Many pet owners do not consider their cat can become stressed. Just like people, cats can become stressed over various conditions. Some cats may stress more easily than others. You may have a cat which is not bothered by hardly anything; just the same you may have a cat which is intimidated by almost everything. Even small events could trigger stress in cats including new carpet, loud music, a change in litter brand or a new couch.
Larger stressful conditions also impact your cat. Events such as divorce, death of a family member or a new baby can result in your cat becoming extremely stressed.
Stress in Cats: Signs and Symptoms
Just like us, cats all react differently when it comes to stress. Signs of stress in cats to look for include a loss of appetite, a decreased amount of interaction with your family and house soiling. Your cat may also simply hide if stressed which should also be considered.
Stress in Cats: Solving the Problem
Prior to implementing any type of behavioral modification plan, the pet parent should have their cat examined by a veterinarian as some of the signs of stress may also be signed of a medical condition. For example, if your cat is soiling the home, this may not be a result of stress but rather due to a urinary tract infection.
If your cat visits the veterinarian and the veterinarian says everything is medically sound with your cat, a behavior modification analysis can then begin. The first step in this process? Determining the cause of the stress! Has your environment changed in any way? Perhaps their diet or cat litter has changed? Perhaps they simply just have a litter box which is too full for their liking. Learn more about how to take the stress out of veterinarian visits ?
Amber Johnson, Animal Behaviorist
Miss Amber Johnson has many years of experience with pets and is a licensed cat and dog nutrition and behavior specialist. She currently collaborates with PetPremium where she counsels clients in pet behavior and nutrition. The statements made in this article are the personal opinions of Miss Amber Johnson and based on independent experiences and could be different from the opinions of PetPremium Pet health Insurance or any other pet health insurance provider.