Treatments For Stressed Cats

In today's video, we are going to talk about Treatments for Stressed Cats.

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. It's important for you to know if your cat is stress, especially if you have a domestic cat, they are good at hiding signs that they are stressed or in pain because in the wild this would make them an easier target for predators.

It is important that you manage and reduce stress in your cat as much as you can because if your cat is stressed, they can become both emotionally and physically unwell and may develop physical illnesses as well as display problem behavior. Often owners may only notice something is ‘not quite right’ with their cats when they have already been stressed for some time.

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 realize that your cat could be experiencing stress, the sooner you can resolve the problem. This means you need to keep a close eye on your cat’s physical health as well as their behavior so that anything ‘odd’ or ‘out of character’ that could be a sign of stress is quickly identified.

Causes of Stress in Cats.

New People and Pets.

Cats are often sensitive to any household changes including when people and pets living in your home come and go. New babies coming home, grandparents coming to live with you, divorce, roommate changes, marriage, new cats and other pets, and even just someone staying for one night can all cause stress in your cat, especially if your cat doesn't already know them. Having company over for holidays is a common issue for many cats since it not only involves new people but many other stressors as well.

Construction.

Odd smells, noises of construction, materials lying around, unfamiliar people, and other things involved with having work done on or around your house can cause stress in your cat. Simply painting a room or doing some light remodeling can trigger stress, too, so it doesn't have to be a major construction project to cause problems.

Animals Outside.

If your cat can hear, smell, and especially if it can see another animal outside it may be stressed. Outside cats are a common trigger for stress in your indoor cat but even being unable to catch birds outside that your cat sees can result in your cat having pent up stress.

Transportation.

If you have to transport your cat for any reason then stress is a likely occurrence. Not being used to a carrier, the sights, and sounds of a car or plane ride or the anticipation of the destination, such as the veterinarian can all cause stress.

Other Environmental Changes.

Everything from robotic vacuums to Christmas decorations to moving boxes can cause stress in your cat. Changing where your cat's litter box is located, the type of litter that is used, where your cat eats, and even where its favorite scratching posts are located are other examples of environmental changes that can trigger stress in your cat but any type of change in your home is a potential problem.

Recognize Stress in Your Cat.

Hiding is one of the most obvious signs that your cat is stressed but it's not the only one. Hissing, running away, growling, scratching items, and eliminating outside the litter box can be other signs of stress in your cat and should not be ignored, especially if they are occurring regularly. Monitor your cat for these symptoms and think back to what may have changed before you noticed these behaviors.

Solutions for Your Stressed Cat.

If you can provide care for your cat that respects its needs, both as a species and an individual, you stand the best chance of preventing or reducing chronic stress. Always remember things that stress your cat could be things that you don’t find worrying at all.

If you can figure out the source of the stress, the best thing to do is to eliminate that source but that isn't always possible.

One of the best ways to protect your cat against possible stress is to try to anticipate the sorts of things that might cause them stress in the first place, such as moving to a new home or the addition of a new cat to the household. Once you have identified possible sources of stress, you can then manage the situation or environment in a way that helps reduce the chances of your cat suffering.