Signs Of Stress In Cats
Common signs of stress observed in cats include urinary issues such as cystitis or urine spraying, aggression, excessive vocalising, hiding, destructive behaviours such as inappropriate scratching, over-grooming and hair loss, humping, and reduced appetite.
Stress is often the underlying root cause of issues such as skin infections, urinary disease, and gastrointestinal illnesses.
How To Calm An Anxious Cat
If youre worried about your anxious cat, you should first make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out possible illnesses and diseases that could be contributing to his symptoms. Following that, youll need to try to get to the bottom of what is causing your cats anxiety. From there, you can tailor your treatment plan to suit your cats specific needs.
Can You Leave A Cat Alone For 4 Days
Wed recommend against it. Even if you have an automatic food dispenser, plenty of water, and tons of litter trays, 4 days is too long to leave your cat alone. They may run out of food, start going to the bathroom outside of their litter tray because its dirty or become ill from the stress of being left alone.
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Keeping Cat Anxiety At Bay
If you determine that your cat is suffering from anxiety, there are several options available. However, finding the right one for your cat might take some trial and error. Both Delgado and Krieger stress that every cat is different, and a solution that works for one kitty might not work for another.
Delgado adds that because many cat calming products are available without prescription from a veterinarian, owners cant expect them to work miracles. Most products that are available over the counter dont offer extreme results, but some may have a calming effect, she says.
Are There Any Essential Oils That Help With Cat Anxiety
If your cat is anxious, there are a few essential oils that may help to calm them down. Lavender oil is one of the most well-known and popular essential oils and is often used to help relieve stress and anxiety. You can add a few drops of lavender oil to your cats carrier or bedding, or even put a few drops on your own hands and pet them. Chamomile oil is another option that may help to soothe your cats anxiety, and it can also be added to their carrier or bedding. You can also try diffusing some chamomile oil in your home to help create a calm environment
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What Causes Stress In Cats
Sometimes it’s hard to know what could be causing stress in your feline friend. Cats are complex creatures and find certain situations a lot more stressful than other animals do. For example, while dogs may be easily adaptable to change, cats often find changes to the home territory incredibly jarring. Or, while dogs enjoy meeting new dog friends, cats may find wandering neighborhood cats incredibly frightening.
It’s important to know that every cat has a different stress threshold. What stresses one cat out might not phase another cat. One cats may suffer from a full blown bout of cystitis after a vet visit, while another might be completely unphased and even enjoy an outing.
There are a number of common ‘red flag’ situations that frequently lead to stress and anxiety in cats:
- – A new pet or family member
- – Visitors to the house
- – Changes to the home territory, such as building works or renovations
- – Outings and car trips, such as to the groomer or vet
How To Help A Cat With Anxiety
Its important to understand that cat anxiety is rarely solved with just a single action. To truly help your cat and see lasting results, youll want to approach the problem from a few different angles simultaneously. You can apply this approach to almost any behavior concern:
Lets look at how you can put these steps into practice.
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Create A Safe Space For Your Cat
If other pets, a baby, sounds, or things they can see outside are creating stress for your cat, a quiet, dark area away from these stimuli can help. Create a safe space for your cat , where they can relax away from any stressors. A quiet, darkened place, made from cardboard boxes or sheets draped over chairs can work well. Make sure your cat can live in this space comfortably for a few days, and provide all the essentials in this one room: food, water, bedding, a litter box, a scratching post, and other toys. Provide plenty of individual attention, playtime and cuddles to your cat, to ensure they dont get jealous of other pets.
If you live in a smaller apartment and are worried your cat does not have enough individual space, there are a number of ways you can increase their territory vertically, using cat trees, cat shelves and window perches .
What About Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy® is a Bach Flower Remedy that contains five flower essences intended to relieve panic following emotional or physical stress. Similar products are manufactured by other companies under different names. Although there are no controlled studies to support their effectiveness, anecdotal evidence does exist that these products may be beneficial in calming some cats during veterinary visits. Because of the extreme dilution of these essences, they are unlikely to be harmful to your cat .
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What About Natural Medicine
Natural medicines, also known as complementary therapies, cover a wide range of products including herbs, nutraceuticals, supplements, and homeopathic remedies . Although the marketplace is full of products that claim to treat anxiety, these claims are largely anecdotal and there are few controlled studies that support their effectiveness in either humans or pets. One of the biggest concerns that many veterinarians have with complementary medicines is that there can be variability in their purity, quality, level of contaminants, and effectiveness from batch to batch. While natural products are often thought of as benign, this is not always the case, particularly when it comes to treating cats, who have different metabolic processes than we do.
“Pheromones, such as Feliway®, are natural alternatives that provide some sound scientific evidence of effectiveness and can have rapid action.”
There are veterinary products available on the market that claim to have generalized calming effects or treat anxiety disorders. Although these products generally meet a level of quality control and standardization that is similar to pharmaceuticals, studies on the effectiveness of these products are generally lacking. Most of these products are intended for use to treat behavioral problems and take several weeks to become effective. Pheromones, such as Feliway®, are natural alternatives that provide some sound scientific evidence of effectiveness and can have rapid action.
What Are Some Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Cats
While many of the signs of separation anxiety for cats are similar to those in dogs, some are specific to felines, said Katribe. “Signs of stressed cats that may not be obvious to those familiar with dog behavior include excessive hiding, feigned sleep, excessive grooming, and inappropriate elimination behavior .”
According to Katribe, some common signs of separation anxiety in cats are:
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Destructive behavior
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Excessive vocalization
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Inappropriate elimination habits
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Not eating or drinking when owners are away
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Other signs of stress can include excessive grooming
If your cat shows any of these signs, talk to your veterinarian these behaviors could also indicate an underlying medical condition. “Eliminating outside the litter box might be due to urinary tract infection or excessive meowing could be due to hyperthyroidism, as can a ravenous appetite,” said Dr. Bruce Kornreich from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
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Try Stress Relieving Remedies
If your cat is displaying signs of anxiety like over-grooming and stress eating, you might want to take them to the vet to rule out an underlying medical condition. Your veterinarian can also help you by suggesting personalized suggestions for your feline friend.
Some ideas that you could try include calming shirts, CBD oil for cats, calming treats, and diffusers that release relaxing pheromones. Remember that some natural remedies for humans with anxiety, like essential oils, are toxic to cats.
What Happensif Cat Anxiety Remains Untreated
If left untreated, anxiety in cats couldonly get worse over time. Not only can it alter your cats behavior, but chronicstress can also affect your pet cats well-being. Symptoms such as loss ofappetite or diarrhea can make your cat weaker, so you want to address the anxietyproblem right away. With your tender loving care and professional help, you canhelp your cat get over the stress he is experiencing and restore him to fullhealth.
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What Are Some Dietary Changes That Can Help With Cat Anxiety
If your cat is struggling with anxiety, there are a few dietary changes that you can make that may help to ease their symptoms. One thing you can try is adding a bit of omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. This can be done by giving them a small amount of fish oil, or by adding some flaxseed oil to their food. You should also make sure that they are getting enough protein in their diet, as this can help to keep them feeling calm and relaxed. Finally, you might want to consider giving them a supplement that contains tryptophan, as this can also help to reduce anxiety levels.
Recovery Of Extreme Fear And Anxiety In Cats
Extreme fear and anxiety are not known as life-threatening conditions, but it is still important to schedule a follow-up appointment with your veterinarian. This way, you can check the progress of the treatment and make sure your cat has not developed any other conditions.
It could take a while to help your cat cope with their fears, and there is a chance your cat is just naturally anxious. The best thing you can do is work with your veterinarian, train your cat to cope with anxiety and avoid stressful situations whenever possible.
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What Is Extreme Fear And Anxiety
Fear and anxiety can be difficult for both your cat and your family. A loss of appetite or destructive behavior could lead to illness or injury for your four-legged friend. The fear and anxiety can also cause your cat to become aggressive towards other pets and members of your household.
Cats experience extreme fear and anxiety when a situation becomes too much for them to handle. A stressful situation can bring on feelings ranging from mild fear to anxiety. A current situation, fear of the unknown, or memory of an event can trigger these feelings in your cat.
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How To Calm Cat Anxiety And Stress
What greater gift than the love of a cat.
This quote by Charles Dickens perfectly sums up the relationship between humans and felines. Cats can make the best companions but they are often plagued by anxiety.
If your feline friend is displaying signs of discomfort, you might be wondering how to treat cat anxiety. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to show your cat some love.
Keep reading for our top 3 tips for treating your cats anxiety holistically.
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Cat Anxiety: Frequently Asked Questions
Having a cat with anxiety is stressful and worrisome for the both of you. This is why its so important to figure out the proper course of treatment to ease your cats anxiety and help them live a better life.
If you think your cat might have anxiety, your mind is probably flooded with tons of questions about their symptoms and how you can treat them. Weve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about cat anxiety, so you can find an answer to all your worries:
Cat Separation Anxiety Symptoms:
- Cats with separation anxiety will follow their owners compulsively between rooms and demand constant attention
- They will begin to recognise the signs when youre about to leave the house, and will become distressed: hiding, sulking, or vocalising their displeasure loudly.
- When theyre alone in the house, they may perform destructive behaviours that they are not usually inclined to, such as failing to use the litter box or refusing to eat.
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How To Treat And Manage Your Cats Anxiety
The best way to treat most cases of anxiety is a multi-modal approach that combines behavioral modification techniques, making changes to your cats environment, natural calming aids, and potentially anti-anxiety medication, depending on the severity of your cats anxiety. Any underlying or linked medical conditions will need to be treated as well.
Successful treatment plans require consistency and commitment, as it may take several months for your cat to overcome their anxiety, or to reduce it to a manageable level. Be patient and remember that even small changes in their behavior and symptoms will have a meaningful and cumulative impact on their wellbeing and quality of life.
Behavior Modification For Cats
Behavior modification is an excellent way of managing anxious cats. The training process is lengthy and often requires help from a professional. However, it is a long-term solution.
When is behavior modification used for cat anxiety?
Behavior modification is used to manage various types of anxiety in cats. It includes techniques like counterconditioning, desensitization, habituation, extinction, shaping, and response substitution.
What are the benefits of behavior modification for cat anxiety?
- Long-term solution
- Suitable for different anxiety types
What are the risks of using behavior modification for cat anxiety?
- The process requires time and work
- Additional management is necessary for the meanwhile
- It often requires help from a veterinary behaviorist
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Visit The Vet For Cat Anxiety Medication
If all else fails, talk to your vet about prescription cat anxiety medication. He or she may want to prescribe something more short-term like gabapentin, or a longer-time resolution such as buspirone or amitriptyline. But never give your cat human anti-anxiety medication without first checking with your vet.
Remember, treating cat anxiety will probably be a lesson in patience and trial and error. Learn to recognize what, if anything, is triggering your cats anxiety and try the tips listed above. Dont be afraid to ask your vet for advice. An anxious cat deserves as much care and attention as an ill kitty.
How To Ease Your Cats Arrival At A Destination
When you arrive at a location for the night or at your journeys end, take the carrier into the bathroom along with your cats litter and litter pan, some food, and some water. Open the carrier so that your cat can come out when he or she feels comfortable, and then leave and close the bathroom door. You will be free to unload the car and become comfortable yourself while your cat becomes accustomed to the new environment for an hour or so.
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What Are The Ingredients For A Diy Cat Calming Spray
If your cat is feeling stressed, there are a few things you can do to help them feel more relaxed. One option is to create a DIY cat calming spray using a few simple ingredients.
The first ingredient youll need is lavender essential oil. Lavender has relaxing properties that can help to calm your cats nerves. Add a few drops of lavender oil to a spray bottle filled with water.
The next ingredient youll need is chamomile essential oil. Like lavender, chamomile also has calming properties. Add a few drops of chamomile oil to the spray bottle.
The last ingredient youll need is catnip. Catnip is a herb that is known to have a calming effect on cats. Add a small amount of dried catnip to the spray bottle.
Shake the ingredients together and spray the mixture on your cats bedding or in their favorite hiding spot. The calming properties of the essential oils and catnip will help to relax your cat and ease their stress.
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Are You Concerned Your Cat Is Suffering From Anxiety
Bold, mellow, jumpy, shy every cat has a unique personality that shapes how they respond to stress. You may first notice your cat has fears and phobias anywhere from 5 months to a year old, but cats can develop new triggers at any age. Here are the physical symptoms and stress-based behaviors to watch for, as well as ways you can help your cat.
If your cat seems stressed, your first step is to consult your veterinary team to rule out any physical cause. Make an appointment
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Other Signs Of A Stressed Cat
You may notice your cat sits differently, their facial expression changes or they exhibit strange behaviours.
- Often crouching and looking tense indoors
- Ears rotate backwards frequently or flatten downwards
- Wide open eyes with very dilated pupils which makes their eyes look black
- Staring at the floor with a fixed, glazed expression
- Rapid frequent grooming that usually lasts around five seconds, starting and stopping quite suddenly
- Frequent head shaking
- Rippling, twitching skin on their back
- Exaggerated swallowing and quick flicks of their tongue onto their nose
Top tip
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 . 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.