The best thing you can do is to make your garden as safe and cat friendly for your cat as possible so that they feel more confident when outside and also ensuring there are plenty of resources such as rain water for drinking, places to sleep, hide, get up high, as well as places to toilet that are well distributed to reduce potential conflict between cats.
Especially when there are unneutered female cats in the neighbourhood, entire stray male cats may be attracted to a particular area and can be very vocal, confrontational and aggressive towards other cats. Just having these cats around could be very stressful for your cat. Unneutered male cats are also more likely to carry various diseases, such as FIV Feline Immunodeficiency Virus , which could be transmitted to your cat through fighting.
The best way to deal with this problem is to talk to your local rehoming charity for advice as they may be able to provide help or direct you to other organisations that can help by using a humane trap to capture the cat and either neuter the cat and return them to the same area or relocate the cat to a more suitable environment. In addition to all the advice provided here, it is also recommended that you consult a suitably qualified cat behaviour specialist who will be able to provide more detailed advice specific and tailored to your cat and situation.
Professional behaviour specialists also known as pet behaviour counsellors can only work with you if you are referred to them by your vet so speak to your vet first as they may be able to recommend someone straight away or suggest that you contact someone of your choice before arranging the referral.
Behaviour specialists have to go through a rigorous assessment process to achieve formal qualifications or certification, to ensure the advice and support they provide is of the highest standard. Certain pet insurance companies may also help cover the costs of behavioural consultations from pet behaviour counsellors registered with any of the organisations below.
Please visit their websites for more information and help in selecting a suitable person From new tricks to grooming tips, get expert pet advice straight to your inbox by signing up to The Battersea Way email. Skip to main content.
How to care for your pets if you're ill or have to self-isolate due to coronavirus Lost and found dog advice Lost and found cat advice Dog advice Cat advice Puppy Advice. Stressed cat Cats can be very sensitive creatures and may often become anxious or frustrated by things going on around them, or by the way people interact with them.
Signs of stress in cats There are some common signs of a stressed cat, both physical and behavioural.
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